Hot Springs State Park: LAPC

You’ll see unique sights if you visit Hot Springs State Park in central Wyoming. Unlike other state parks in Wyoming, entrance to this park, located in the city of Thermopolis, is free. I’ve included a map of this day-use park at the end of this post.

History of the park

In 1897, Big Horn Hot Springs State Reserve became Wyoming’s first state park. The park, now called Hot Springs State Park, has always been famous for its therapeutic mineral hot springs.

On the iconic Monument Hill, you’ll see the words “World’s Largest Mineral Hot Springs” in large white letters.

Native peoples used the hot springs for healing purposes for hundreds of years. They believed its waters would make them invincible in battle.

Stateparks.com describes the park’s history in the following excerpt:

“Chief Washakie of the Shoshone tribe, who built a personal bath house there, and Chief Sharp Nose of the Arapaho tribe sold the hot springs to the United States in 1896 with the provision that a portion should be forever reserved for the use and benefit of the public. Today nothing is left of Washakie’s bathhouse, although a small marker may be found at the site. At Thermopolis, each year in early August the presentation of the springs to the white man is re-enacted in the ‘Gift of the Waters Pageant’.”

Hot Springs Pools

The state-run bath house in the park has free admission. The water temperature at Wyoming State Bath House is maintained at 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Two nearby commercial hot spring facilities, with inside and outside pools and waterslides, charge an entrance fee. Star Plunge was built in 1900 and has hosted many famous people, including Buffalo Bill Cody, Butch Cassidy, Marlon Brando, and Robert Redford. Hellie’s Teepee Pool’s iconic copper dome is a local landmark. They offer a 272-foot-long outdoor slide and a 162-foot indoor slide.

You can explore the park by car or by venturing out on the 6.2 miles of trails.

Hot Springs State Park offers opportunities for fishing, boating, Volksmarch, and group picnicking. Group picnic shelters require registration and a deposit.

This small park includes several unique features.

Unusual hot springs in the park

White Sulfur Springs, at the north end of the park, may not be as impressive as other thermal features, but it was interesting to see its white-colored water.

The Teepee Fountain is much more impressive. This cone-shaped feature, originally built to vent steam, is right next to the Best Western hotel where we stayed. It has accumulated more layers of color since our last visit to Thermopolis.

Hot Springs State Park Swinging Bridge

At the north end of the park, you can walk across a suspension bridge for unique views of the park’s attractions.

I walked by this winding hot spring-fed creek near the bridge. If you take a dog with you, as I did, make sure you have them in a harness and under good control. That water is HOT!

The original Swinging Bridge was constructed in 1916 and rebuilt in 1992. When you get to the other side, you’ll get a big surprise. Rainbow Terrace stretches along the shore of the Big Horn River. Over 8,000 gallons of water flow over the Terrace every day. The water temperature here measures 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hot Springs State Park Bison

The park maintains a herd of 24-27 bison. When we visited in early June, several calves grazed near the cows. Bison have inhabited the park since 1916. In the late fall and winter, they are fed daily supplements. Note, the park brochure reminds you to watch the bison only from inside your vehicle. They are wild animals who can run at speeds up to thirty-five mph.

Legend Rock Petroglyphs

Thirty miles northwest of Thermopolis, you can walk alongside a low cliff covered with hundreds of petroglyphs. Hot Springs State Park personnel manage this AMAZING petroglyph site. For more about Legend Rock, see my post about this impressive site.

Hot Springs State Park map

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