Trip planning

What to Bring to a Hot Spring: The Complete Packing List

Last updated October 7, 2026 · 3 min read

What you pack for a hot spring depends on where you are going. A resort day pass needs little more than a swimsuit. A primitive spring two miles up a forest trail needs the same kit as any short hike, plus a few extras for the water. Use the lists below as a starting point.

The essentials for any hot spring

• Swimsuit, even if the spring is clothing optional. You can decide when you get there.
• Towel. A quick-dry microfiber towel is lighter and packs small.
• Water to drink. At least a liter per person for a short visit. Hot water dehydrates you faster than you expect.
• Sandals or water shoes with grip. Pool edges, travertine and mossy rocks are slippery.
• Warm layers for afterward: a fleece or puffy jacket, a hat and dry socks. Your body cools quickly once you are out.
• A bag for wet clothes and another for any trash.

Extras for natural and primitive springs

• A thermometer. A cheap floating pool thermometer or a cooking thermometer tells you whether a pool is 102°F or 115°F before you put a foot in.
• Headlamp, even for a day trip. Soaks run long, and trails are hard to follow at dusk.
• Navigation. Download offline maps before you lose signal. Many springs are on unmarked side trails.
• Snacks and more water than you think you need.
• First aid basics, including blister care and bandages for small cuts from rocks.
• Nose clip if you want extra protection from the rare amoeba Naegleria fowleri in warm fresh water. See our safety guide.
• Trowel and toilet paper bag, so you can follow Leave No Trace rules where there are no toilets.
• Recreation pass if the land manager requires one for parking, such as a Northwest Forest Pass in parts of Oregon and Washington.

Extras for winter soaks

• Insulated boots and a dry pair of socks for the walk out.
• A warm hat to wear in the water. You lose a lot of heat from your head in cold air.
• A thermos of tea or warm water.
• Traction devices for icy trails and parking lots.
• Four-wheel drive or chains, and a backup plan if the road is closed. Read our winter hot springs guide for more.

Extras for resorts and developed pools

• Reservation confirmation. Many popular pools now sell timed entry and sell out on weekends.
• Flip-flops for locker rooms.
• A lock if lockers do not include one.
• Cash or card for entry, rentals and food.

What to leave at home

• Glass bottles. Broken glass in a pool is dangerous and nearly impossible to find.
• Soap, shampoo and sunscreen for natural pools. They leave a film on the water and harm life downstream. Shower before you go.
• Loud speakers. Most people come for quiet.
• Silver jewelry. Sulfur can tarnish it.
• Your dog, unless you have confirmed dogs are allowed. Even then, keep it out of the pools.

Before you leave home

1. Check the spring’s page in our directory for the recorded temperature, type and nearest town.
2. Confirm hours, fees and road conditions with the operator or land manager.
3. Tell someone where you are going if the spring is remote.
4. Check the weather. Rain can make dirt roads impassable, and spring snowmelt floods riverside pools.

Find a spring with the hot springs map, or read our hot spring etiquette guide before you go.

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