These days, hopping from one continent to the next is so far off my vacation radar, I’ve even stopped fantasizing about it. (Well, almost.) With the economy, job security, and air travel as they are, traveling domestically has become a whole lot more attractive. But how to mix things up from the usual big-city, tourist-hot-spot type of vacation? One way is to seek out natural wonders, like hot springs. The United States boasts springs with something for all of us—from family folks or those with an affinity for hiking nude (yes, apparently there are people who choose to do this) to those who want a quick jaunt outside a bustling city or a hike that will take them far from civilization.
Whether you’re after the long-praised health benefits of soaking up mineral-rich, earth-warmed water, or just something off the beaten path, the journey of hunting down one of Earth’s strangest wonders makes these hot springs mentally and physically satisfying. Generally found around mountains, springs start as deep groundwater, which is warmed by the earth’s heat and then travels quickly up to the earth’s surface, bubbling up as a hot spring. Of the dozens across the country, I sought out some of the most picturesque and peaceful.
1. Deep Creek Hot Springs, Hesperia, California
Once relatively unknown, this bubbly hideaway is the destination for those times when you truly need to get away from it all, as it’s remote and requires a bit of a hike to get there. If you’re searching for a moderate forty-five minutes of cardio prior to soaking up hot mineral water, look no further. And the sights are worth the sweat: the creek takes a sharp turn around the end of a ridge, and suddenly seven soaking pools filled with 100-plus-degree water arise from rocks. Oh, and one last thing: if you’re not down with sharing the springs with nude soakers, I’d avoid Deep Creek—it’s a nudie favorite. This is California, after all.
2. Bagby Hot Springs, Estacada, Oregon
It takes an easy, 1.4-mile hike to arrive at these fairly well-developed pools. To get there, hikers follow the Hot Springs Fork of the Collawash River, amid tall Douglas firs and slightly chilly swimming holes along the way. The 130-plus-degree springs are located at a 2,280-foot elevation and managed by the forest service and a local volunteer group. The water bubbles up and comes together in numerous bathhouses and ten-by-three-foot private tubs, which are held together by hollowed-out cedar logs. There are also public tubs near the private bathhouses. No need to pack a swimsuit here, either, for you free spirits out there.
