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spring produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater
Travel topics > Natural attractions > Hot springs

For destinations named "Hot Springs", see the Hot Springs disambiguation page.
Hot spring in Bláskógabyggð, Iceland

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 and New Zealand) or celebrated (e.g. the original town of Spa), hence are attractions or even destinations in their own right. 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.

"Developed" versus "wild" hot springs

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The term "hot spring" means different things to different people, and it's a good idea to know just what manner of hot spring you're bound for at a destination, because it may be something quite different from what you're expecting. In English the term is used more or less interchangeably for "wild" springs, where the water emerges directly from the ground into a natural catchment that can be used for bathing, and "developed" springs, which exploit the spring through construction of man-made artifacts such as pools and bath houses. "Wild" springs and "developed" springs can differ so much, and in so many ways, that the visitor expecting one and getting the other may not enjoy the experience very much. Some examples:

  • Wild springs are often (although not always) on public land or otherwise accessible to the public without charge, while developed springs are almost invariably intended by the developer to make a profit, and hence will charge (and be in a legal position to demand) an admission fee.
Doroyu Onsen in Yuzawa, Japan
  • You can't count on creature comforts at a wild spring; you may have to sit on a rock at water's edge to doff your clothing, and pre-entry showers are pretty well out of the question, let alone amenities like poolside drinks that a developed spring may offer. On the other hand, wild springs are generally open-air and take you "back to nature" in ways that a developed spring may not.
  • At a wild spring, water temperature is purely on an as-is basis; the pool where you bathe will be at a temperature that's regulated solely by the relative proportions of water from the spring and meteoric (surface) water that the terrain imposes. As a consequence, water at wild springs can be uncomfortably, or even dangerously, hot. Commercial operators of developed springs will generally ensure that the water temperature is appropriate (sometimes offering several choices of temperature in different pools) through dilution of the spring's effluent with water from the commercial supply or other sources. This distinction is particularly important; the bather used to "tame" water from a commercial spring who wades directly into a seething-hot wild spring can receive a scalding, and even fatal, surprise.
  • Hot-spring water is usually fairly safe from the standpoint of carrying disease-causing organisms, but some is not (see below under "Stay healthy"), and the surface water that cools a scalding spring to usable temperatures will be prone to the same bugs and pathogens as any other surface water. Operators of developed springs may (or may not) take steps to disinfect the water, but at a wild spring, you're obviously on your own.

A "developed" hot spring is not necessarily a commercial hot spring, i.e., one that has been developed for profit-making purposes. The distinction can be important in countries and regions where the political/economic system allows for both for-profit and public-interest/non-profit/governmental development; regulations for doing the developing will often differ between the two cases, as will the resulting amenities, access, etc. For example, as a general rule, springs in the United States that have been developed by government will have fewer amenities, but also lower admission fees, than for-profit developments. In Japan, many hot springs in rural locations are maintained by the local government and are open to the public for free, and even expensive spa resort towns usually have at least one public bath open to all for a token fee.

Spas

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There is a difference between a hot spring and a spa. The latter term denotes either a pleasantly warm tub of water (not necessarily originating in a hot spring) suitable for bathing for medicinal and recreational purposes, or the resorts – sometimes incredibly elaborate, luxurious, and expensive – where such tubs can be found, which incorporate massage, body wraps, and so on. Not every spa is based on a hot spring (many, perhaps most, simply heat meteoric water to the desired temperature); not every developed hot spring has spa-like amenities.

Non-English terms

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Step one in locating a hot spring is knowing exactly how to say – or read – "hot spring" in the language of the country you're visiting. Some translations into other languages:

Access

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Access to "commercial" hot springs is a simple matter: you do what the proprietor asks (likely involving the exchange of money, and possibly requiring reservations), then you use the spring. The situation is less clear-cut with "wild" springs. If a wild spring is located on private property, chances are good that the land owner will have the legal right to control access to the spring, including charging for entry if he/she wishes. If the land owner chooses to assert this right, honor it and do not trespass. Natural features the world over are being placed off limits as a result of trespassers abusing access that land owners had previously afforded visitors, with limitations. Please help fight this trend by respecting private property where applicable.

Springs on public land pose the most complex access issues. In the United States, a general but by no means universal rule of thumb (always inquire locally) is:

  • Hot springs in national parks and monuments are off limits, or at least carefully controlled, unless specifically indicated otherwise.
  • Hot springs in national forests, including wilderness areas (except those in a national park/monument), generally are available for free use unless indicated otherwise.
  • Hot springs on land controlled by the Bureau of Land Management are usually available for free use.
  • Springs on state (as opposed to federal) property follow the same general pattern, but are perhaps somewhat more likely to have controlled access of one form or another, as the state is likely to exert somewhat closer control on its parks and forests.

If you have experience that allows you to give comparable guidance on other countries, by all means add it here.

What to take

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  • Most commercial springs will expect you to shower (usually with provided soap) before entering the water, theoretically to avoid contaminants that can clog filtration systems. If you're going to a wild spring, however, leave the soap at home. It isn't needed in the crystal-clear waters and simply acts as a pollutant.
  • A pair of flip-flops ("beachwalkers," "thongs," etc.) is handy for both commercial springs (where they'll often be provided) and in the wilds, owing to slick surfaces and uneven footing.
  • Some commercial springs supply their own towels; if in doubt, have one available, and ask the proprietor if you'll need it. At wild springs, you're on your own, obviously. Note that if you use your own towel, whether at a commercial spring or a wild one, you'll be well advised to rinse it out soon after use, as the mineral content and, frequently, acidity of spring water can be damaging to the towel.
  • Be skittish about cameras, for several reasons. Spring water can be damaging to a camera, not just if a non-waterproof camera is immersed (surprise), but also if water is allowed to dry on the lens, as mineral deposits that are extremely difficult to remove may result. Local mores may be such that other occupants of the spring take offense at being photographed; the fact that you're in a "tourist" or "informal" environment provides no defense. At a clothing optional location, photographing anyone nude without their consent is almost always considered rude, and can be illegal in many jurisdictions; this is particularly true of children.

Clothing-optional springs

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At both commercial and wild springs, customs (and laws) vary substantially as to whether you're required to wear a bathing suit. Most commercial establishments will post their own rules, which may be "swimsuit required", "swimsuit prohibited", "clothing optional", or "required until sundown, then nudity OK" (this is commonly seen in commercial hot-spring operations in the United States). Normal practice at wild springs is much more a local, ad-hoc matter. As a general but by no means universal rule, in the United States, you should plan on wearing a swimsuit at springs in sight of a road unless the spring is specifically posted as accepting naturism; in the backcountry, you're on your own. It's wise to err on the side of conservatism, however, as some areas prohibit nude hot spring bathing and enforce the prohibition with fines. In most of Europe there are no laws regarding nude bathing, so it's up to you to decide. Local etiquette varies from spring to spring and country to country.

Anyone offended by nude bathing should scout locations ahead of time if the customs or practices at the spring aren't clear. Conversely, if you arrive at a spring and find a group with children, and everyone is wearing a bathing suit, you should either wait for them to leave or ask politely before disrobing.

In Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, bathers are generally required to be nude in commercial hot spring resorts, though they are usually segregated by sex.

If you do wear a swimsuit, it's a good idea to rinse it out shortly after use. The water in many hot springs is acidic to some extent and if allowed to dry in your suit it may damage the fabric.

Where to find them

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Most hot springs (locally called tsachu) in Bhutan have avoided overdevelopment and generally a trek is required reach them. Popular ones are in Gasa. Duer in Bumthang and Koma in Punakha.

Many places in Southern China — at least Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan and Yunnan — have hot springs. The Huaqing Pool near Xi'an is a hot spring complex with a history dating all the way back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC – 256 BC), and is famous for being the site of the romance of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty with his favourite concubine Yang Guifei, and as the site of the 1936 Xi'an incident in which Chiang Kai-shek was arrested by two warlords in order to force him to form a united front with the Communists to fight the Japanese invaders.

Air Panjar in Bali

Indonesia is a highly volcanic archipelago and consequently has hot springs (air panas) all over the place, but many of them are not developed and off the tourist trail. Bali is a popular hot spring destination, 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. Many developed hot spring resorts can be found in Western Java, with some of the most well-known in Ciater and Garut.

Main article: Public baths in 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 there is an article 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 Gunma being popular getaways for Tokyoites and Kobe inhabitants nipping across the hill to Arima Onsen. Last but not least, at the northeasternmost tip of Hokkaido is Shiretoko National Park and its remarkable Kamuiwakkayu-no-taki, a hot spring waterfall thought by the Ainu to be inhabited by the gods themselves.

A particularly curious sight for tourists can be found in Yamanouchi, Nagano prefecture, where you can see monkeys bathing in the hot springs in the winter at Jigokudani Monkey Park.

Sungkai, Perak; Pedas, Negeri Sembilan; Selayang, Selangor;

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.

On the way to Rasuwa Fort, a Tibetan border point north-west of the Langtang valley, there is a small, beautiful hot spring. It's completely natural without any commercial development. The Nepali word for hot spring is tato pani, which means hot water.

The town of Los Banos is named for its hot baths.

Singapore is home to two natural hot springs, one located in the northeastern island of Pulau Tekong, and the other located in northern suburb of Sembawang. While the Pulau Tekong hot spring is located in a military base and off limits to the general public, the area surrounding the Sembawang hot spring has been developed into a public park where you can soak your feet and use the hot water to cook eggs.

Koreans 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.

Wulai Hotsprings, Taiwan

Being located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, hot springs (Chinese: wen-chuan) can be found all over Taiwan. Hot spring bathing was introduced to Taiwan by the Japanese during the colonial era, and remains firmly entrenched in Taiwanese culture to this day. 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.

My An Onsen Spa on the outskirts of Hue.

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.

The West Bohemian Spa Triangle is known for its abundance of hot springs. The town of Karlovy Vary is known for its abundance of beautiful Belle Epoque architecture, there are numerous hot springs around town whose waters you can sample, as well as two spas where you can bathe in the hot spring waters.

The spa town of Baden-Baden is known for its Roman baths. While the Roman baths are now in ruins, there are also modern spas in the town where you can spoke in the area's spring waters.

There are many hot springs, traditional baths, spa and wild hot spring in Greece. Among them is one at Thermopyles behind the gas station on the way to the Thermopyles Battle Monument. It's free (unattended, hence with some trash around), used by the locals, and the water is 42°C.

On a day trip from Athens, you can visit Vouliagmeni Lake and Health Spa, a lightly-developed warm spring. Even in the cool of winter, the water remains warm enough to swim.

See also: Icelandic Hot Springs

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 Reykjavík, with its vivid, translucent blue, 100°F/40°C waters (cooled from their original temperature after being pumped from a mile underground and powering an electrical plant) is a popular destination. Another famous geothermal bath, albeit more remotely located, is the Nature Baths at Mývatn.

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.

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.

The world's hottest healing teromomineral water is at the hot water spring in Vranjska Banja (110°C). There's also a special hospital for rehabilitation there.

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.

There are some breathtaking uncommercialised natural hot springs near Valencia where you can swim all year round. Access is not easy because the hot springs are located in a mountainous and rural area, but you'll find tour operators in Valencia that will take you there for a reasonable price.

The famous Thermae Springs Roman baths at Bath (England) have been used by humans since Roman times, and probably long before, but fell into disrepair. They are inaccessible to bathers, although still open for viewing. The Thermae Bath Spa now uses the waters from the springs for its spa complex (from £40 for 2 hours Dec 2023).

The calcite hot springs and waterfalls of Pamukkale.

Thanks to the highly active tectonic plates it straddles, Turkey is rich in hot springs, which are often clustered in certain parts of the country.

South of Istanbul across the Sea of Marmara, the most popular areas with hot springs include Çekirge, a suburb of Bursa, where baths supplied by the local springs were first developed by the Romans and have remained a travel destination ever since, and Termal near Yalova in a beautifully landscaped and lush valley setting that was developed in the early 20th century in the fashion of then-hugely popular Carlsbad of Bohemia.

In the southwest of the country, Pamukkale, the "cotton castle", is much better known than its counterparts elsewhere in Turkey. 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. Five minutes further up the white waterfalls of Pamukkale, you'll find the hot springs of Hierapolis, where you can soak among sunken Roman columns (for a 20 Euro fee) submerged in an ancient pool.

A series of hot springs extends across the landscape in the east of the country, where they are usually known as çermik, derived from the Armenian word for hot springs, chermug. Of particular note is the Balıklı Kaplıca ("hot spring of the fish") southeast of Sivas, where a local fish species bred in the pools is claimed to cure (or rather, alleviate the symptoms of) psoriasis.

Alpha pool at Liard River Hot Springs.

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, Liard River Hot Springs and Fairmont.

El Salvador lies in an area of high geothermal activity with a large number of active volcanoes and numerous hot springs. The town of Ahuachapan is particularly well known for its thermal spas and for a park where you can walk through an area of fumaroles, geysers and hot mineral springs.

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. Most the hotsprings of Mexico are in the Central interior states of Guanajato, Durango, and Chihuahua. The most accessible for tourists are those in the Copper Canyon area. 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 Puertecitos are well-known.

Most hot springs in the continental United States are located west of the Rocky Mountains, 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 is intensely volcanic, and wild springs abound; however, most are seriously inaccessible. Developed hot springs exist near Fairbanks. There are also some derelict developed hot springs near Fairbanks which can make for an interesting hike, but beware of the legality.

Commercial hot springs are found at the unincorporated "town" of Tonopah, about 50 miles west of Phoenix.

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.

The town of Calistoga at the northern end of Napa Valley was founded as a geothermal hot springs destination in the early 1860s and is still recognized as Northern California's leading hot springs resort town. Today there are thirteen hot springs resorts, hotels and day spas using hot springs mineral water in their spa treatments. Calistoga Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, 1133 Washington St. Calistoga +1 707-942-6333 / +1 866-306-5588. The town's famous symbol of active hot springs is the Old Faithful Geyser of California, one of only 3 in the world which erupt on a regular basis. 1299 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga. +1 707-942-6463

Harbin Hot Springs 18424 Harbin Springs Rd. +1 707-987-2477 / +1-800-622-2477 in Middletown has private hot springs, spa, and retreat center.

Wilbur Hot Springs 3375 Wilbur Springs Rd Williams, ☏ +1 530 473-2306 in Williams is famous for its healing waters, historic hotel, its 100% solar powered energy, and world renowned nature preserve A healing experience with waters unlike anywhere in the world.

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).

Idaho alone has over 130 hot springs soaking opportunities - that's a lot to choose from! They are listed here.

Montana has deep thermal underground rivers under a large percentage of its large expanse. The largest swimming pools are at Fairmont Hot Springs outside of Butte. Quinn's Hot Springs outside of Paradise, Montana, is unique in that the water flows from tub to tub and cool, so that each pool is a different temperature. Bozeman Hot Springs is very popular.

Norris Hot Springs, west of Bozeman offers organic food and live acoustic music poolside. One hot spring outside of Lolo is without any facilities and people decide their own dress code. Old fashion Saco Hot Springs is popular with hunters. Hot Springs, Montana, has a couple different pools and claims that the water has healing properties. Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa is south of Livingston (Montana) near Yellowstone National Park and features many activities from horse back riding to dog sledding in the winter.

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 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[dead link], a small town in the Española area, and at Jemez Springs in the Jemez Mountains. The area also has several undeveloped springs north of Jemez Springs along NM Highway 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 used to be called "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. (Undeveloped springs in this region have been implicated in at least one fatal case of PAME; see "Stay healthy" below, and be careful.)

Hot Springs Resort and Spa in the mountains of North Carolina. Reserve the jacuzzi-style tub of your choice, each individually enclosed and private.

Breitenbush ☏ +1 503-854-3320 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.

The Bagby Hotsprings are located in the Mt. Hood National Park. These facilities are free and natural, but you must hike about a mile to get to them.

The Badlands and Black Hills region contains a few springs, including a developed one at the imaginatively-named town of Hot Springs.

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 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"

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park; a "look-but-don't-touch" hot spring, however the hot water runoff from this feature runs into a soaking area known as Boiling River

The presence of hot springs in Wyoming should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Yellowstone National Park and its amazing assortment of over half the world's geothermal features, with more than 10,000 examples, 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. Boiling River near the north entrance at Gardiner (Montana) is located at the end of a well-marked 1-mile trail. Hot water from Mammoth Hot Springs (pictured) mixes with the cold water of the Gardner River to make a perfect soaking area but be careful of the seasonably swift river current.

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.

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. Another area where Hot Springs and Volcanic Mud Springs are usual to see in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park area. Rincon de la Vieja National Park is full of volcanic activity.

Nicaragua has a large number of volcanoes, particularly on the Pacific side of the country. The two best ares to find concentrations of termales (hot springs) is in the northern part of the country within a couple dozen kilometers of the Honduras border, or close to the capital of Managua. The closest hot springs to the capital are Termales de Tipitapa, about 10 kilometers north of Managua's August Sandino International Airport, just off the main highway near the shores of Lake Managua. Another area with hot springs is the town of Teustepe, about 60-90 minutes northeast of Managua.

Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pools, NSW, Australia

Australia is geologically quite old and stable, so there's not a whole lot of hot spring action around, but you can still find a few spots for a dip.

There are many hot springs not far south of Darwin, the most famous being Mataranka. You can swim where the hot water meets the cold Katherine River during the dry season.

The Great Artesian Basin covers almost a fifth of Australia, with a large cluster of hot springs around the NSW/Queensland border near Moree. They're all quite remote though, with Moree being a solid 8/5 hour drive from Sydney and Brisbane respectively.

In Far North Queensland, 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.

In the Snowy Mountains, there are geothermally heated free swimming pools at the Yarrangobilly Caves near Tumut.

The Peninsula Hot Springs in Rye are an hour's drive south of Melbourne. The hot water is artificially pumped out of the ground to feed a selection of Japanese-styled bathing pools.

Create your own thermal pool at Hot Water Beach near Hahei on Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.

Most of the volcanic regions, and some non-volcanic regions, have hot springs. Some are in their natural state, and many have been developed into quite elaborate systems of pools. There are entire swimming complexes built around the spring water.

Rotorua and Taupo in the central North Island have developed complexes, and some natural swimming spots. Parakai, near Helensville, and Waiwera in the Auckland Region have developed complexes. Morere in northern Hawke's Bay has smaller facilities. At Hot Water Beach, near Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula, there are hot springs on the beach and you can dig your own hot pool in the sand.

Hanmer Springs has the best developed complex in the South Island. There are pleasant commercial springs in the Japanese style at Maruia Springs on the western side of the Lewis Pass 15 km east of Springs Junction on SH7 in the South Island. Bring a netting bag with a drawstring for your neck since the sandflies are hungry here. You can also dig your own natural hot pool in the North bank of the Lewis River's sands and gravels (just east of the pass itself) if you bring your own spade.

Caldas Novas has the country's largest springs (so large it's called the Hot River in Portuguese) and many hotels.

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.

Salto and Paysandú, in the northern interior of Uruguay, are popular destinations for hot springs.

Venezuela has some hot springs across the country.

Stay safe

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  • Know the maximum temperature of the hot spring you're planning to enter. Most commercially-developed springs are diluted with cool water so that their temperatures are similar to those of residential "hot tubs," i.e., a maximum of about 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius). "Wild" springs, however, can have effluent temperatures far greater than this, indeed, far greater than what is safe. Temperatures as high as about 160 F (70 C) are common in hot springs, and some reach the boiling point; immersion in water this hot can prove fatal very quickly. A little dilution with surface water will go a long way, but be conservative unless you know the spring well.
  • Many wild springs are gathering places for wildlife. Know what kind of animals might frequent the area of the spring, and be prepared for a greater than average likelihood of wildlife encounters.
  • Thriller movies notwithstanding, very few of the world's hot springs are acidic enough to pose an immediate safety hazard, although many are acidic to some extent. The few exceptions tend to have very obvious connections to active volcanism, e.g. the crater lake at the active Poas volcano in Costa Rica (which in any event is not open to bathing).

Stay healthy

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  • Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM or PAME) is an extremely rare but life-threatening infection caused by protozoa that inhabit some hot springs. The disease is caught by infected water being inhaled through the nose, as the pathogenic amebae migrate up the sinuses and surrounding tissue to the brain. If a brain infection results, the consequences are extremely serious, with death nearly certain. Don't allow the water up your nose – avoiding being submerged or standing under a hot spring waterfall such that the water pressure goes up your nose. Avoid inhaling spray when possible. Also observe these precautions if there is any doubt as to whether waters in a commercial spa have been sterilized. You can't be infected via the skin, etc.
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