7 of the US’s most restorative hot springs

Mineral-rich and often found in beautiful settings, a natural hot spring is a feast for the senses. America’s unique topography makes it home to a wealth of these geothermal pools – time to plan a wellness escape to one of the country’s seven most restorative and remote hot springs.

Come for the hot springs, but stay for the views – at least that’s the adopted mantra of the Hot Springs State Park. About a 3-hour drive from Yellowstone National Park, Hot Springs State Park has much of the former’s appeal but with the added bonus of its own bubbling springs. Located in the aptly named Thermopolis, the park’s Big Spring is the main draw – a turquoise ripple of steaming waters containing at least 27 minerals. Beyond that, the Rainbow Terraces are a delightful sight to see, consisting of a loop of naturally formed rocks that thousands of gallons of water cascade over daily. Dip into the waters and keep an eye out for herds of wild bison grazing in the distance. Stay at the Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel and soak some more in the hotel’s hot tub.

Though a little hard to find, Umpqua Hot Springs is worth the effort. Halfway between the Surprise Falls and Misty Grotto Falls, you’ll find the hot springs jutting from rocky cliff faces and hugged by pine trees. The springs are reached on foot via a hiking trail – at the end of which, you’ll be rewarded with a soothing bath and incredible views of the Umpqua Forest. Clothes aren’t required for a dip, but it’s a relaxed atmosphere regardless of what you choose to wear or not wear. After a long soak, drive to the cerulean Odell Lake and the cabin at Shelter Cove Resort & Marina for the night.

The Fifth Water Hot Springs are appealing due to the color of the water alone – a luminous blue. At the end of the Diamond Fork Hot Springs Trail and about an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City, the pools require a hike to reach them. Once you make it, you’ll be greeted by rushing waterfalls that plunge into several rock pools. Pick one and submerge yourself in the blue waters and an ethereal setting. Continue the feeling of otherworldliness by heading to Daniels Summit Lodge in Strawberry Valley.

Combine two of Earth’s great natural phenomena when you visit Chena Hot Springs in Alaska. Between September and March, the sky is pierced with the magnetic, lustrous green of the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. The resort is famous for its collection of hot spring pools, each of which reflect the glowing sky when the Northern Lights appear. Bask in warm waters surrounded by icy wilderness, then stay at the resort or back in Fairbanks at Brennan’s B&B.

Once a ghost town sitting on the West Fork of the Dolores River and now a luxury resort, Dunton Hot Springs has undergone quite a renaissance. In the late 1800s, Dunton was chosen as a potential gold (and silver) mine because the presence of mineral-heavy hot springs usually indicates even more minerals underground. Its remote location soon led to the town’s demise, and the log houses and springs were abandoned. Eventually the land was bought, turned into a resort, and today the hot springs still thrive. The Bath House is the place to soak up the town’s history before a visit to the resort’s bar where the infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy once sought refuge. Treat yourself to a luxurious night at the Madeline Hotel and Residences, only an hour’s drive north.

Possibly among America’s most well-known geothermal pools, the Travertine Hot Springs have earned a reputation for being some of the country’s most beautiful, too. Here, steaming water courses down the travertine rock faces until it eventually ends up in little rock pools overlooking the dusty Eastern Sierra landscape. Stop by these pockets of blue for a blissful and much-needed break after conquering one of the many nearby peaks on a hike. Spend the night at Virginia Creek Settlement.

You’ll find the San Antonio Hot Springs in the heart of Sante Fe National Forest, clinging to steep, rocky mountain slopes. Reached via a 5-mile hike, these springs are a little more remote than others but that’s all to your benefit. Dense spruce pines border the pools with sweeping green views below – made even more magical when wisps of steam from the water swirl overhead. Here, it’s likely to be just you and the natural world, so enjoy the silence before heading back to spend the night at your idyllic vacation home, La Cueva Eco Lodge.