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Have you ever been to a hot spring? This natural phenomenon is produced by geothermally heated groundwater.
The naturally occurring radioactive elements below the Earth’s crust heat the groundwater. Arkansas may be known for Hot Springs National Park, but there are hot springs all over the country. That includes the Wyoming hot springs.
It’s a unique way to experience the natural beauty of Wyoming. Whether snow is falling outside or the summer sun is warming your face, you’ll enjoy soaking in one of these locations, getting away from the mundane daily routine. Let’s learn more about these Wyoming hot springs!
What Town in Wyoming Has Hot Springs?
There are numerous areas in Wyoming with hot springs that are accessible year-round. You can enjoy water temperatures in the 90s in the summer and even warmer temperatures in the winter.
These hot springs are a refreshing, relaxing experience amidst the harsh wintry weather of Wyoming. Astoria and Granite Hot Springs are outside Jackson. Boiling River Hot Springs is near the Montana border in northwestern Wyoming. Thermopolis Hot Springs is in central Wyoming, and Saratoga Hot Springs is outside Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.
Can You Get in the Hot Springs in Wyoming?
Yes, you can get in the hot springs at these various locations. Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis has three soaking pools and is home to the Wyoming State Bath House. Saratoga also has a free soaking pool open to the public.
If you’re looking to visit a hot spring in the winter, note that access to Granite Hot Springs is limited to snowmobile, dog sled, or cross country skis. Imagine the wonder as snowflakes fall while you soak and recharge.
Wyoming Hot Springs You Can’t Miss
Many Native American tribes believe hot springs possess healing powers and consider these sacred spaces. In the early 1800s, settlers would stop to rest and soak in the naturally heated pools.
Today, visitors enjoy these soaking spots as they relax and admire the scenery. Below are five of the best hot springs in Wyoming. When you head to the Equality State, visit at least one of these natural wonders.
Hot Springs State Park
Location: 220 Park St, Thermopolis, WY 82443
About: Open year-round, Hot Springs State Park is a day-use park with a free bath house. It’s over 6 miles of trails with “The Swinging Bridge,” a suspension bridge. There is also a boat ramp and reservable group picnic shelters.
The water at the bathhouse maintains 104 degrees. In addition, the park bison are fed a daily supplement during the fall and winter months, which gives visitors a unique opportunity to view these amazing creatures up close.
How to Access: There’s a $7 per day/vehicle fee for Wyoming residents and a $12 per day/vehicle fee for non-residents. There are also annual permits for sale for $96 for day-use facilities. There’s a parking lot for guests for convenient access to Hot Springs State Park.
Granite Hot Springs
Location: Thirty-four miles outside Jackson off Granite Road
About: Located above Granite Creek Falls outside of Jackson, Granite Hot Springs features a waterfall-fed soaking pool and a swimming pool. The soaking pool remains at a warm 104 degrees year-round. The December to early April season operates on a 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. schedule until mid-February.
This is when it switches to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The summer season of May to October operates on a 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. schedule until Labor Day. This is when it switches to 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There’s a fee to access the hot springs. It’s $8 per adult and $5 per child.
How to Access: This Wyoming hot spring closes in October but reopens in December with snowmobile, skis, or snowshoes access. If you’d like more of an adventure, Iditarod Sled Dog Tours offers excursions to the area from Jackson Hole. Granite Hot Springs is easy to find off Highway 189.
Turn left onto Granite Creek Road, which turns into Granite Road. You’ll drive about 8 miles on this long, bumpy dirt road, and the hot springs will be on your right.
Keep in Mind: While in Wyoming, you won’t want to miss out on these rivers! They’re so beautiful, they’ll take your breath away!
Saratoga Resort and Spa
Location: 601 E. Pic Pike Rd, Saratoga, WY, 82331
About: Saratoga Resort and Spa offers guests a unique hot springs experience in its private teepee-covered hot pools, which remain around 100 degrees to 112 degrees. There is also a huge 70-foot long mineral hot springs pool, which remains about 96 degrees to 98 degrees.
The full-service resort includes 50 western-style guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, a micro brewery and pub, a spa, a nine-hole golf course and pro shop, and a fitness center.
During the different seasons, Saratoga Resort and Spa offers guided and unguided snowmobile tours. It also provides bike, jeep, ATV, snowmobile, cross-country skis, and snowshoe rentals.
How to Access: This location is not open to the public. Only guests and members can access the amenities, so you must make a lodging reservation. The rates range from $167 per night during the week in the off-season to $225 in the summer season. A resort membership costs around $700.
Hobo Pool
Location: Two blocks East of 1st Street, Saratoga, WY (walk behind the municipal pool)
About: Open year-round, the Hobo Pool in Saratoga is free and open to the public. There are two natural pools adjacent to the Platte River. One of the pools is named the “Not So Hot Pool” because of its cooler water temperature at 100 degrees.
The Hobo Pool maintains a cozy 108 degrees to 119 degrees. Located behind Saratoga’s municipal pool, Hobo Pool is more of a local hang-out than a touristy destination.
Showers and dressing rooms are conveniently near the pools. The Hobo Pool uses donations; a donation box is on the side of the dressing room. It’s for visitors who want to support the city’s endeavors to provide this free, public spot.
How to Access: One of the reasons visitors love the Hobo Pool is because it’s free.
It’s a hidden gem located right behind the municipal pool. If you’re also interested in taking a dip in the municipal pool, there are fees for anyone over age four. Although the Hobo Pool is open 24/7 throughout the year, the municipal pool is only open until Labor Day weekend.
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Boiling River Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park
Location: N Entrance Rd, Gardiner, MT 59030 (2.9 miles south of the park’s North Entrance)
About: Located in Yellowstone’s Mammoth Hot Springs area, Boiling River Hot Springs is often overlooked for the more popular tourist destinations of Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. The boardwalks along Mammoth Hot Springs offer guests easy access to the geothermal terrace system, which discharges about 500 gallons of hot water per minute.
With a temperature of around 140 degrees, the location of the hot springs is where the natural hot springs enter the Gardner River. It mixes hot and cool temperatures together.
How to Access: Free parking is on-site, and access to Mammoth Hot Springs is in your park admission fee. The hike from the parking lot to the hot springs area is 1.25 miles round trip.
Are Wyoming Hot Springs Worth Visiting?
These Wyoming hot springs offer visitors a unique way to enjoy the Equality State’s natural beauty. Imagine soaking in a 100-degree pool with a toboggan on your head, feeling the wind against your face. It’s an experience unlike anything else in Wyoming, where the hot meets the cold.
If you’re looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, check out one of these Wyoming hot springs. Get away from the stresses of day-to-day life and relax with nature.
Which hot springs will you visit first? Tell us in the comments!
