One Day at Hot Springs State Park
December 4, 2023 by Laura
Hot Springs State Park is such a fun park to explore! There is so much to do and see including the free bath house, walking along The Swinging Bridge, hiking, and the wildlife drive. A great way to spend the day!
Hot Springs State Park Adventures
One of our requirements for visiting a new state is visiting a state park. We had already spent a lot of time exploring the national parks in Wyoming (Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park) so we wanted to check out a state park as well.
We chose Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis for mainly one reason- the hot springs! However, there is so much more to see and do here this park so let's get into it!
If you want more Wyoming fun check out our other Wyoming travel blogs: Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Cheyenne Itinerary, Best Wyoming Food, Wyoming Trip Budget, and 10-Day Wyoming Itinerary.
Hot Springs State Park Overview
Hot Springs State Park is located in Thermopolis, Wyoming. The grounds are open year-round from 6AM to 10PM each day. This state park is a day-use park and does not offer any overnight camping. It is free to enter.
Hot Springs State Park has many different activities including hiking, soaking in the bath house, picnic tables, picnic shelters, a driving trial, and fishing.
We visited Hot Springs State Park in the middle of September on a Thursday. The whole park was very peaceful and quiet. In fact, in a lot of places in of the park we were the only ones around- inluding the outside soaking pool!
Hot Springs State Park History
In 1896, a 100-square-mile portion was purchased by the federal government from the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes for $60,000. A 1-square-mile section was given to the state of Wyoming in 1897 and became Wyoming's first state park. It was known as the Big Horn Hot Springs State Reserve.
As part of the agreement, the mineral hot springs would remain free to the public. The Hot Springs State Park still honors this agreement today. Over the years, Hot Springs State Park has remained popular for people looking to soak in the mineral hot springs. Some believe that the waters have healing properties.
The mineral hot springs are known as 'The World's Largest Hot Springs'. It is given this title because it has an output of more than 8,000 gallons every 24 hours. The water stays a constant temperature of 128 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hot Springs State Park Bath House
A must-do when traveling through Thermopolis is soaking in the mineral hot springs water, of course! The State Bath House is located in-between two other bath houses. The two other bath houses cost to go into, and we didn't visit them. I do believe that they have slides so those may be a better option if you are traveling with kids.
Like mentioned previous, the state bath house is 100% free! It is opened every single day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Their hours are 8AM to 5:30PM.
When you walk in, you will have to sign in. You get a free 20 minute soak. Men will go to the left, and women will go to the right. The women's room has lockers (but there are no locks), showers, benches, and toilet stalls, and sinks. It is recommended that you rinse off before you soak.
We chose to soak in the outside pool so we could have a view. There are many built-in benches in the pool to relax. It feels so good- especially after days of hiking! Keep an eye on the clock that is hanging on the side of the buidling. You don't want to soak longer than 20 minutes. Instead of using the lockers, we just brought our bags out with us and sat them on the picnic table next to the pool while we soaked.
Also, don't forget to bring your own towels!
After soaking, you'll go back inside, and rinse off. I suggest bringing soap. We didn't, and we may have smelled like eggs a little bit for the rest of the day. Oh well, it was totally worth it!
Teepee Fountain
It is hard to miss this huge dome located in Hot Springs State Park. At first sight, we thought it was some mysterious natural work of art. However, it is actually man-made!
About 115 years ago, they put a pipe down to vent the hot springs. Over time, lots of mineral deposit began forming around the pipe, and eventually the dome was formed. Before it was dome-shaped, it looked like a teepee, hence its name.
Originally, it was built because there was a log of mineral deposits forming in the pipes. However, today that isn't a problem anymore. Everybody now is just waiting to see how big it is going to get!
The Swinging Bridge & Mineral Terraces
The suspension bridge that is over the Bighorn River is known as The Swinging Bridge. It is a short walk from the parking lot if you follow the boardwalks across the terraces.
The Swinging Bridge is a lot of fun to walk across, and perhaps a little bit scary. It is definitely worth checking out!
And of course, the mineral terraces are just so pretty to admire. All the different colors are truly amazing. Be sure to bring your camera!
Driving Through Hot Springs State Park
We didn't do any hikes, but we did drive around the loop. There was multiple places to stop, get out of your car, and explore. Most of the places had signs where you could learn about history and geology. We spent a good amount of time just exploring everything.
My favorite part of the drive was seeing the bison herd. To keep the bison healthy and happy, they are fed supplements during the late fall and winter months. You can even see them get fed if your at the park during the off-season around 8:30AM!
When we saw the herd, they were crossing the street. They are such cool creatures to see. Please stay in your car and let them pass at their own pace. They are still dangerous wild animals even though they are fuzzy and cute.
Legend Rock Petroglyph Site
The petroglyph site is administered out of Hot Springs State Park, but is located about 30 miles northwest of the park. It is a bit of drive but absolutely worth it.
At the site, you will find over 300 petroglyph figures drawn on the side of the cliff. It was so fascinating to be standing in front of such old history from multiple cultures. We highly recommend this stop!
If you are visiting May through September, you do not need a key. The site is open from 8AM to 6PM. If you are visiting October through April, you will need a key which can be picked up at the State Bath House.
Our Other Thermopolis Stops
If you have extra time in Thermpolis, you may be interested visiting The Wyoming Dinosaur Center. Here you will find actual fossil and artifacts, many of which were dug up right there in Wyoming! The museum takes you through life on Earth up until the age of the dinosaurs. You can even schedule a tour to go out to the dig site.
For lunch, we ate at One Eyed Buffalo Brewing. It was so delicious, and the perfect lunch stop. We ordered some Rocky Mountain Oysters and tasty Bison Burgers.
50 States by 50
Wyoming was our third state for our 50 states by 50 challenge. My husband, Brian, and I are planning to visit all the states in the United States by the time we turn 50 years old. To choose which state we travel to next, we will draw it randomly!
For each state, we will plan at least a 4 day trip that consists of visiting the state capitol and state museum, exploring a state park, and eating whatever food that state is most known for. I will be documenting all of our travels here on my blog and making vlogs as well which will be posted on YouTube. Read more about our 50 States by 50 Bucket List.
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Thank you for reading about our amazing time at Hot Springs State Park in Wyoming. I hope you enjoyed the pictures, and it was helpful in planning your visit to Wyoming! If you have any questions or just want to share your Hot Springs adventures, please leave a comment down below.
Category: Wyoming, National and State Parks
Keywords: hiking in Wyoming, hot springs in Wyoming, hot springs in Thermopolis, Hot Springs State Park review
Discover More:
☼ Cheyenne Itinerary (state capitol, trolley tour, state museum, & much more)
☼ Grand Teton National Park (hiking, Jenny Lake, moose spotting, & more)
☼ Yellowstone National Park (Grand Prismatic, Old Faithful, elk spottings, & more)
Bon Voyage!
December 4, 2023 by Laura Ehlers
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