Hot springs guides

Plain-spoken advice for planning a soak, written for travelers in the US and abroad.

Soaking basics

Developed vs Primitive Hot Springs: Which Should You Choose?Resorts, developed pools, natural springs and primitive soaks compared: cost, comfort, safety, crowds, clothing rules and who each type suits best.Hot Spring Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules of SoakingThe etiquette every hot spring visitor should know: noise, photos, soap, dogs, glass, clothing-optional rules, crowded pools and leaving no trace.

Safety

Naegleria fowleri and Hot Springs: The Real Risk ExplainedWhat the brain-eating amoeba is, how rare infection is, why it matters at hot springs, and the simple steps that protect you: keep your head above water.Hot Spring Safety: 12 Rules for a Safe SoakHow to soak safely at hot springs: scalding water, brain-eating amoeba, dehydration, thin ground, remote access and when not to get in. Practical rules for every trip.

State guides

Big Sur Hot Springs: Esalen, Sykes and TassajaraHow to soak at Big Sur hot springs: Esalen's cliffside baths, the Sykes backpacking trip and Tassajara, with access rules, closures and booking tips.Arizona Hot Springs: Verde, Ringbolt, El Dorado and CastleWhere to soak in Arizona: Verde Hot Springs ruins, the hike-in Arizona (Ringbolt) Hot Springs near Hoover Dam, El Dorado, Castle Hot Springs and seasonal closures.Alaska Hot Springs: Chena, Manley, Tenakee and Northern Lights SoaksAlaska hot springs for aurora soaks and remote adventures: Chena near Fairbanks, Manley, Tolovana, Tenakee Springs, Goddard near Sitka and Chief Shakes near Wrangell.East Coast Hot Springs: Near NYC, Pennsylvania and North CarolinaAre there hot springs on the East Coast? The best options near New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut: Berkeley Springs, Warm Springs, Hot Springs NC and more.Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas: Bathhouse Row GuideHow to soak at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas: Buckstaff and Quapaw baths, Bathhouse Row history, free thermal water fountains and tips for planning a visit.Lake Isabella and Kern River Hot Springs: Remington and MoreHot springs near Lake Isabella and Bakersfield on the Kern River: Remington, Miracle and Delonegha, with directions, access notes and Kern River safety.Montana Hot Springs: Historic Resorts and Mountain SoaksMontana hot springs from Chico and Norris near Bozeman to Boulder, Elkhorn and Lolo, plus soaks near Yellowstone and Glacier and tips for winter road trips.Mammoth Lakes Hot Springs: Hilltop, Crab Cooker and Wild Willy'sThe best hot springs near Mammoth Lakes, CA: Hilltop, Crab Cooker, Wild Willy's and Rock Tub on Benton Crossing Road, with directions, temperatures and rules.New Mexico Hot Springs: Truth or Consequences, Jemez and TaosNew Mexico hot springs from the bathhouses of Truth or Consequences to the Jemez Mountains, Ojo Caliente and the Rio Grande pools near Taos. Where to soak and when.Northern California Hot Springs: Best Natural Soaks and ResortsThe best hot springs in Northern California: Wilbur, Drakesbad, Grover, Travertine and more, with a map, temperatures and tips for natural springs and resorts.Palm Springs Hot Springs: Desert Hot Springs Spas and PoolsWhere to soak near Palm Springs: Desert Hot Springs mineral spas, the Agua Caliente spa downtown and Agua Caliente County Park, with day-pass and price tips.Utah Hot Springs: Fifth Water, Mystic, Meadow and MoreA guide to Utah hot springs: Fifth Water's blue pools, Mystic's travertine tubs, Meadow's clear ponds, the Homestead Crater and soaks near Salt Lake City.Washington Hot Springs: Olympic, Cascades and Columbia GorgeWashington hot springs: Sol Duc in Olympic National Park, permit-only Goldmyer, reservation-only Scenic, and springs near Mount Rainier and the Columbia Gorge.Wyoming Hot Springs: Thermopolis, Saratoga and Yellowstone RulesWhere you can and cannot soak in Wyoming: free baths at Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Saratoga's Hobo Pool, Granite Hot Springs and Yellowstone's rules.Yellowstone Hot Springs: Where You Can Swim and SoakYou cannot soak in Yellowstone's hot springs, but you can swim at the Firehole River swim area. Rules, seasons and the best legal soaks near the park.Nevada Hot Springs: Desert Soaks From Reno to Black RockNevada has more thermal springs than almost any state. Where to soak near Reno and Carson City, in the Black Rock Desert and central Nevada, plus desert safety tips.Idaho Hot Springs: Road Trips, Scenic Byways and SoaksIdaho is often called the hot springs capital of the US. Where to soak along Highways 21, 75 and 12, near Boise, McCall and Stanley, plus seasons and access tips.Oregon Hot Springs: Cascades Forest Soaks and High Desert PoolsWhere to soak in Oregon: Umpqua, Bagby and McCredie in the Cascades, plus Alvord, Crystal Crane and the desert springs of the southeast. Passes, seasons and tips.California Hot Springs: Eastern Sierra, Desert and CoastWhere to soak in California: Eastern Sierra springs near Mammoth and Bridgeport, desert springs, Big Sur, wine-country resorts and how to visit responsibly.Colorado Hot Springs: The Best Soaks and How to VisitA guide to Colorado hot springs: Glenwood, Strawberry Park, Pagosa, Ouray, Conundrum and Valley View, plus the Historic Hot Springs Loop and winter driving tips.

International

Balkan Thermal Spas: Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and AlbaniaThe best thermal spas in the Balkans: Istarske Toplice and Terme Tuhelj in Croatia, Sijarinska Banja in Serbia, Bankya near Sofia and Llixhat e Elbasanit in Albania.Bali Hot Springs: Toya Devasya, Banjar and BanyuwedangWhere to find hot springs in Bali: the lakeside pools at Kintamani, Air Panas Banjar near Lovina, Banyuwedang near Pemuteran and Angseri near Bedugul.Budapest Thermal Baths: Széchenyi, Gellért, Rudas and MoreA guide to Budapest's thermal baths: Széchenyi, Gellért, Rudas, Király, Lukács and Veli Bej, what each is like, tickets, etiquette and tips for first-time visitors.Canada Hot Springs: Banff, Radium, Liard and BC's KootenaysCanada's best hot springs: Parks Canada pools at Banff and Radium, Liard River on the Alaska Highway, the Kootenay springs of BC and Hot Springs Cove near Tofino.Central America Hot Springs: Guatemala, El Salvador, HondurasThe best termales in Central America: Fuentes Georginas in Guatemala, Termales de Santa Teresa in El Salvador and the springs near Copán and Gracias in Honduras.Greece and Turkey Hot Springs: Pamukkale, Kos and ThermopylaeThe best hot springs in Greece and Turkey: Pamukkale and Karahayıt, Yalova, the Therma springs on Kos, Kallithea on Rhodes and the historic Thermopylae springs.Hidalgo Hot Springs, Mexico: Tolantongo and El GeiserHidalgo has some of the best hot springs in Mexico: Las Grutas de Tolantongo, El Géiser in Tecozautla and Grutas Xajhá. Getting there and what to expect.German Thermal Baths: Baden-Baden, Aachen and Spa Town CultureHow German thermal baths work: Baden-Baden's Friedrichsbad and Caracalla, Aachen, Wiesbaden, big therme complexes, textile-free sauna rules and what Bad means.Are There Hot Springs in Ireland? Spas and Seaweed BathsIreland has no natural hot springs to soak in. Here is why, plus the spa wells, seaweed baths and thermal spas to try instead, and the nearest real hot springs.Italy Hot Springs: Tuscany's Free Pools and Classic TermeItaly's best hot springs and terme: Saturnia's Cascate del Mulino, Bagni San Filippo, Petriolo, Bagno Vignoni, Ischia, the Euganean Hills and the Alps.Japanese Onsen Etiquette: A First-Timer's GuideHow to use an onsen in Japan: washing first, no swimsuits, the small towel, tattoos, gender-separate baths, ryokan tips and the best onsen towns for travelers.New Zealand Hot Springs: Rotorua, Taupō, Coromandel and the SouthNew Zealand's best hot pools and natural springs: Rotorua, Taupō's free stream, Hot Water Beach, Hanmer Springs and Welcome Flat, plus the amoeba warning to know.Portugal Hot Springs: Chaves, Geres and Luso Thermal BathsThe best thermal springs in Portugal: the hot Roman springs of Chaves, Termas do Gerês in the national park, and Luso near the Buçaco forest. What to expect.Hot Springs in Norway, Sweden and Finland: What to ExpectAre there hot springs in Norway, Sweden or Finland? Why natural hot springs are rare in Scandinavia, plus the saunas, bathhouses and spas to try instead.South Korea Hot Springs: Busan, Onyang and Yuseong OncheonWhere to soak in South Korea: Heosimcheong in Busan, the Onyang, Yuseong and Suanbo oncheon towns, and how Korean hot spring bathhouses work.Iceland Hot Springs and Lagoons: A Practical GuideIceland's best hot springs and geothermal lagoons, from Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon to the Secret Lagoon, Reykjadalur and highland pools, with etiquette and booking tips.

Trip planning

Best Hot Springs in the USA: Natural Soaks Worth the TripThe best natural hot springs in the US, from Travertine and Strawberry Park to Kirkham, Chena and Hot Springs National Park, with how to choose and when to go.A Hot Springs Road Trip Through the American WestA two-week hot springs road trip plan through Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Nevada, with route ideas, seasons, budgets and tips for natural and developed soaks.Florida Springs: Are There Hot Springs in Florida?Florida has no true hot springs, but its clear 68 to 74°F springs are superb for swimming. Rock Springs, Little River, Vernon and Warm Mineral Springs explained.Winter Hot Springs: How to Soak Safely in Snow and ColdTips for winter hot springs trips: road closures, what to wear, staying warm getting in and out, frozen hair, hypothermia risk and the best winter-friendly soaks.How to Find Hot Springs Near You (and Check They Are Open)A step-by-step method for finding hot springs near you: use the near-me map, read the temperature and type, check land status and confirm access before driving out.What to Bring to a Hot Spring: The Complete Packing ListA practical packing list for hot springs, from resort day passes to backcountry soaks: water, footwear, towels, thermometer, warm layers and what to leave at home.

Science

Do Hot Springs Have Health Benefits? What the Evidence SaysWhat research says about hot springs and health: relaxation, sleep, muscle and joint pain, skin conditions and the risks, without the exaggerated healing claims.How Do Hot Springs Form? The Science in Plain EnglishWhy some springs are hot: groundwater circulation, the geothermal gradient, volcanic heat, faults, minerals, the sulfur smell and why the American West has so many.