Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House is a developed hot spring listed near Thermopolis, Wyoming. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Free 20-minute soaks in ~104F indoor and outdoor pools at Hot Springs State Park (free in perpetuity under the 1896 treaty) — sign in at the desk, swimsuit required, attendants on site; NOTE outdoor pool closed ~Aug 24 to late Sept 2026 for accessibility upgrades, indoor pool stays open.
Checked August 2026 · verified against an official source · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in town for Hot Springs State Park.
Thermopolis is under a mile from the spring.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Wyoming State Parks — Hot Springs State Park bath house hours (official).
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 104°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — free admission guaranteed by the 1896 land-transfer treaty; no reservation needed.
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings right at opening; winter is atmospheric (steam off the outdoor pool) and less crowded than summer.
- Clothing reality: Official: swimsuits required — enforced by attendants. Customary: suited family facility. Legal: state-park facility, nudity not permitted.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Most accessible option in the park — ADA-accessible facility with attendants; outdoor pool accessibility upgrades in progress Aug-Sept 2026. Wet decks can be slick/icy in winter.
- Soaking is capped at 20 minutes per session, enforced via sign-in/sign-out at the front desk
- Lockers have NO locks — leave valuables in your car; bring your own towel and flip-flops
- OUTDOOR pool closed for ~1 month starting Aug 24, 2026 for accessibility/safety upgrades — indoor pool unaffected
- Summer hours (from ~May 15): Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, Sun noon-7pm; winter: Mon-Sat 8am-5:30pm, Sun noon-5:30pm; closed Thanksgiving & Christmas; summer holidays noon-5:30
- No soap/shampoo in the mineral pools; shower before entering; don't drink the water; mild sulfur smell is normal
- One visitor report says you must wait 2 hours between sessions; others say you can re-sign when capacity allows — ask desk
- No overnight camping anywhere in the park — it's day-use only; commercial neighbors Star Plunge and Hellie's TePee charge admission (the Bath House is the only free one)
- Hazard: Slick wet floors and icy outdoor deck in winter
- Hazard: 104F water — overheating risk for kids, elderly, heart conditions; hydrate and limit sessions
- Hazard: Bison herd roams the park — keep distance on grounds
About this spring
Free public mineral soaking inside Wyoming's first state park — indoor and outdoor pools held at ~104°F using water from Big Spring, the world's largest mineral hot spring (127°F, 3.6M gal/day). Guaranteed free forever by the 1896 treaty with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho. Mon-Sat 8-5:30, Sun noon-5:30. Fee: Free in perpetuity per the 1896 treaty. ~20-minute soak limit; sulfur odor; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The State Bath House is the free public face of Hot Springs State Park, Wyoming's first state park (established 1897), built around Big Spring, which produces more than 3.6 million gallons of 127°F mineral water per day — among the largest mineral hot springs in the world. The free admission is not a promotion but a treaty obligation: in 1896 Chief Washakie of the Eastern Shoshone and Chief Sharp Nose of the Northern Arapaho negotiated the sale of the springs to the federal government on the condition that a portion of the waters remain free and open to the public forever, a promise the bathhouse has honored for over 125 years.
Indoor and outdoor pools are held near 104°F with a 20-minute soak limit per session; hours run Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and Sunday noon–5:30 p.m. Beyond the bathhouse, the park's rainbow-colored travertine terraces, resident bison herd, and swinging bridge over the Bighorn River help make it Wyoming's most-visited state park.
Directions & trailhead access
Hot Springs State Park, 51 US Hwy 20 N, Thermopolis — north edge of town, signed.
Wyoming geothermal context
Wyoming holds the planet's densest geothermal field in Yellowstone — nearly all of it legally protected and off-limits to soaking. The visitable thermal water is outside the park: Thermopolis' free state bathhouse, river-edge springs along the North Platte, and scattered backcountry seeps in grizzly country where bear-aware travel is mandatory.
What a developed site means here
A developed site sits between primitive and resort: improved soaking infrastructure — built tubs, decks, stairs, sometimes changing rooms or vault toilets — often run by a land trust, nonprofit, or small operator. Expect modest fees or donation requests, posted etiquette rules, and more predictable conditions than a wild pool.
Best time to visit
Year-Round (Best: May – October)Pool temperatures and access can change with weather and season. Outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly across Wyoming. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 104°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Wyoming State Parks — Hot Springs State Park bath house hours (official) |
Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House FAQ
Is Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House open right now?
Free 20-minute soaks in ~104F indoor and outdoor pools at Hot Springs State Park (free in perpetuity under the 1896 treaty) — sign in at the desk, swimsuit required, attendants on site; NOTE outdoor pool closed ~Aug 24 to late Sept 2026 for accessibility upgrades, indoor pool stays open. (Status verified against an official source, last checked August 2026.)
Is Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House free?
Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House is listed as free to access in Hot Springs County, Wyoming. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House?
Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 104°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House clothing optional?
Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House?
Hot Springs State Park — State Bath House is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Thermopolis
Stay in town for Hot Springs State Park. Check the individual pool’s opening hours and entry rules.
Thermopolis is under a mile from the spring.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Wyoming State Parks — Hot Springs State Park bath house hours (official) — official · 2026
- Wyoming State Parks press release — State Bath House outdoor pool improvements closure Aug 24 2026 ~1 month — official · 2026-08
- GoVisit Wyoming — Hot Springs State Park visit mechanics (sign-in, 20-min limit, lockers without locks) — community · 2025
- Hot Springs Guides — State Bath House details (104F pools, Big Spring source 127F, treaty history) — community · 2026-08
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.americasstateparks.org/state-park/hot-springs
- wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/places-to-go/hot-springs
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
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