Hot Springs State Park

The park's springs pour out an enormous flow of hot mineral water every day, one of the largest such flows found anywhere. As the water reaches the air and cools, dissolved minerals settle out and slowly build travertine terraces, layered mounds and basins of stone tinted in oranges, browns, and greens by minerals and heat-loving microbes.

The most striking of these is the Rainbow Terrace, spilling toward the Bighorn River in a steaming, colorful cascade of rock. These formations grow and change over time, a slow sculpture made by the water itself, best appreciated from the boardwalks that let you look without harming them.

In 1896 the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho, whose Wind River Reservation lies to the west, transferred this land to the government. Chief Washakie of the Eastern Shoshone is remembered for insisting that some of the healing waters always remain free for all people to use, a wish written into the agreement.

That promise endures. The State Bath House in the park provides a free soak in the mineral water to any visitor, a rare and generous thing among the world's famous hot springs. It roots the park in respect for the peoples who knew and valued these waters long before it became a park, and their descendants remain a living presence in the region.

The free State Bath House offers indoor and outdoor soaking pools kept at a comfortable warmth, and nearby commercial pools add water slides and play features for a fee, making the park a favorite for families. The mineral soak has drawn people seeking its comforts for generations.

The Bighorn River curves through the park, and a historic swinging suspension footbridge lets visitors cross above the water, once used to reach the bathhouses. Paths wind among the terraces, along the river, and past flower gardens, making for an easy and rewarding walk between soaks.

The park maintains a small herd of bison on pastures in the hills above the springs, a nod to the animal that shaped life on these plains, and they can often be seen grazing from the park drive. Mule deer, waterfowl on the river, and a range of birds add to the wildlife, and the warm water keeps parts of the park green even in winter.

Because the springs run hot all year, the park is a true four-season destination. Summer brings warm days and busy pools, fall is crisp and quiet, and winter is spectacular, when frigid air turns the steaming terraces into billowing clouds and frost rimes the boardwalks around the bright, warm water.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Hot Springs State Park, in the town of Thermopolis in north-central Wyoming, surrounds one of the largest mineral hot springs in the world, where steaming, mineral-rich water flows from the earth and cascades over colorful terraces down to the Bighorn River. The park features a free public bathhouse where visitors can soak in the warm mineral waters, along with the dramatic travertine terraces, a swinging suspension bridge over the river, walking paths, gardens, a small bison herd, and picnic areas. Rich in Native American history and natural beauty, Hot Springs State Park offers a soothing and scenic destination in Thermopolis, Wyoming.

Yes, Hot Springs State Park offers a free public bathhouse where visitors can soak in the naturally warm, mineral-rich waters of the hot springs, a tradition rooted in an agreement with Native American nations to keep the healing waters free to all, and there are also nearby pools and soaking facilities. The warm mineral water is a relaxing highlight of a visit. Because the water is hot, soakers should limit their time, stay hydrated, and take care, especially children, the elderly, and anyone with health conditions. Soaking in the free mineral waters is one of the great pleasures of Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming.

You can soak in the free public mineral bathhouse, view the colorful travertine terraces where the hot water cascades toward the Bighorn River, cross the swinging suspension bridge, stroll the walking paths and gardens, watch the park's small bison herd, picnic, and enjoy the scenery and Native American history of the site. The terraces and the warm soak are the highlights. It is a relaxing and family-friendly destination. With its mineral springs, dramatic terraces, bison, and riverside paths, Hot Springs State Park offers a soothing and scenic experience in Thermopolis, Wyoming.

The mineral water is genuinely hot, so limit your soaking time, drink plenty of water, and take care getting in and out, and it is wise for children, older visitors, pregnant women, and anyone with heart conditions or other health concerns to be cautious or check with a doctor before soaking in hot mineral water. Stay on paths and off the fragile travertine terraces, which are slippery and easily damaged, and keep a safe distance from the park's bison, which are wild and dangerous. Soaking sensibly and respecting the terraces and wildlife ensures a safe visit to Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming.

Hot Springs State Park is in the town of Thermopolis in north-central Wyoming, near the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, the scenic Wind River Canyon and Boysen State Park to the south, the Legend Rock petroglyph site to the northwest, and within reach of the Bighorn Basin and the route toward the Bighorn Mountains. That makes Hot Springs State Park a soothing stop to combine with the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Wind River Canyon, and the other attractions of north-central Wyoming on a visit to the state.