The Hobo Hot Springs: Saratoga, Wyoming
We pulled into Saratoga with one plan for the afternoon: find the hot springs and see if they lived up to it.
Thinking back on our experience? Yes. They were totally worth it. The Hobo Hot Springs are free, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and smelled way better than the Thermopolis, Wy hot springs I frequented growing up in Wyoming.
What It Actually Is
The Hobo Hot Pool sits right on the banks of the North Platte River in downtown Saratoga. Something I really enjoyed was that there are lockers and showers on site, which was so welcome as we were traveling in the van and hadn't seen a “real” shower in a couple of days.
There are three pools to choose from and they post the day's temperatures on a whiteboard out front so you know what you're walking into. The day we went:
Small pool: 101°F
Main pool: 110°F
The Lobster: 118°F
I am going to be so for real… that Lobster pool is named so accurately haha. We tried dipping a toe into the main pool and lasted about three seconds. We didn't even attempt the Lobster. WAY to hot for me friends. However, if you are a lobster you may love those two hotter pools. There were a few different groups that kept going into them up to their necks. I don’t know how, but I was impressed to say the least.
The Pool We Loved
The small pool, at 101°F, was the one we kept coming back to. It's warm without being punishing, which meant we could actually sit and relax instead of gritting our teeth through it.
One heads up, the steps down into it are a little slippery, so take your time. Once you're in, though, the floor is this small, loose black gravel stuff, which is comfortable underfoot and doesn't have that slick, algae-covered feel you sometimes get at natural pools. There's also enough gravel built up in spots to make a decent seat.
The River Is Part of the Experience Too
Since the springs sit directly on the North Platte, you're not limited to the developed pools. You can walk right down and cool off in the river itself, or settle into one of two rock-lined pools where the spring water mixes into the river — a nice middle ground between "too hot" and "too cold."
Small fish nibbled at our toes in these pools and there were kids chasing them through the water trying to catch them. We also shared the water with a crawfish, and a fairly large garter snake, which was enough to send me out of that particular pool for the rest of the afternoon. (No snakes for this girl, Brent didn’t mind at all though) This is a natural river environment, so keep an eye out and expect a little wildlife along with your soak.
We did also find a nice walking path that goes over the North Platte. It’s worth a stroll too.
Good for Families
There's also a separate swimming pool on site with its own entrance, which we didn't use ourselves but noticed plenty of families taking advantage of. Kids were splashing in and around the hot pools too, and every family there looked like they were having a genuinely good time. If you're traveling with kids, this is an easy stop to build an afternoon around.
Worth the Stop?
Yes, without hesitation. Free, open around the clock, and right in the middle of a town worth wandering afterward. Just go in knowing the small pool is your friend, the Lobster is not for the faint of heart, and the river has a few residents of its own.
If you're ever passing through Saratoga, add this one to the list.
Have you been to the Hobo Hot Springs? Tell us which pool you actually survived in the comments.