State guides
Wyoming Hot Springs: Thermopolis, Saratoga and Yellowstone Rules
Last updated October 22, 2026 · 2 min read
Wyoming has some of the most spectacular geothermal features on Earth, almost all of them inside Yellowstone National Park, where soaking is banned. Outside the park the state has a handful of excellent places to soak.
Thermopolis and Hot Springs State Park
Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis surrounds the Big Spring, which feeds colorful travertine terraces along the Bighorn River. The State Bath House offers free soaks with a time limit, a tradition tied to the 1896 treaty under which the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho ceded the springs on the condition that some of the water stay free to the public. Commercial pools in the park offer slides and bigger pools. A swinging footbridge crosses the river with views of the terraces.
Saratoga
The town of Saratoga in southern Wyoming has the free Hobo Hot Pool, open around the clock, beside the North Platte River.
Near Jackson
Granite Hot Springs is a developed pool in a forest valley south of Jackson, reached by a gravel road in summer and by snowmobile, dog sled or skis in winter. Astoria Hot Springs near Hoback Junction reopened in recent years as a park with soaking pools. Kelly Warm Springs in Grand Teton National Park is a warm pond that has been the focus of efforts to remove non-native aquarium fish, so do not release anything into it.
Central Wyoming
Alcova Hot Springs near Casper sits near the North Platte River and Alcova Reservoir.
Yellowstone: look, do not touch
Yellowstone holds about half of the world’s active geysers and thousands of hot springs. Its thermal water can be acidic, near boiling and hidden under thin crust. Stay on boardwalks and marked trails, keep children close and keep dogs out of thermal areas. Our directory deliberately leaves Yellowstone’s view-only features off the map.
The Boiling River, where a hot spring flows into the Gardner River near Mammoth, was the park’s one legal soaking spot. It has been closed since the June 2022 floods. Check with the National Park Service before planning around it.
See the Wyoming hot springs map.
Springs in this guide
Listed Wyoming hot springs
The 7 best-documented of 12 Wyoming springs in our directory. See all Wyoming hot springs on a map.
| Hot spring | Water temp | Type | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermopolis Hot Springs | 133°F | Developed | Thermopolis, WY (1 mi) |
| Alcova Hot Springs 1981 record | 129°F | Natural | Mills, WY (27 mi) |
| Auburn Hot Springs 1981 record | 144°F | Natural | Afton, WY (8 mi) |
| Jackson Lake Hot Springs 1981 record | 162°F | Natural | Driggs, ID (26 mi) |
| Kelly Warm Springs | 81°F | Natural | Jackson, WY (13 mi) |
| Shoshone Hot Springs 1981 record | 95°F | Natural | Cody, WY (4 mi) |
| Washakie Mineral Hot Springs 1981 record | 111°F | Natural | Fort Washakie, WY (2 mi) |
Frequently asked questions
Is the bathhouse in Thermopolis free?
Yes. The State Bath House in Hot Springs State Park offers free soaks with a time limit. Commercial pools in the park charge entry.
Can you swim in Yellowstone's hot springs?
No. Entering or touching thermal features is illegal in Yellowstone, and people have died after leaving boardwalks. The Boiling River area was the one legal soaking spot, but it has been closed since the 2022 floods.
Are there hot springs near Jackson Hole?
Yes. Granite Hot Springs is a developed pool in the Bridger-Teton National Forest south of Jackson, and Astoria Hot Springs is a newer park and pool complex near Hoback Junction.