Swimming holes are a great source for heating up or cooling during the warmest months. It is extremely important that you are aware of – and avoid – the areas where the water is scalding hot. Here are seven swimming holes in Wyoming that you need to familiarize yourself with first before heading to check out that are absolutely worth the effort:
- Mr. Bubbles Hot Spring
Ilya Katsnelson/Flickr Mr. Bubbles Hot Spring is located in Yellowstone National Park along the Bechler River Trail. This is a great spring to simply sit back and enjoy nature in. Be sure to check with the Ranger Station regarding the temperature of the water before getting in the swimming hole, though, because sometimes the water can be extremely hot. Safety is key - but when the water is good, it’s amazing!
- Kelly Warm Springs
Eveline/Flickr As its name suggests, the water is moderately warm at Kelly Warm Springs. This spring is great for families because it is deep enough to actually swim in, and shallow enough for children as well. The warm spring is accessible via Gros Ventre Road, and is located in the Jackson Hole area.
- Boiling River
Wesley Fryer/Flickr This is another great spring for families to enjoy. The temperature of the Boiling River is 140ºF, so you need to stay clear of this stream, as that temperature is entirely too high for lounging. However, there is a section where the Boiling River spills over into the very cold Gardiner River; you need to find the segment in which the two combine to form a nice, warm swimming hole. The warm spring is located in Yellowstone National Park, just north of Mammoth Hot Springs on Route 89.
- Firehole
Dr.DeNo/Flickr Firehole is a spring with rapids thrown in for good measure. The rapids flow into a deep pool with shallow areas outside of the current, and the water is warm, thanks to being water that originated within Old Faithful itself. Firehole River Canyon is located inside Yellowstone National Park about 1 1/2 miles from Old Faithful. For your safety, please stay out of the main current and safely enjoy the shallow areas outside of it.
Address: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 82190
- Saratoga Natural Hot Springs
vicki watkins/Flickr Saratoga Natural Hot Springs, or “Hobo Pool”, is located off of Walnut Avenue in Saratoga. Saratoga Hot Springs, which ranges in temperature from 117ºF to 128ºF, feeds into Hobo Pool. It has a concrete foundation and a sandy bottom, which empties into the North Platte River. You can swim in some areas of the river, but you must be careful that the water is not too hot in these sections of the river.
Address: 300 East Walnut Avenue, Saratoga, Wyoming, 82331
- Hot Springs
ccarlstead/Flickr The water of the hot springs in the aptly-named Hot Springs State Park is 135ºF, however, the water at the nearby bath house is maintained at a more comfortable 104ºF for therapeutic soaking.
Address: 220 Park Street, Thermopolis, Wyoming, 82443
- Granite Hot Springs
Brandon C/Flickr Granite Hot Springs consists of natural hot water that flows into a concrete pool built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The water in the summer months is 93ºF, and in the winter it is a steady and cozy 112ºF. The springs is located near the Hoback Junction in Teton National Forest along RT 189/191.
Address: Granite Creek Road, Jackson, Wyoming, 83001
So, what do you think? Did we include your favorites, or did we miss yours? Do you know of any other swimming holes in Wyoming you think we should cover? Let us know in the comments!
Ilya Katsnelson/Flickr
Mr. Bubbles Hot Spring is located in Yellowstone National Park along the Bechler River Trail. This is a great spring to simply sit back and enjoy nature in. Be sure to check with the Ranger Station regarding the temperature of the water before getting in the swimming hole, though, because sometimes the water can be extremely hot. Safety is key - but when the water is good, it’s amazing!
Eveline/Flickr
As its name suggests, the water is moderately warm at Kelly Warm Springs. This spring is great for families because it is deep enough to actually swim in, and shallow enough for children as well. The warm spring is accessible via Gros Ventre Road, and is located in the Jackson Hole area.
Wesley Fryer/Flickr
This is another great spring for families to enjoy. The temperature of the Boiling River is 140ºF, so you need to stay clear of this stream, as that temperature is entirely too high for lounging. However, there is a section where the Boiling River spills over into the very cold Gardiner River; you need to find the segment in which the two combine to form a nice, warm swimming hole. The warm spring is located in Yellowstone National Park, just north of Mammoth Hot Springs on Route 89.
Dr.DeNo/Flickr
Firehole is a spring with rapids thrown in for good measure. The rapids flow into a deep pool with shallow areas outside of the current, and the water is warm, thanks to being water that originated within Old Faithful itself. Firehole River Canyon is located inside Yellowstone National Park about 1 1/2 miles from Old Faithful. For your safety, please stay out of the main current and safely enjoy the shallow areas outside of it.
Address: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 82190
vicki watkins/Flickr
Saratoga Natural Hot Springs, or “Hobo Pool”, is located off of Walnut Avenue in Saratoga. Saratoga Hot Springs, which ranges in temperature from 117ºF to 128ºF, feeds into Hobo Pool. It has a concrete foundation and a sandy bottom, which empties into the North Platte River. You can swim in some areas of the river, but you must be careful that the water is not too hot in these sections of the river.
Address: 300 East Walnut Avenue, Saratoga, Wyoming, 82331
ccarlstead/Flickr
The water of the hot springs in the aptly-named Hot Springs State Park is 135ºF, however, the water at the nearby bath house is maintained at a more comfortable 104ºF for therapeutic soaking.
Address: 220 Park Street, Thermopolis, Wyoming, 82443
Brandon C/Flickr
Granite Hot Springs consists of natural hot water that flows into a concrete pool built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The water in the summer months is 93ºF, and in the winter it is a steady and cozy 112ºF. The springs is located near the Hoback Junction in Teton National Forest along RT 189/191.
Address: Granite Creek Road, Jackson, Wyoming, 83001
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Address: Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USAAddress: Kelly Warm Spring, Wyoming 83011, USAAddress: Boiling River Hot Springs, Wyoming 82190, USAAddress: 300 E Walnut Ave, Saratoga, WY 82331, USAAddress: 220 Park St, Thermopolis, WY 82443, USAAddress: Granite Creek Rd, Wyoming 83001, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Wyoming Swimming Holes April 20, 2021 Tori Jane Where are the best places to swim in Wyoming? Wyoming is a gorgeous state with plenty of nice spots to go for a good old-fashioned swim during the warmer months. For example, there are awe-inspiring swimming holes like the Firehole, which is a swimming hole near Yellowstone with warm water thanks to it being fed by water from Old Faithful. There are also numerous hot springs located in our beautiful state, all of which are luxuriously relaxing. There is also a warm spring, which is more family-friendly and accessible than the others. Your choices are many and the possibilities are endless! For a more complete list of our favorite Wyoming swimming spots, take a look at this article. Are there good beaches in Wyoming? Just because we’re landlocked doesn’t mean we don’t have some pretty nice beaches! Some of the best ones include Colter Bay, which offers up a stunningly beautiful and very authentic-feeling beach experience, and the Sandy Beach Picnic Area at Fremont Lake is so beachy that it’s got “beach” in the name! Seriously, though, Wyoming beaches aren’t something to shake a stick at; they’re beautiful and, in many cases, you could easily forget that you’re in a landlocked state. It’s easy to kill an entire afternoon lakeside in our beautiful state, because who says a beach has to be by the ocean to be beautiful? Where can I hike with waterfalls in Wyoming? Wyoming is home to lots of hiking trails that just so happen to feature amazing waterfalls. Some of the most popular waterfall hikes include Cascade Canyon Trail, inside Grand Teton National Park, as well as Jenny Lake Trail, within the same park. There are also numerous waterfall hikes within Yellowstone National Park, and the aforementioned Grand Teton National Park has several more not listed here, too. The Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail is beautiful and features a waterfall in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Wyoming Swimming Holes
April 20, 2021
Tori Jane
Where are the best places to swim in Wyoming? Wyoming is a gorgeous state with plenty of nice spots to go for a good old-fashioned swim during the warmer months. For example, there are awe-inspiring swimming holes like the Firehole, which is a swimming hole near Yellowstone with warm water thanks to it being fed by water from Old Faithful. There are also numerous hot springs located in our beautiful state, all of which are luxuriously relaxing. There is also a warm spring, which is more family-friendly and accessible than the others. Your choices are many and the possibilities are endless! For a more complete list of our favorite Wyoming swimming spots, take a look at this article. Are there good beaches in Wyoming? Just because we’re landlocked doesn’t mean we don’t have some pretty nice beaches! Some of the best ones include Colter Bay, which offers up a stunningly beautiful and very authentic-feeling beach experience, and the Sandy Beach Picnic Area at Fremont Lake is so beachy that it’s got “beach” in the name! Seriously, though, Wyoming beaches aren’t something to shake a stick at; they’re beautiful and, in many cases, you could easily forget that you’re in a landlocked state. It’s easy to kill an entire afternoon lakeside in our beautiful state, because who says a beach has to be by the ocean to be beautiful? Where can I hike with waterfalls in Wyoming? Wyoming is home to lots of hiking trails that just so happen to feature amazing waterfalls. Some of the most popular waterfall hikes include Cascade Canyon Trail, inside Grand Teton National Park, as well as Jenny Lake Trail, within the same park. There are also numerous waterfall hikes within Yellowstone National Park, and the aforementioned Grand Teton National Park has several more not listed here, too. The Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail is beautiful and features a waterfall in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Wyoming is a gorgeous state with plenty of nice spots to go for a good old-fashioned swim during the warmer months. For example, there are awe-inspiring swimming holes like the Firehole, which is a swimming hole near Yellowstone with warm water thanks to it being fed by water from Old Faithful. There are also numerous hot springs located in our beautiful state, all of which are luxuriously relaxing. There is also a warm spring, which is more family-friendly and accessible than the others. Your choices are many and the possibilities are endless! For a more complete list of our favorite Wyoming swimming spots, take a look at this article.
Are there good beaches in Wyoming?
Just because we’re landlocked doesn’t mean we don’t have some pretty nice beaches! Some of the best ones include Colter Bay, which offers up a stunningly beautiful and very authentic-feeling beach experience, and the Sandy Beach Picnic Area at Fremont Lake is so beachy that it’s got “beach” in the name! Seriously, though, Wyoming beaches aren’t something to shake a stick at; they’re beautiful and, in many cases, you could easily forget that you’re in a landlocked state. It’s easy to kill an entire afternoon lakeside in our beautiful state, because who says a beach has to be by the ocean to be beautiful?
Where can I hike with waterfalls in Wyoming?
Wyoming is home to lots of hiking trails that just so happen to feature amazing waterfalls. Some of the most popular waterfall hikes include Cascade Canyon Trail, inside Grand Teton National Park, as well as Jenny Lake Trail, within the same park. There are also numerous waterfall hikes within Yellowstone National Park, and the aforementioned Grand Teton National Park has several more not listed here, too. The Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail is beautiful and features a waterfall in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
