9 Wyoming Hot Springs You Can Actually Soak In
From Thermopolis (the world's largest mineral spring) to roadside soaks on the Salt River, the working list of Wyoming hot springs that welcome the public, with prices and access notes.
Wyoming has more hot springs than most visitors expect. The state sits over a complex of geothermal features that extends well beyond Yellowstone, with active mineral springs in Thermopolis, Saratoga, the Salt River Range, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and a half-dozen other locations. Some are commercial pools with concession-stand prices. Some are free under century-old treaty arrangements. A few are genuinely remote backcountry soaks that require a 10-mile snowmobile ride in winter or a long Forest Service road in summer.
This is the working short list of Wyoming hot springs that are open to the public, in some order of accessibility. Address, hours, prices, and access notes included for each. All have been visited at some point by the editors; conditions change, so verify directly before any trip.
1. Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis
Where: Thermopolis, Wyoming, in the central part of the state. About 90 minutes south of Cody on US-20.
The water: The Big Spring discharges over 8,000 gallons per minute at 135°F. The state park collects the water and cools it through terraced limestone formations before it reaches the public pools. Mineral content is heavy on calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, and dissolved sulfates, which is what gives the water the distinctive feel and the terrace formations their orange, white, and green coloration.
What to do:
- The State Bath House. Free admission, year-round. Indoor and outdoor pools maintained at 104°F. Open daily 8 AM to 5:30 PM. The 1896 treaty agreement with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho specifies that the bath house must remain free in perpetuity, and Wyoming has honored this for 130 years.
- The Star Plunge. Adjacent commercial water park with mineral water, water slides, and family-oriented amenities. Admission $20-25 adults.
- The Hellie’s TePee Pools. Second commercial operation on the same site. Admission $15-20.
- Walking the terraces and hiking the surrounding park. Free. The Swinging Bridge across the Bighorn River is a town landmark.
Verdict: the most accessible substantial hot springs experience in Wyoming. Worth a half-day. Pair with the Wyoming Dinosaur Center across town for a full day in Thermopolis.
2. Saratoga Hot Pool (“Hobo Pool”)
Where: Saratoga, Wyoming, in the Snowy Range / North Platte River area, about 45 minutes from Laramie via Wyoming Route 130.
The water: Natural mineral hot pool maintained at 102-115°F (varies by section of the pool). Sulfur content is detectable but mild.
What to do: Soak. The pool is free, open 24 hours a day, year-round. Public restrooms and changing rooms on site. The North Platte River runs alongside the pool; some visitors alternate between the hot pool and a river dunk in summer.
Verdict: one of the great free public soaking experiences in the West. Better in winter when steam and cold air create the Wyoming hot springs signature. The town of Saratoga is small (about 1,700 people) and quiet; pair the soak with a meal at the Hotel Wolf restaurant downtown.
3. Granite Hot Springs
Where: Bridger-Teton National Forest, about 35 miles southeast of Jackson via Hoback Junction and Granite Creek Road.
The water: Forest Service-managed soaking pool, fed by a 110°F natural spring. Pool temperature is regulated by the rate of water flow and runs about 105-112°F in winter, slightly cooler in summer.
Access:
- Summer (May-October): drive in via Granite Creek Road, a good gravel road suitable for any vehicle. Modest parking fee (typically $8/vehicle).
- Winter (December-March): the road is unplowed, accessible only by snowmobile, cross-country ski, or fat-tire bike. The 10-mile approach is part of the experience. Multiple Jackson outfitters run guided snowmobile-and-soak day trips for $150-250/person.
Verdict: the most dramatic Wyoming hot springs experience, especially in winter. The pool sits in a forest clearing surrounded by snow-covered fir trees; the snowmobile-in approach builds anticipation that the soak then delivers on. Among the most-photographed Wyoming hot springs.
4. Astoria Mineral Hot Springs
Where: South of Jackson, Wyoming, in the Hoback Canyon area on US-89/26.
The water: Multiple natural pools fed by springs at 105°F. Privately operated by the Astoria Hot Springs Park, a community nonprofit.
Access: Open seasonally (typically May through October). Admission $15-25 adults.
Verdict: family-friendly, well-maintained, less remote than Granite. Good option for Jackson-area visitors who do not want the snowmobile commitment.
5. Boysen State Park hot well (Wedding of the Waters)
Where: Boysen State Park, between Thermopolis and Riverton in central Wyoming, in the dramatic Wind River Canyon.
The water: A 110°F hot well discharges directly into the Bighorn River at the canyon mouth (the spot known as “Wedding of the Waters” because of the canyon outlet). Not a developed pool; a small natural soaking area at the riverbank.
Access: Boysen State Park standard admission ($6 daily for non-residents). The hot well location is a short walk from the parking area.
Verdict: more curiosity than destination. Worth combining with a Wind River Canyon scenic drive or a Boysen Reservoir day. Not really a “soaking” experience the way the other entries are; more a “feel the warm water and continue.”
6. Castle Gardens area dispersed springs
Where: Hot Springs County, Wyoming, in the badlands and mineral-deposit country northwest of Thermopolis. Multiple BLM-administered springs of various temperatures and conditions.
Access: Variable. Most require four-wheel drive, gravel road navigation, and willingness to scout. Some are seasonal (low water in late summer makes some dry). The Wyoming State Geological Survey publishes a hot springs inventory that includes coordinates and conditions for many of these.
Verdict: for adventurous visitors only. Pair with the Castle Gardens petroglyph site (separate, but nearby) for a full off-the-beaten-path day. Not recommended for first-time Wyoming hot springs visitors.
7. Black Mountain hot spring
Where: Bighorn National Forest, on the eastern slope of the Bighorn Mountains. Forest Service road access about 30 minutes from Sheridan area.
The water: Natural spring at approximately 95°F. Lower temperature than the developed pools but still distinctly warm. No development; a stone-walled natural pool of the kind that requires a willingness to share the country with whoever else has found it.
Access: Forest Service road and short hike. Verify current conditions at the Bighorn National Forest Buffalo Ranger District before planning a trip.
Verdict: a real backcountry hot springs experience for visitors willing to do the work. Quiet, undeveloped, the Wyoming version of the Pacific Northwest forest hot springs tradition.
8. Big Sandy Springs
Where: Sweetwater County, Wyoming, on the Bridger Wilderness border about 45 minutes from Pinedale.
The water: Multiple smaller springs, mostly warm rather than hot (75-95°F range). A geothermal feature rather than a soaking destination.
Access: From the Big Sandy trailhead area. The springs are scattered; consult the Bridger-Teton ranger district for current locations and access notes.
Verdict: pair with a Wind River backcountry trip rather than visiting as a destination. Worth a stop on the way in or out of Big Sandy.
9. Yellowstone hot springs (mention but skip)
Yellowstone National Park has some of the most spectacular geothermal features on earth, but soaking in Yellowstone hot springs is illegal, dangerous, and has killed multiple people. The water in many Yellowstone springs is well above boiling, and even cooler features are in delicate ecosystems that are damaged by human contact.
For Yellowstone visitors who want to soak: the Boiling River area near Mammoth Hot Springs (where Yellowstone’s hot water mixes with the cold Gardiner River) was historically a legal soaking spot but was closed indefinitely in 2020 due to flood damage and remains closed. As of 2026, the only legal soaking experience in Yellowstone-adjacent country is at the resorts and commercial operations described above.
The 1935 home-movie footage of Yellowstone embedded in our Cody, Wyoming guide shows period visitors interacting with Yellowstone hot springs in ways that current Park Service rules no longer permit, for good reason.
What to bring
For developed pools (Hot Springs State Park, Saratoga, Granite, Astoria, Boysen):
- Swimsuit, PackTowl Personal quick-dry camp towel, insulated water bottle, sunscreen.
- Chaco Z/1 Classic sandals for the walk between pool and parking — grippy on wet stone, dries in minutes.
- A wool layer for the cold-air contrast on winter visits — a Pendleton blanket from the truck is not overkill at 6,000 ft in January.
For backcountry / dispersed springs (Castle Gardens, Black Mountain, Big Sandy):
- All of the above plus full backcountry kit per our Bighorn pack-trip guide.
- Topographic map and compass / GPS.
- Water filter (you do not want to drink the spring water itself, but you do need drinking water for the day).
- Trash bag (carry out everything).
A note on hot springs etiquette
Most Wyoming hot springs (developed and undeveloped) operate on shared-resource norms that do not require enforcement when visitors follow them:
- Suits required at all developed pools. Wyoming is not a clothing-optional state for public soaking.
- Quiet voices, especially at undeveloped sites. Hot springs draw people who want quiet.
- No glass containers. Broken glass in a soaking pool is a real problem and a $200-500 cleanup.
- No soap, shampoo, or sunscreen in the water. Mineral chemistry is delicate; skin oils are fine, additives are not.
- Pack out everything you pack in, including organic waste like apple cores.
- Rotate sites in busy seasons. If you have been at a popular soak for an hour and others are waiting, finish up.
These are not formal rules at most sites. They are how the Wyoming hot springs community has kept the public sites usable for a century.
A short ranking
If you can only visit one Wyoming hot spring on a Wyoming trip:
- For the substantive experience: Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis.
- For the romantic winter experience: Granite Hot Springs (snowmobile-in).
- For the free + atmospheric + small-town experience: Saratoga Hobo Pool.
- For the family experience: Astoria Hot Springs.
- For the backcountry experience: Black Mountain, in the Bighorns.
For visitors with a full week in Wyoming, hitting Thermopolis on the way to or from Cody, and Saratoga on the way to or from Laramie, is a strong addition to a multi-stop trip.
For Pinterest, the Granite Hot Springs winter steam-and-snow shot is the iconic image. Photographers should bring weatherproof gear and patience.
Related reading on this site
- Cody, Wyoming: a local’s guide to the East Gate of Yellowstone
- Jackson, Wyoming: an honest guide to Tetons, Yellowstone, and the town
- Pinedale, Wyoming: the Bridger Wilderness gateway
- 9 Wyoming ghost towns worth the drive
- Wyoming’s best horse packing trails
Further reading
- Wyoming State Geological Survey hot springs inventory (technical reference, freely available).
- Wyoming State Parks site for Hot Springs State Park and Boysen.
- Bridger-Teton National Forest Granite Hot Springs page for current access conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wyoming's free hot springs really free?
The State Bath House at Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis is genuinely free per a 1896 treaty agreement with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho when the land was ceded to the U.S. government. The Saratoga Hobo Hot Pool is also free. Both are real, both are well-maintained, both stay open year-round. Beyond these two, most Wyoming hot springs are either commercial operations ($5-25 admission) or remote backcountry sites that require effort to reach.
What is the largest hot spring in Wyoming?
The Big Spring at Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis. It discharges 8,000+ gallons per minute at 135°F, making it one of the largest mineral hot springs in the world by flow rate. The water cools through a series of terraces before reaching the public pools at safe soaking temperatures.
When is the best time of year for Wyoming hot springs?
October through April for the contrast experience (soaking in 100°F water with snow on the ground is the signature Wyoming hot springs experience). Summer is fine but less dramatic; the air-water temperature differential is much more striking in winter. For Granite Hot Springs specifically, the 10-mile snowmobile or ski-in approach in winter is one of the better all-day hot-springs trips in the state.