43 natural hot springs across 19 states — from wild forest pools reached on foot to developed mineral baths with posted temperatures. Hot springs are the one water type that is better in winter than summer.
A natural hot spring is geothermally heated groundwater surfacing at a soakable temperature — usually somewhere between 95°F and scalding. That makes them the only swim spots in this directory that ignore the season entirely: a 102°F pool is pleasant in January and unbearable in July, which is why the best hot spring trips happen in autumn, winter, and early spring.
They also carry hazards no other water type does. Source pools can exceed 140°F. Heat plus altitude plus alcohol causes fainting. And warm freshwater is where Naegleria fowleri lives, which is why the single most important rule is to keep your head above the water. Everything below is organized around getting that right.
Browse by state, or sort every spot by distance from you. For cold spring-fed pools rather than thermal ones, see all spring swimming holes.
Deep-dive guides: California hot springs · Idaho hot springs · New Mexico hot springs · Oregon hot springs · Wyoming hot springs · Colorado hot springs · Washington hot springs
Agua Caliente Hot Springs south of Tucson / Green Valley, AZ — free undeveloped canyon thermal pools in Coronado National Forest (not Tucson’s Agua Caliente Park). High-clearance FR-183 approach; no facilities; soak at your own risk.
View detailsAgua Caliente County Park near Julian, CA — San Diego County desert mineral pools (outdoor swim + ~102°F indoor spa). Open roughly Labor Day to Memorial Day; fees apply.
View detailsAlvord Hot Springs near Winnemucca (NV), Oregon is a hot springs swimming spot on Alvord Hot Springs. What people come for: Geothermal heated waters; Remote desert location. Expect a fee of about $5 per person, and you will find restrooms and camping. Best visited in Late spring through early fall. This is extremely remote country.
View detailsBagby Hot Springs and Swimming Area is a hot springs swimming spot on BAGBY AREA near Portland, Oregon. What people come for: Crystal-clear blue-green water; Short and scenic hike to access. Expect a fee of about $5 per person, and you will find restrooms and camping. Best visited in late spring–early fall. Carry cash for the $5 soak fee; confirm road status before the drive.
View detailsBerkeley Springs S. P. near Martinsburg, West Virginia is a hot springs swimming spot on Hot Springs. What people come for: Historic mineral spa; Year-round hot springs. Expect a fee of about $10 per person, and you will find restrooms and picnic areas. Best visited in Spring. The mineral water is for external bathing only.
View detailsNeither destination is developed or officially managed, which means you get something harder to find in the American West: a genuinely wild soak, where the smell of sulfur mingles with sage and pine, and the backdrop is pure Sierra Nevada grandeur.
View detailsChena Hot Springs near Fairbanks, Alaska — a 106°F natural hot springs lake open year-round at the end of Chena Hot Springs Road. Day passes, hours, and winter aurora soaking tips.
View detailsPlan a trip to Chinati Hot Springs in West Texas near Marfa and Presidio — remote private desert soak, reservations, fees, and Pinto Canyon Road driving notes.
View detailsFaywood Hot Springs near Silver City / Deming, NM — private geothermal resort with clothing-required and clothing-optional pools. Day-use ~$18.25; reservations required.
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Featherville Swimming and Hot Springs is a natural swimming spot near Boise, Idaho. What people come for: Primitive hot springs at Willow Creek; Developed hot spring at Baumgartner. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find picnic areas, camping and parking. Best visited in Spring. Test water temperature carefully before entering.
View detailsHere, thermal spring water wells up from the earth and fills a spacious . The Setting Montana's central heartland stretches out in every direction.
View detailsGlenwood Hot Springs Resort in Glenwood Springs, Colorado is a paid commercial hot-springs pool complex on the Colorado River (world’s largest outdoor hot springs pool). Book tickets ahead in peak season — not a free wild soak.
View detailsGoldbug Hot Springs south of Salmon, Idaho — free terraced hot pools after a steep ~2-mile hike from the Warm Springs Road trailhead. Private-land easement at the start; pack water.
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Few places within striking distance of Las Vegas reward effort the way Goldstrike Canyon does. You'll navigate rocky terrain, grip knotted ropes to lower yourself over boulder drops, and pick footholds along narrow ledges.
View detailsThe drive in follows the Hoback River canyon, where pine-draped ridgelines rise on either side and the air carries that clean, resinous scent of high-altitude wilderness.
View detailsNestled near the small town of Middletown, the property sits within a folded landscape of oak woodland and chaparral, where the earth itself pushes mineral-rich water to the surface in a quiet, almost ceremonial act of geology.
View detailsHomestead Crater in Midway, UT — ~96°F geothermal spring inside a limestone dome near Park City. Timed soak/swim sessions about $30 with reservations required.
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Hot Creek is a hot creek swimming spot on Hot Spring Creek near Bishop, California. What people come for: Geothermal hot springs; Scenic Eastern Sierra views. Access is free, and you will find restrooms. Best visited in Summer. Do not swim or submerge in the main creek channel.
View detailsHot Springs Arkansas Swimming Destinations near Little Rock, Arkansas is a natural swimming spot. What people come for: Geothermal hot springs; Lake Ouachita swimming spots. There is a fee or park admission. Best visited in Spring. Check individual bathhouse websites or call ahead for current hours, fees, and reservation policies.
View detailsHot Springs Campground near Boise, Idaho is a hot spring swimming spot on Hot Spring/South Fork Payette River. What people come for: Geothermal hot springs with soothing temperatures; Scenic setting in Boise National Forest. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas and camping. Best visited in Summer. Test water temperature carefully before entering.
View detailsIt's something rarer and more restorative. Natural mineral-rich water, geothermally heated far below the surface, is channeled directly into private fiberglass hot tubs where you can soak at your own pace, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the Southern Appalachians.
View detailsHot Springs South Dakota Swimming Spots is a varies - see below destination on Varies - see below in SD near Rapid City, Hot Springs. Fee note: Varies - see below.. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.
View detailsThis is not a manufactured spa experience. It is geology made personal, a living landscape shaped by centuries of mineral deposition, rising steam, and the quiet power of thermal water finding its way to the surface.
View detailsVisit Jefferson Pools (Warm Springs Pools) in Warm Springs, VA — historic geothermal bathhouses with timed soaks, fees, reservations, and directions from Lexington.
View detailsSpread across the Santa Fe National Forest along the winding corridor of Route 4, these unofficial sites range from steaming hillside hot springs to cool, clear river pools shaded by cottonwoods and ponderosa pines.
View detailsJerry Johnson Hot Springs off US-12 on the Lochsa River in Idaho are free riverside geothermal pools reached by an easy ~1-mile trail from Warm Springs Pack Bridge (mile markers 152–153). Day-use only; no camping at the pools.
View detailsKirkham Hot Springs on the South Fork Payette River near Lowman, Idaho is a Boise National Forest day-use soak (~$5/vehicle). Gate hours typically 7 a.m.–9 p.m. with no overnight camping; walk in across the bridge to riverside pools. Confirm current USFS alerts before you go.
View detailsLake Arrowhead and Deep Creek swimming spots in California’s San Bernardino Mountains include creek pools and lake accesses (Aztec Falls area among them). Access rules vary — some trailheads require Adventure Passes; confirm before you go.
View detailsMono Hot Springs near Fresno, California is a creek swimming spot on South Fork of San Joaquin River. What people come for: Geothermal hot springs; South Fork San Joaquin River swimming. You will find restrooms, picnic areas and camping. Best visited in May to October. Test water temperature carefully before entering.
View detailsMontezuma Hot Springs near Las Vegas, NM — free historic pools beside the Gallinas River on UWC land. Open 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; clothing required; no pets, glass, or alcohol.
View detailsOlympic Hot Springs near Port Angeles, WA — natural pools requiring a long hike/bike because Olympic Hot Springs Road is closed to cars at Madison Falls. Park entry fee; soak at your own risk.
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Roper Lake near Tucson, Arizona is a hot springs swimming spot. What people come for: Natural hot tub for relaxation; Safe swimming areas for families. Expect a fee of about $10.00, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas and camping. Best visited in March to May. Test water temperature before entering hot springs or the lake to avoid scalding or shock.
View detailsSan Francisco Hot Springs is a hot spring swimming spot near Las Cruces, New Mexico. What people come for: Natural hot springs in Gila National Forest; Geothermal pools by the San Francisco River. Access is free, and there are no facilities on site. Best visited in March-May. Check current conditions with the Glenwood Ranger Station before departing.
View detailsNo admission fee, no hiking required, no crowds fighting over a hidden gem. Just warm mineral water, open sky, and the kind of unhurried Western hospitality that defines this corner of the state.
View detailsSkykomish Region Swimming Spots lies in Washington, where Varies -See Below moves through a wooded corridor. Eagles wheel overhead, old-growth conifers crowd the banks, and the river itself shifts personality with the seasons.
View detailsStrawberry Park Hot Springs near Steamboat Springs, Colorado is a private, reservation-required mineral soak on County Road 36 — not a free wild spring. Expect steep unpaved access, limited parking, cash-only day rates, and clothing-optional hours after dark; book ahead on strawberryhotsprings.com.
View detailsBlack Rock Hot Springs near Taos / Arroyo Hondo, NM — free BLM rock pools beside the Rio Grande (~106°F source). Short steep hike from John Dunn Bridge; pools can flood.
View detailsUmpqua Hot Springs east of Roseburg, OR — geothermal tub above the North Umpqua reached by a short steep trail. $5 day-use or forest pass; day-use only with nudity common.
View detailsManaged by the nonprofit Orient Land Trust, this clothing-optional retreat draws visitors who value wild beauty, ecological stewardship, and the simple, soul-restoring act of sinking into hot mineral water under an open sky.
View detailsWarm Mineral Springs near Sarasota, Florida is a sink hole swimming spot on Springs. What people come for: Geological marvel with mineral-rich waters; Consistent warm temperature of 85°F. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas and camping. Best visited in November through March. The pool has varying depths.
View detailsWhitehorse Hot Springs near Winnemucca (NV), Oregon is a hot springs swimming spot on Whitehorse Hot Springs. What people come for: Remote desert location; Geothermal hot springs. Access is free, and you will find restrooms. Best visited in April-May. Vehicle Preparedness: A high-clearance, 4WD vehicle is strongly advised.
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Wind River Region Swimming Retreats is a hot springs swimming spot on Hot Springs/Dry Creek near Portland (OR), Washington. What people come for: Invigorating cold-water swimming at Dry Creek Falls; Therapeutic soaking at Wind River Hot Springs. Access is free. Best visited in Late spring through early autumn. The water at Dry Creek Falls is very cold.
View detailsYellowstone National Park Swimming Spots near Yellowstone N.P., Wyoming is a river swimming spot. What people come for: Stunning volcanic rock formations; Cool, clear waters for swimming. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find camping. Best visited in June to August. Avoid all areas with visible rapids or strong currents.
View detailsUndeveloped source pools can exceed 140°F, which scalds in seconds. Never step into an unfamiliar pool to test it. Reach in with a hand, downstream of the vent, and work your way toward the source only as long as it stays comfortable.
A comfortable soak is roughly 98-104°F. Above about 104°F, limit yourself to short sessions and get out at the first sign of dizziness or a pounding pulse. Developed commercial springs post their pool temperatures; wild springs do not.
At river-edge springs the temperature is a blend of hot source water and cold river water, so it changes hour to hour with flow. A pool that was perfect last month can be scalding in a drought or washed out entirely in high water.
This is the one rule that matters most and the one people ignore. Naegleria fowleri is a free-living ameba found in warm freshwater including hot springs. Infection is very rare — fewer than ten US cases a year — but more than 97% of people who get it die.
It infects through the nose, not by swallowing. The CDC advice is explicit: keep your head above water in hot springs, and hold your nose or wear a nose clip if you jump into any warm, still freshwater. Do not put your face under, and do not dunk children.
Avoid stirring up the sediment at the bottom of a shallow pool, where the ameba concentrates.
Hot water raises your core temperature and dilates blood vessels, which drops blood pressure. Combined with alcohol, dehydration, or altitude — and most western hot springs are at elevation — that causes fainting, and fainting in a pool is how people drown in water that is only knee-deep.
Drink water, not beer. Get out every fifteen or twenty minutes to cool down. If you are pregnant, or have a heart condition or low blood pressure, talk to a doctor before soaking; prolonged immersion above 102°F is generally advised against in pregnancy.
Many of the best wild springs sit at the bottom of a steep trail. The climb out in desert heat after a long soak causes more rescues than the water does.
No soap, shampoo, or detergent, ever — even biodegradable. It kills the microbial mats that keep a spring clear and it ruins the pool for whoever arrives next.
Pack out everything, including bottle caps and food scraps. Do not build or rearrange rock dams unless the site is managed that way; changing the flow changes the temperature for everyone.
Clothing norms vary and are usually local custom rather than law. If a pool is occupied, ask before joining, and keep groups and noise small — people come to these places for quiet.
Dogs should stay out of the pools. Hot water is dangerous for them and their fur fouls the water.
Roughly 98-104°F is the comfortable and generally safe range for a normal soak. Above 104°F keep sessions short and get out at the first sign of dizziness. Undeveloped source pools can exceed 140°F and will scald in seconds, so always test with a hand downstream of the vent rather than by stepping in.
The serious risk is Naegleria fowleri, an ameba found in warm freshwater that infects through the nose. Cases are very rare but almost always fatal, so the CDC advises keeping your head above water in hot springs and holding your nose or wearing a nose clip if you jump in. Skin rashes from Pseudomonas are far more common and far less serious. Swallowing the water is not the route of infection for the ameba, but it is still not a good idea.
Autumn through spring. Hot springs are one of the few water types that are better outside summer — soaking in 102°F water is far more pleasant when the air is cold, and the crowds are smaller. Many western springs are at elevation and become snowshoe or ski approaches in winter, which is part of the appeal. Summer visits to desert springs can be genuinely dangerous because of heat on the approach.
It depends entirely on who manages the site. Hot springs on national forest land are often free, though some charge a day-use or parking fee and a few require a permit. Commercially developed resort springs charge admission, typically for a maintained pool with posted temperatures, changing rooms, and supervision. Our listings note the fee status we have on record — verify before you drive, since forest service sites change fee status between seasons.
Fifteen to twenty minutes at a time, then get out and cool down before going back in. Longer sessions raise your core temperature and drop your blood pressure, which is what causes the light-headedness people associate with hot springs. Drink water between soaks and skip alcohol entirely, particularly at altitude.
Dogs should not go in the pools. Hot water is dangerous for them — they cannot sweat to regulate temperature — and their fur fouls water that everyone else is sitting in. Many managed springs prohibit pets outright. Keep dogs leashed on the approach and out of the water.