Published January 29, 2015 05:48PM
8 Hot Springs Hikes To Melt Your Muscles And Soothe Your Soul
Reward your tired hiking muscles with a soak in these hidden hot springs.
(Photo: Sam Spicer via Getty Images)
Who doesn’t want to soak at the foot of 14ers? Take a 8.5-mile hike to Conundrum Hot Springs outside of Aspen, Colorado, for ridge views like this in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.
Hike 6 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail outside of Hesperia, California, to these hot springs in the San Bernardino National Forest. Maybe wait until it’s wintertime or dark outside, considering this pool is located in the Mojave Desert.
Hike 15 miles through Belcher Canyon and Belcher Meadows in Yellowstone National Park to simmer amongst Dunanda Falls. While milder than the hot springs in the rest of the park, soaking to the sound of waterfalls doesn’t disappoint.
Take a dip in a cascade of clear-water pools that overlooks the majestically grassy peaks of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Goldbug is a perfect rest after a grueling 3-mile ascent.
Wander two-and-a-half miles down the Boulder Creek Trail in Olympic National Park to simmer amongst the lush trees of the Olympic National Forest. Finish the rest of the 8-mile trail and leave your rainy Seattle worries behind.
Headed to Northwest Alaska any time soon? Snowshoe, snowmachine or dogsled out to the Serpentine Hot Springs in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Melt some ice off your shoulders with some musk ox (but don’t get too close!).
Soak in the clear-blue, 100-degree waters of Spence Hot Springs. Located in the secluded Jemez Canyon, this quick 1-mile out-and-back provides views of the Santa Fe National Forest pines.
Take “nature’s version of a bath” in this hot spring, located in a slot canyon. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area soak is a 6-mile-out-and-back hike along the Arizona Hot Spring Trail and features a 20-foot ladder that must be climbed to reach the best springs. Check out our field scout’s expert beta.