50 Free Hot Springs in the US: No Entrance Fee Required

Some of the best hot springs in America are completely free. No entrance fee, no reservation, no gatekeepers. Just natural geothermal water on public land, open to anyone willing to find them.

This guide covers 50 of the best free hot springs across the US, organized by state. All are on public land (BLM, National Forest, or state land) and confirmed free at the time of writing.

Idaho (The Free Hot Springs Capital)

Idaho has more free, soakable hot springs than any other state. Most are on National Forest or BLM land.

1. Goldbug Hot Springs — 2-mile hike, multiple cascade pools, 100-110F
2. Kirkham Hot Springs — Roadside on the South Fork Payette River, 100-108F
3. Pine Flats Hot Springs — Multiple pools along the South Fork Payette, 100-106F
4. Trail Creek Hot Springs — Clothing optional, 2 main pools, 104-108F
5. Boat Box Hot Springs — Riverside pool accessible by boat or short hike, 105F
6. Sunbeam Hot Springs — Right off Highway 75 along the Salmon River, 100-108F
7. Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Forest pools along Warm Springs Creek, 104-113F
8. Weir Creek Hot Springs — Short hike off Highway 12, multiple pools, 100-115F
9. Stanley Hot Springs — 3-mile hike through forest, remote and pristine, 106F
10. Rocky Canyon Hot Springs — Canyon pools near Boise, short scramble access, 100-106F

Nevada (Desert Soaking)

Nevada’s BLM land is dotted with free hot springs in wide-open desert landscapes.

11. Spencer Hot Springs — Roadside cattle trough tubs with panoramic views, 100-115F
12. Trego Hot Springs — Black Rock Desert pools near Burning Man playa, 100-110F
13. Kyle Hot Springs — Remote desert spring with mountain backdrop, 102-106F
14. Beowawe Hot Springs — Geothermal terrace formations, 95-105F
15. Diana’s Punch Bowl — Unique geothermal crater spring, viewable but too hot to soak
16. Soldier Meadows Hot Springs — Remote BLM land, multiple pools, 100-108F
17. Twelve Mile Hot Springs — Creek-side pools with tufa formations, 100-106F

California (Roadside to Remote)

18. Travertine Hot Springs — Eastern Sierra roadside pools, 98-107F
19. Wild Willy’s Hot Springs — Mammoth area boardwalk spring, 100-105F
20. Buckeye Hot Springs — Creekside pools near Bridgeport, 100-110F
21. Keough Hot Springs (primitive) — Free primitive pools near Bishop, 100-108F
22. Remington Hot Springs — Kern River canyon pools, short hike, 102-106F
23. Sespe Hot Springs — Los Padres backcountry, 17-mile hike, 180F source (mix pools cooler)
24. Saline Valley Hot Springs — Death Valley NP, very remote, clothing optional, 102-108F

Oregon (Forest Hot Springs)

25. Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs — Tiered forest pools, short hike, $7 parking (springs free), 95-108F
26. McCredie Hot Springs — Roadside along Salt Creek, 100-108F
27. Wall Creek Hot Springs (Meditation Pool) — Riverside pool, short walk, 104F
28. Paulina Hot Springs — Volcanic spring on Paulina Lake, kayak access, 110F source

Wyoming (Yellowstone Region)

29. Boiling River — Yellowstone NP, river mixing zone, variable temp (park entrance fee applies, spring itself free)
30. Granite Hot Springs — USFS developed pool, 93-112F seasonal, minimal fee for maintenance
31. Huckleberry Hot Springs — Near Grand Teton, short walk, 100-110F
32. Astoria Hot Springs — Recently redeveloped, community pools

Colorado (High Altitude Soaking)

33. Conundrum Hot Springs — 8.5-mile hike, 11,200 ft elevation, 100-104F (permit required)
34. Penny Hot Springs — Crystal River roadside pools, 100-130F
35. Radium Hot Springs — Colorado River primitive pools, 100-115F
36. South Canyon Hot Springs — Near Glenwood Springs, creek pools, 100-110F

Montana (Wilderness Pools)

37. Jerry Johnson Hot Springs (Montana side) — Forest pools, 104-110F
38. Boiling River (Yellowstone MT entrance) — Gardner River mixing, variable
39. Potosi Hot Springs — Warm pool in Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, 100F
40. Lolo Hot Springs (primitive area) — Natural pools near the developed resort, 100-106F

New Mexico (Desert Therapy)

41. Spence Hot Springs — Jemez Mountains forest pools, short hike, 95-106F
42. San Antonio Hot Springs — Remote forest pools, moderate hike, 100-110F
43. Manby Hot Springs — Rio Grande Gorge pools near Taos, 98-104F
44. Jordan Hot Springs — Gila Wilderness backcountry, multi-day hike, 95-100F

Utah (Red Rock Soaking)

45. Fifth Water Hot Springs — Popular Diamond Fork Canyon pools, 2.5-mile hike, 100-110F
46. Meadow Hot Springs — Three spring pools on private-but-open land, 100F

Washington

47. Scenic Hot Springs — Cascade Mountain pool with views, moderate hike, 106F
48. Goldmyer Hot Springs — Reservation-only wilderness spring, 4.5-mile hike, 104F

Alaska

49. Chena Hot Springs (day use area) — Some free primitive pools near the resort
50. Manley Hot Springs — Small town community hot spring, traditionally free

Tips for Visiting Free Hot Springs

• Verify current access. Land management changes, fires, floods, and seasonal closures can affect availability.
• Arrive early. Free springs with road access get crowded. Weekday mornings are best.
• Pack everything out. These springs stay free because visitors take care of them.
• Bring water. You dehydrate quickly while soaking.
• Tell someone your plans. Many free springs are remote with no cell service.

Idaho is the undisputed king of free hot springs — see our Idaho hot springs guide for 340+ springs, most of which are free. And if you plan to camp at a free spring overnight, our hot springs camping guide has everything you need to plan the trip.

Find Free Hot Springs Near You

Soakr lets you filter for free hot springs on the map. See all 50+ free springs with GPS coordinates, reviews, and offline access. Download Soakr free for iOS.