Outdoors Nearby

Hot springs etiquette: clothing, sharing pools and what to pack

Updated: October 25, 2026

Hot springs etiquette comes down to one fact. Most soaking pools are small and shared, and many wild ones stay open only as long as visitors behave. The rules differ a lot from place to place, so a habit that's normal at one spring can get you a ticket at the next. This guide covers what land managers and operators actually post, from swimsuits to dogs to how to leave a tub for the next person.

In our hot springs directory, 19 of the 142 listed springs state that swimsuits are required, 10 are clothing optional at least part of the time, 13 don't allow dogs and 18 need a reservation or permit.

What to wear: swimsuits, clothing optional and the law

Assume a swimsuit unless the land manager or operator says otherwise. Developed hot springs nearly always require one, and some spell out the details. Givens Hot Springs in Idaho asks for swimsuits and no T-shirts, and Silver Creek Plunge asks for modest swimwear.

Where public land bans nudity

Being on federal land doesn't make a spring clothing optional. The Forest Service page for Spence Hot Spring in New Mexico says nudity is a violation of state law and violators will be cited. In the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, BLM's visitor guide says public nudity isn't allowed in recreation areas, which covers Manby and Black Rock Hot Springs. Baumgartner Hot Springs in Idaho requires swimsuits in its Forest Service campground pool.

Where clothing is optional

A few places allow it, often with conditions:

At a spring where no rule is posted, follow what the people already in the water are doing, and don't stare. The Forest Service page for Deep Creek Hot Springs in California asks visitors to respect the privacy of others.

Sharing a small pool

Natural pools are often small. The Forest Service describes Spence as a small pool that holds relatively few people. A few habits keep things friendly:

Noise

People drive hours for the quiet. Leave the speaker at home, keep your voice low and save the party for camp. Wild Horse lists rough behavior and diving in among the things it doesn't allow.

Alcohol, glass and food

Glass is the most common ban, because broken glass is invisible under water and cuts bare feet. Rules from our listings:

Bring drinks in plastic or metal bottles, and mostly bring water. Hot soaking dehydrates you faster than you'd think.

Phones and photos

Never photograph other soakers without asking, and that goes double at clothing-optional springs. If you want a shot of the pool, wait until it's empty or point the camera away from people. Think before you post exact locations of small, fragile springs. Also expect to be offline. Strawberry Park has no cell service or Wi-Fi, and the Forest Service says the Bagby area has no cell coverage at all.

Kids at hot springs

Families are welcome at many developed hot springs, but age rules are common. Some sites are 18 and over only, some set adults-only hours or pools, and some keep small children out of the hottest water. Lava Hot Springs in Idaho says water above 100 °F isn't recommended for children under 2. Most hot springs have no lifeguard, so stay in the same pool as your kids, as Wild Horse requires. At wild springs, watch for scalding inflows and slippery rock, and keep kids from putting their heads under.

Dogs

Dog rules vary more than almost any other. Kirkham Hot Springs in Idaho welcomes pets on a leash but asks owners to keep them away from the pools and runoff. Baumgartner allows no pets around or in the pool, and Strawberry Park bans them from the property and from parked cars. Even where dogs are allowed, keep them out of the soaking water. At Fifth Water Hot Springs in Utah, state regulators warn owners not to let pets drink the water because of harmful bacteria.

Rinse off, and skip the soap

At a developed hot springs, shower before you soak. Riverbend Hot Springs in New Mexico asks for it. At wild springs, there's no shower, so just come clean and leave the lotion off. Leave No Trace says soap, even biodegradable, affects water quality and should be used at least 200 feet from water. It adds that lotion, sunscreen, insect repellent and body oils contaminate small water sources. After a wild soak, rinse off as soon as you can. Utah's Department of Environmental Quality gives that advice for Fifth Water.

Camping near hot springs

Don't pitch a tent next to the pools. Many springs are day use only. A Forest Service order that ran from 2024 to April 2026 closed Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon from sundown to sunrise and banned camping around it. Kirkham closes its gate at 9 p.m., and Terwilliger sends campers to developed campgrounds in the Cougar Recreation Area. In the backcountry, camp and go to the bathroom at least 200 feet from water, as Leave No Trace recommends.

What to bring to hot springs

Leave glass, soap, speakers and valuables in the car behind. At Bagby, the Forest Service warns that cars have been broken into at night.

Resort and bathhouse etiquette

Developed hot springs run on schedules. Book ahead when the operator asks you to. Strawberry Park requires reservations for all pool visits and opens them 30 days in advance, and Quinn's Hot Springs in Montana sells day-use guests one of three 4-hour sessions online. Arrive on time, leave when your slot ends and follow pool-specific rules on age, quiet zones and outside food. If a pool is posted as adults only or quiet, respect it.

Find a hot spring near you

Each listing in our hot springs directory shows the access type, clothing rule, dog policy and reservation rules where the land manager or operator publishes them. Start with Idaho (41), Colorado (27), New Mexico (22), Montana (14) or Oregon (11). For water temperature, Naegleria and river crossings, read our hot springs safety guide.

Rules change, and posted signs at the site win. Check the land manager or operator page before you go.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What do you wear to a hot spring?

A swimsuit, unless the site says otherwise. Most developed hot springs and many Forest Service and BLM sites require one. Bring water shoes with grip, a towel and warm layers or a robe for getting in and out.

Are hot springs clothing optional?

Some are, many are not. Terwilliger Hot Springs in Oregon is officially clothing optional, and Strawberry Park in Colorado is clothing optional after dark. At Spence Hot Spring in New Mexico, the Forest Service says nudity violates state law and will be cited. Check the land manager or operator page before you go.

Can you bring alcohol to a hot spring?

Usually not. Alcohol is banned at Terwilliger, Baumgartner, Strawberry Park and many other sites, and glass containers are banned at most of them. Even where it is allowed, hot water and alcohol together raise the risk of passing out.

Can you bring dogs to hot springs?

Sometimes, but rarely in the pools. Kirkham Hot Springs in Idaho welcomes leashed dogs but asks owners to keep them away from the pools and runoff, while Strawberry Park bans pets from the property and even from parked cars.

What should I bring to a natural hot spring?

Water shoes, a towel, drinking water, a headlamp, warm dry clothes for the walk out and a bag to pack out your trash. Add a map you can use offline, since many springs have no cell service.

Do you need reservations for hot springs?

At many developed hot springs, yes. Strawberry Park requires reservations for every visit and sells 2-hour slots, and Quinn's in Montana sells day-use sessions online in advance. Most free springs on public land are first come, first served.