Hot springs are natural features resulting when ground water is heated (sometimes far beyond the level of human endurance) by geothermal forces and brought to the surface, typically becoming diluted with cool surface water on the way. Many are in attractive locations and are scenic (e.g. the geysers of Yellowstone National Park, Kamchatka, New Zealand, etc.) or celebrated (e.g. the original town of Spa), hence are attractions or even destinations in their own right. However, for the hot-spring aficionado, the greatest pleasure comes not from just looking at the spring, but from getting into the water for its therapeutic powers, not to mention just because it feels good — really good. This article will help travelers get the most out of their hot-spring experiences world-wide.
Africa
Namibia
Ai-Ais, developed
South Africa
Montagu, Avalon Springs, [1], developed
Asia
Bhutan
Most hot springs (locally called tsachu) in Bhutan have avoided over development and generally a trek is required reach them. Popular ones are in Gasa. Duer in Bumthang and Koma in Punakha.
China
Many places in Southern China — at least Fuzhou, Zhuhai and Zhongshan — have hot springs.
Indonesia
Air Panjar in BaliIndonesia is a highly volcanic archipelago and consequently has hot springs (air panas) all over the place, but few are developed or on the tourist trail. Bali is the most popular hot spring destination by a mile, but many of them are considered holy and have been developed into temples, where the locals come to bathe (fully clothed) but foreigners may not be welcome. A few, however, have been developed and are open to all, such as Air Banjar near Lovina, where stone mouth carvings allow hot water to pass between pools which are set among a lush garden.
Japan
Japan is very active geothermally and onsen hot springs dot the length of the entire country. The Japanese love their baths — so much so that the Japan guide has an entire section devoted to the topic and a visit to a Japanese hot spring is a highlight of any trip.
The Official Top 3 most famous hot spring resorts are Atami (Kanto), Beppu (Kyushu), and Shirahama (Kansai). Dogo Onsen makes a solid claim to be the oldest and Hokkaido’s Noboribetsu claims to be the largest, while secluded hot-spring hideaways can be found in places including Iya Valley (Shikoku), Yagen Valley (Tohoku) and Oku-Hida (Chubu). Japan’s major cities also have hot spring areas within striking distance, with Hakone and the many hot springs of Gumma being popular getaways for Tokyoites and Kobe inhabitants nipping across the hill to Arima Onsen. Last but not least, at the northeastern most tip of Hokkaido is Shiretoko National Park and its remarkable Kamuiwakkayu-no-taki, a hot spring waterfall thought by the Ainu to inhabited by the gods themselves.
Laos
Malaysia
Sungkai, Perak; Pedas, Negeri Sembilan; Selayang, Selangor;
Nepal
There isn’t much of a ‘hot spring’ tradition in Nepal, but the residents of the aptly named Tatopani (tato = hot, pani = water) quickly realized that trekkers on the Jomson and Annapurna Circuit trails would pay for a hot soak. When soaking or swimming in Nepal it’s best to have a swimsuit and sarong for modesty.
South Korea
Hurshimchung, Busan, South KoreaKoreans also love their oncheon hot springs and Busan’s Hurshimchung spa is a creditable contender in the heavily competed contest for the largest spa complex in the world.
Taiwan
Being located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, hot springs (Chinese: wen-chuan) can be found all over Taiwan. Popular places for bathing near the capital Taipei are Beitou, Wulai and the Yangmingshan National Park. At Guanziling near Chiayi, you can even sample hot mud springs.
Europe
Austria
The states of Lower Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Salzburg are crossed by a tectonic fault, resulting in a large number of hot springs in the area. Most springs are commercially exploited. Towns with the prefix “Bad” in the name, such as Bad Gastein normally have hot spring facilities, which are usually accompanied by pools, saunas, rehabilitation centers and hotels of high standards. Wild springs do exist, but are more difficult to find.
Belgium
Spa
Iceland
Iceland sits on the fault between the North American and European plates, which are slowly moving apart, and is home to the original “Geysir”; so it should come as no surprise that it has geothermally heated water aplenty. Public heated swimming pools and attendant “hot pots” are commonplace throughout the country. The Blue Lagoon near Reykjavik, with its vivid, translucent blue, 100°F/40°C waters (cooled from their original temperature after being being pumped from a mile underground and powering an electrical plant) is a popular destination.
Italy
Look for scattered hot springs in the volcanic southern part of the country. The island of Pantelleria has well-known thermal baths, and Ischia is famous for the springs there, some of them “subaqueous” (submerged in the sea). The island of Vulcano features a “mud bath” in which the springs manifest in a goopy mud reputed to have therapeutic properties, as well as more subaqueous springs along the adjacent beach where mud-bath users can wash off the mud.
Romania
Băile Herculane – Inside the town and up the Cerna river a number of open pools with hot spring water can be accessed without charge. Locals of all generations mix with Romanian and international tourists.
Oradea – The region around the city has a number of commercial spas that appear to be developed from hot springs.
Spain
You can find working Moorish Baths, usually from natural hot spring sources, throughout southwestern Spain, including Granada. Some of these include deep soaking pools or the more traditional steam room style.
United Kingdom
The famous hot springs at Bath (England) have been used by humans since Roman times, and probably long before, but until recently were in a state of disrepair and inaccessible to bathers, although still open for viewing. Recently the Thermae Springs have re-opened as a developed spring in which visitors can bathe (fee).
Middle East
Turkey
The calcite hot springs and waterfalls of Pamukkale.Pamukkale – Meaning “cotton castle”, these natural travertine hot springs provide stunning natural beauty and wonderful warm water to soak yourself in. The bright white calcite deposits make it easy for visitors to walk along the cascading water (though officials are constantly moving boundaries and walking areas to preserve the area). Most of the pools are just large enough set your feet into and only a few of the larger pools go past your knees.
Hierapolis – Five minutes further up the white waterfalls of Pamukkale you’ll find the Hierapolis hot springs where you can soak among sunken Roman columns (for a 20 Euro fee) submerged in an ancient pool.
North America
Canada
A natural hot spring waterfall set in a Canadian winter.Hot springs in Canada cluster in geological settings similar to those of the United States (below). Banff National Park and Jasper National Park have well-known springs that are readily accessible to the visitor, and there are a number of hot-spring sites in British Columbia including those that are managed, such at Radium Hot Springs and Fairmont, and natural, such as at Tofino and Fairmont.
Costa Rica
This highly volcanic yet visitor-friendly country has several hot springs, with a concentration at the small town of Fortuna due to the proximity of the active Arenal volcano. Tabacon near Fortuna is a well developed spring/spa, with several options for visits.
Mexico
Mexico is a volcanic and seismically-active country, and there are likely to be hot springs all over the landscape despite its aridity. A few commercially-developed springs are near Puebla, but their status following the re-activation of nearby Popocatepetl volcano is unknown; if you have information on springs in this area, please update this.
Baja California has a number of hot pools and hot springs; San Carlos, near Ensenada, Guadelupe Canyon west of Mexicali, and the seaside springs at Puertocitos are well-known.
United States of America
Most hot springs in the continental United States are located either near the Rocky Mountains or in the geologically turbulent country of the West Coast (California and the Pacific Northwest), but there are a few in other, sometimes unexpected places. Quite a large fraction of the springs are in wild areas and entirely undeveloped, sometimes reachable only by a testing hike. Commercial springs vary wildly in degree of development; a few have been turned into posh, expensive resorts, but more are at the “rustic” end of the scale.
Alaska
Alaska is intensely volcanic, and wild springs abound; however, most are seriously inaccessible. Developed hot springs exist at Fairbanks and probably elsewhere.
Arizona
Commercial hot springs are found at the unincorporated “town” of Tonopah, about 50 miles west of Phoenix. There have been recent changes of ownership.
Arkansas
Hot Springs (Arkansas) | Hot Springs National Park
California
Public hot springs are located along the east side of the Eastern Sierra, many near route 395, in Bridgeport (Travertine, Buckeye), Mammoth (Hot Creek), and others. Deep Creek is located in Apple Valley, near the town of Victorville.
Harbin Hot Springs 18424 Harbin Springs Rd. 707-987-2477 / 800-622-2477 [2] in Middletown (California) has private hot springs, spa, and retreat center.
Information about these can be found in the book, “Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Southwest” [3].
Colorado
Although not as volcanically or seismically active as its neighbors, Colorado has a number of hot springs. Major commercial springs are at Glenwood Springs (an enormous outdoor pool/spa complex) and Steamboat Springs, while smaller commercial operations are at Alamosa and in the Salida vicinity. A wild spring familiar to thousands of “peak baggers” who climb the state’s highest mountains is Conundrum Hot Spring, near Aspen and not far below the summit of 14,000-foot Castle Peak. The weekend crowds at Conundrum can be substantial considering the length of the hike required to reach it; if you’re bound for Conundrum, go during the week (and be vigilant for signs of altitude sickness, as the spring itself is over 11,000′ in altitude).
Nevada
Nevada has a surprising number of hot springs considering its arid climate and lack of obvious volcanic/seismic activity. In fact, the slumbering earth is an anomaly in the geological history of the state, and there’s plenty of geothermal energy available to drive the springs. Commercial springs cluster mainly around the Carson City/Reno/Lake Tahoe area, some of them quite extensively (and expensively) developed. The state, much of which is federally owned, also has a number of “semi-wild” springs — sites on federal land that are at the end of a dirt road, haven’t been developed beyond maybe an impoundment and a bench or two, and are freely available, yet are not as difficult to reach as wild springs in other areas that require a significant hike to reach.
New Mexico
New Mexico is volcanic country, and both wild and commercial hot springs can be found in the state. The North Central region has commercial hot springs at Ojo Caliente, a small town in the Española area, and at Jemez Springs in the Jemez Mountains. The Jemez also have several undeveloped springs east of Jemez Springs along NM SR 4, and there are a few wild springs in the foothills of the mountains near Taos. The Southwest region of the state also includes both developed and wild springs. The town of Truth or Consequences was formerly named “Hot Springs” because of its several springs with resorts. “T or C,” as it’s known locally, has undergone rebirth following some years of atrophy, with about ten commercial establishments offering soaks and spa services. Undeveloped springs are found in the wild country near Silver City, and Faywood Hot Springs, between Silver City and Deming, has undergone a major transformation and is now a premier destination area. They feature private and public pools, clothing optional and clothing required, with camp sites, RV spaces and a few cabins. (Note that undeveloped springs in this region have been implicated in at least one fatal case of PAME; see “Stay healthy” below, and be careful.)
North Carolina
Hot Springs Resort and Spa [4]. Located in the mountains of North Carolina. Reserve the jacuzzi-style tub of your choice, each individually enclosed and private.
Oregon
Breitenbush 503-854-3320 [5] private hot springs and retreat center about two hours southwest of Portland (Oregon).
Cougar Hot Springs (undeveloped) is located an hour east of Eugene, Oregon, near Cougar Reservoir.
South Dakota
The Badlands and Black Hills region contains a few springs, including a developed one at the imaginatively-named town of Hot Springs.
Texas
Texas is not as active geologically as most of the American West, but Big Bend National Park includes the ruins of Hot Springs Village, with what one might describe as a “feral” spring — one that was commercially developed at one time but has been abandoned and is returning to a natural state. Hikers can take advantage of an impoundment that survives from the time of the village; water temperature around 105 F.
Washington
Washington State has hot springs located on the northern portion of the Olympic Peninsula as well as across the Cascade Mountains. Check the book, “Hot Springs & Hot Pools of the Northwest” [6]
Wyoming
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park; a “look-but-don’t-touch” hot springThe presence of hot springs in Wyoming should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Yellowstone National Park and its amazing assortment of geothermal features, but the sites there are better suited to photography than to immersion. The springs within Yellowstone are generally off limits to bathing, and the prohibitions are vigorously enforced, at least in the main tourist areas. They are also dangerously — lethally — hot in many cases. People (and countless animals, including pets) have died from falling into some of the features at Upper Geyser Basin just minutes from Old Faithful and the visitor center. Yellowstone is not a place to tempt fate in a hot spring; don’t enter the springs themselves, period. However, swimming is allowed (but not encouraged) at the Firehole Cascades swimming area, a section of the Firehole River that is warmed by hot springs.
Commercial springs exist at Cody, Thermopolis and a few other places. The Thermopolis spring is notable as one of the world’s largest, and also because a 19th-century treaty(!) dictates that one fourth of the spring’s output remain free and available for public use rather than being captured by for-profit enterprises; the park preserving it therefore offers the rare treat of a “developed” spring (multiple bathing areas, changing room, etc.) that doesn’t cost anything to use it. Wild springs most suitable for bathing are reached by trails along the Rockefeller Parkway connecting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, among other locations.
Oceania and Australia
Australia
Innot Hot Springs on the Atherton Tablelands has hot water coming through the ground into a creek. The creek can flood in the wet season.
New Zealand
Rotorua
South America
Brazil
Caldas Novas has the country’s largest springs (so large it’s called the Hot River in Portuguese) and many hotels.
Chile
Villarrica
Pucon: Huife, Quimey-Co, Los Pozones, Palguín, San Sebastián de Río Blanco
Curarrehue: Menetúe, San Luis
Panguipulli:Geométricas, Vergara, Rincon, Coñaripe, Pellaifa, Liquiñe
Curacautin
Peru
Aguas Calientes — not merely the generic name for hot springs in Spanish, but the jumping-off point for travelers bound for Machu Picchu; it does offer hot springs.
Tags: destinations, hot spring, spa