• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Top Hot Springs Logo Wide

  • Home
  • Hot Springs by State
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado (redirects)
    • Florida
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Massachusetts
    • Montana
    • Nevada
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Hot Springs by Country
    • Africa
      • South Africa
    • Asia
      • China
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • South Korea
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Vietnam (redirects)
    • Australia/Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • Europe
      • Albania
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Croatia
      • France
      • Greece
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Norway
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
      • UK
    • North/Central America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Dominican Republic
      • Honduras
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • United States
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
  • Camping
  • Lodging
  • Search
  • Home
  • Hot Springs by State
  • Hot Springs by Country
  • Camping
  • Lodging
Thermopolis Hot Springs Wyoming

Hot Springs State Park – Thermopolis, Wyoming

May 12, 2022 By //  by Matt Thomas

Thermopolis Hot Springs State Park is a wonderful place to take the entire family with both indoor and outdoor pools for soaking. Located in north-central Wyoming, the park boasts the Bath House, Hellie’s Tepee Pools, and Star Plunge.

You can also venture past the hot springs to see herds of bison roaming the hills of Wyoming as they have for hundreds of years. In the late 19th century, the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes gave Wyoming the hot springs in a negotiated treaty under the requirement the pools remain open to the public free of charge – thank you, Chief Washakie!

History

Shashone Chief Washakie
Shoshone Chief Washakie.

According to ancient lore, the mineral hot spring pools have healing powers that have been used as far back as prehistoric times. I laugh thinking about Littlefoot from Land Before Time taking a dip in the hot springs, followed later by the Native Americans, and then Lewis and Clark as they made their transcontinental journey in the early 1800s.

Grab the entire family and enjoy this historic location open all year long.

You’ll find the hot spring state park is located along the Big Horn River with wooden plank pathways connecting the pools. Visitors can venture over to Swinging Bridge for a great photo opportunity as well.

Thermopolis Hot Springs Wyoming
Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, WY. Photo: Jasperdo

According to information at the bridge: it was built in 1916 to connect the Big Spring with the Freemont Spring, the Pleasant View Hotel and Sanitarium, and the Elk pasture.

As the town continued to grow, the bridge eventually provided access to Hopewell Hospital which was the first hospital in Hot Springs County. The bridge deteriorated over time and was condemned in 1984, destroyed in 1991 by the Wyoming National Guard, and then restored in 1992 by the North Dakota National Guard.

Thermopolis Hot Springs Wyoming Swinging Bridge Big Horn River
The historic bridge at Hot Springs State Park. Photo: J Stephen Conn

It was originally built by a mechanic with no bridge building knowledge out of scrap metal and designed based on a postcard of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.

Bath House, Hellie’s Tepee Pools, and Star Plunge

Hot Springs State Park Star Plunge Thermopolis WY
Star Plunge inside Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis, WY. Photo by: Jasperdo

Thermopolis Hot Springs offers a variety of swimming options:

  • Hellie’s Tepee Pools – indoor and outdoor pools, spa, and water slides.
  • Hot Springs State Park Bathhouse – indoor and outdoor pools for soaking.
  • Star Plunge – Indoor and outdoor pools, spas, and water slides.

The Hot Springs State Park Bathhouse has two different pools with temperatures around 104 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as outdoor cooling ponds connected by the aforementioned wooden plank pathway. The outdoor pool at 104 degrees Fahrenheit has cement benches for sitting.

One thing you will notice, as you enjoy a soak surrounded by travertine mineral deposits, is the cleanliness of the park. Be sure you and your group make an effort to help maintain the park’s cleanliness for future visitors.

Hellies Tepee Spa Hot Springs Wyoming
Hellies Teepee Spa, Hot Springs State Park. Photo: J. Stephen Conn
Hellies Tepee Spa Thermopolis WY
Hellies Tepee Spa. Photo: Charles Willgren
Hot Springs State Park Bath House Wyoming
Bath House, Hot Springs State Park. Photo: Jasperdo
Hot Springs State Park Bath House Wyoming
Bath House, Hot Springs State Park. Photo: Jasperdo
Hot Springs State Park Bath House Interior Wyoming
Bath House, Hot Springs State Park. Photo: Jordan Fischer

Things to Bring:

  • Swimsuit
  • Towel
  • Sunscreen
  • Camera
  • No Alcohol

After enjoying a soak, jump back in the car for a drive around the rest of the state park to take in more of the sights. Chances are you will stumble upon a herd of buffalo grazing along the rolling hills. Keep a safe distance if you decide to take pictures as they can be unpredictable and defensive when humans get too close. You do not want to end up on the news like this schlemiel.

As you sojourn through Wyoming, be sure to check out other top hot spring destinations:

  • Granite Hot Springs
  • Boiling River Hot Springs
Thermopolis Hot Springs Wyoming
Hot Springs State Park. Photo: Jasperdo

Nearby Camping

There is no camping on-site at of the three hot spring features in the state park. However, there are some options close to town. Consider these two campgrounds, both located minutes from the resort in Thermopolis, WY:

  • Fountain of Youth RV Park – 250 US-20
  • Eagle RV Park – 204 US-20
Hot Springs State Park Wyoming Buffalo
Buffalo herds at Hot Springs State Park, WY.

Details

Address: 51 US Highway 20 N, Thermopolis, Wyoming 82443

Phone: 307.864.2176

Season: Year-round

Hours of Operation:

  • 8:00am – 5:30pm (Monday – Saturday)
  • 12:00pm – 5:30pm (Sundays)

Website: thermopolis.com/attractions/swimming

Matt Thomas

About Matt Thomas

Matt is an avid writer, explorer and magic maker, who loves to showcase this wild, wondrous world. Join him at Uncover Vietnam and Uncover Colorado for a local look at these captivating destinations.

Previous Post: «Ojo Caliente, New Mexico The Best Hot Springs near Albuquerque, New Mexico
Next Post: Sierra Hot Springs Resort – Sierraville, California Sierra Hot Springs Resort and Retreat Center California»

Primary Sidebar

Hot Springs by State

  • All United States
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado (redirects)
  • Florida
  • Germany
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Massachusetts
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming

Join our community of hot springers

Enter your email below and grab our complimentary guide on the world's top hot springs.

Footer

Top Hot Springs

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Travel Guide

  • Hot Springs by State
  • Hot Springs by Country
  • Africa Hot Springs
  • Asia Hot Springs
  • Europe Hot Springs
  • Oceania Hot Springs
  • North/Central America Hot Springs
  • South America Hot Springs
  • Camping at Hot Springs
  • Lodging at Hot Springs

Latest Hot Springs

  • River Mountain Resort – Everett, Pennsylvania
  • Agua Blanca Hotel – Michoacan, Mexico
  • Snorralaug Hot Spring – Reykholt, Iceland
  • Maruia Hot Springs – Lewis Pass, New Zealand
  • Reykjafjarðarlaug Hot Pool – Westfjords Region, Iceland

Disclosure: Top Hot Springs is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Copyright © 2023 · Top Hot Springs | Sitemap