Tucked into the mountainside, Granite Hot Springs offers a beautifully maintained, gently sloping, clearwater hot mineral soak pool in the depths of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, accessible by dirt road or, in the winter, dog sled or snowmobile. The scenery alone is worth the trip. This is the perfect romantic getaway and is equally great for family fun and adventure with friends. Add to the mix a nearby waterfall and primitive hot spring pool, and you’ve got heaven!
What To Expect
The popular Granite Hot Springs, an hour outside Jackson, Wyoming, can be found between the breathtaking mountain peaks of the Central Gros Ventre range, just above Granite Creek Falls. The pay-to-access gently-sloping concrete pool is surrounded by decking and tall fir, spruce, and pine trees pumping out oxygen for your rejuvenation and relaxation. This clearwater natural pool boasts a dramatic view of the forest and fast-flowing creek. Nearby is a natural block waterfall, almost 50 ft tall and 150 ft wide. Half a mile downstream you’ll find a 92°F – 96°F primitive hot spring pool fed by its own waterfall cascading down the cliffside (you’ll easily spot this by the red and yellow mineral-stained rock). A little further on is the summer camping area. This canyon spot offers fabulous opportunities for you to leave behind your stress and worries and luxuriate in hot, healing waters in the wild.
| Address | Granite Creek Road, Wyoming, off Highway 189 |
| Location | Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming |
| Open | 10 am – 4 pm (or 7 pm) – hours vary by season |
| Clothing | Required |
| Road Access | High clearance. Unpaved road. In winter, access is by snowmobile/dog sled/ski only |
| Water Temperature | 93 – 112°F |
| Admission | $8 Day Pass |
Granite Hot Springs Pool is for day use only, with open hours that change by the season. The site is manned and offers a toilet, changing rooms, and picnic tables, but no food or drinking water. You can rent towels there, so be sure to take cash with you, which you’ll also need for the soaking fee as they don’t take credit cards. This is a family-friendly location and bathing suits are a must. NOTE: This is off the beaten track and cell service is not available.
Open Hours
10 am – 7 pm May to October
10 am – 4 pm December to mid-February
10 am – 5 pm mid-February to April
Granite Hot Springs can be reached by walking a bumpy 9.5-mile dirt road to the site from the parking area off Highway 191, or by driving it, if you have the kind of car and stomach that’s up to the trip! However you travel into the forest, you are guaranteed beautiful, scenic views. In winter, the road from US-191 to Granite Hot Springs is only accessible by snowmobile, dog sled tours, or for skiers. From the trail-end parking area, it’s just a short walk to the hot springs.
In winter, the pool temperature can get up to a steaming 112 °F. This then drops to the high 80s during the spring snowmelt, steadying out in the mid-90s during the summer.
Rates
Take cash with you, as cards are not accepted, and there is no ATM and no cell service.
| Adult | $8/day |
| Child | $5/day |
| Camping | $15/night (May-September) |
Winter Access
During the winter, the road from US-191 is closed to traffic, meaning that if you are determined to get to those hot springs, you’ll have to choose between snowmobiles (rentals or tours), dog sled tours, or cross-country skis (rentals available in town). A dog sled or snowmobile tour will take up around half a day (including soak time), while cross-country skiing is an approximate 3- to 4-hour round-trip plus hot water soaking.
Book an exhilarating round-trip dog sled tour with Jackson Hole Dog Sled Tours. Togwotee Adventures offers both dog sled tours and snowmobiling adventures. They can pick you up in Jackson Hole and take you to Granite Creek Road to start your hot springs trip. If needed, they can provide all the clothing and gear needed to make you comfortable as you zoom around the Gros Ventre Mountains. If you opt for dog-sledding, the guides can teach you how to control the dogs yourself (or feel free to just sit back and enjoy the ride!). NOTE: For the round-trip hot springs trip with Togwotee Adventures, you’ll need to book a full-day tour with an early pick-up in town.
Interesting History
For over 10,000 years, native Americans passed through the Gros Ventre Range during their summer hunts. Then came European fur trappers looking to collect beaver pelts. Both groups loved soaking in the hot mineral water. Granite Hot Springs itself has been employed as a spa since the late 1800s, developed by settlers from New York who built cabins around the springs.
Today, Granite Hot Springs is maintained by the United States Forest Service. Early settlers in the region dug a pool to collect the water, which in 1933 was expanded and solidified by the Civilian Conservation Corps for public use. They added the campground, changing room, and pool deck.
The primitive pool downstream from the man-made one was one of the locations used to shoot the 1992 film A River Runs Through It.
In July 2007, the Granite Creek Fire threatened the springs and burnt out over 1,700 acres of land.
How To Get There
From Jackson, Wyoming, it is 34 miles (50 minutes). Head some 13 miles southwest on US-189. In Hoback Junction, take the US-191 E for 12 miles, then turn left onto the bumpy dirt road named “Granite Creek Road” (Forest Road 30500 – one mile on, and its name changes to “Granite Road”). Continue on for another 8 miles. Granite Hot Springs Pool will be on your right.
Can I Stay There?
Yes. There is an established campground as well as numerous options for primitive camping along the trail into the canyon. You’ll need to bring everything you need with you, and be sure to pack out what you pack in!
The 51-site Granite Creek campground is a great place to spend a night between soaks and exploring, and is much more secluded than other campgrounds in the Jackson Hole area, based in the canyon right alongside the Granite Creek. It works on a first-come, first-served basis and offers drinking water, picnic tables, pit toilets, and fire pits. Each site is $15/night and consists of a gravel or dirt pad of around 15′ x 46′. There are 6 pull-through sites for RVs (no hook ups).
Other campsites in the area offer easier access than Granite Creek – some on ranches, riverside, or tucked into the mountains. Some are back-to-basics, others with a choice of cabins, yurts, RV hookups, or dry. Check out a list here that also extends into nearby Idaho.
For more upper-class accommodation for your foray into nature, Jackson has The Cloudveil Autograph Collection, Hotel Jackson, Wort, and Amangani, while a few miles further north, Teton Village boasts a Four Seasons, Hotel Terra, and the Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa. Click here for a more extensive list of hotels and more details on each one.
We also recommend the Togwotee Mountain Lodge for a comfortable cabin or lodge-room stay and tours from your door. 1.5 hours from Granite Hot Springs, it is a full-service mountain resort with a brilliant, friendly atmosphere.
What Else Can I Do In The Area?
Near the hot springs is a worth-seeing natural block waterfall, great for a photo opportunity and shallow-water bathing. The Granite Creek is ideal for fishing in and hiking along, or you can break away and head further into the Gros Ventre Mountain Range along any of the numerous scenic hiking and snowshoeing paths. Check out this blog by a local, recommending her top hikes in the area. Keep your eyes open and camera ready in case you come across elk, bear, buffalo, bighorn sheep, deer, or moose. And look to the skies, too – you might get a peek at a bald eagle or two!
Adventure lovers can also try whitewater rafting from Hoback Junction or horseback riding and kayaking from Jackson Hole. Alternatively, throw on your cowboy hat and head off for a real Western experience at a Chuckwagon Dinner!
Togwotee Mountain Lodge north of Hoback Junction offers a variety of seasonal tours, from winter snowmobiling and dog-sledding to summer whitewater rafting, hiking, and disc golf.
Check out these 18 Best Things To Do in Jackson Hole for more ideas.
And, of course, you can’t be here and not go to Yellowstone National Park!
Want more hot-springing? In nearby Idaho, you’ve got Lava Hot Springs, the easy-to-access natural jacuzzi Rocky Canyon Hot Springs, the hidden gem Trail Creek Hot Springs, and the popular Kirkham Hot Springs, just up the road from the simple but pleasant Haven Hot Springs. If you pop down to Utah, the next nearest popular resort is Crystal Hot Springs. We’re always updating, so come back to our site again and type “Idaho” or “Wyoming” into the search bar for more state soaking.
The Takeaway
Granite Hot Springs has it all – adventure, relaxation, energy-burning hikes, and lazing in hot, healing waters. Take friends, family, your better half, or just yourself, and escape the world for a while.
The Dos And Don’ts Of Visiting A Hot Springs
Every hot springs has its own quirks. Visitors to Granite Hot Springs, for example, should be aware of the strict “no alcohol” rule for the premises, and be ready for weather conditions affecting access, especially in winter and spring. For more general and very important “hot springs etiquette,” we highly recommend you take a moment to check out our carefully compiled easy-to-read list of “dos and don’ts” here. And always, always respect our nature – pack out what you pack in and LEAVE NO TRACE.
Frequently Asked Questions
From Jackson, Wyoming, it is 34 miles (50 minutes) east via the US-189, US-191 E, and Granite Creek Road.
During the winter, the road from US-191 is closed to traffic, meaning that if you are determined to get to those hot springs, you’ll have to choose between snowmobiles (rentals or tours), dog sled tours, or cross-country skis (rentals available in town)
As you soak in the beautifully maintained man-made hot springs pool, you’ll be surrounded by spruce, fir, and pine trees, and lush mountains. The Granite Creek flows past the site, and a few minutes away is a wide, natural block waterfall and a primitive hot spring. The area is great for bathing, fishing, and hiking.
The concrete pool at Granite Hot Springs is no deeper than adult-standing chest height, but certainly deep enough for you to float in as you soak up the hot minerals.
No. You must wear a bathing suit/shorts while soaking in Granite Hot Springs. This is a family zone!
Disclaimer
While we at Traxplorio do our very best to give you the latest information about these hot springs sites, life happens, weather happens, and property owners happen. We always recommend you go to the official hot springs’ web page and/or the relevant state authority page to check conditions, times, and prices (where relevant) before you head out. Thanks for understanding, and enjoy your soak!
