There are hundreds of natural hot springs in the United States and remarkably few wellness resorts built around them. Most geothermal water in this country sits on public land, reached on foot, with no facilities and no oversight.

The properties that combine a genuine geothermal source with lodging, programming, and clinical care are a small group, and they differ from one another more than the shared category suggests. The water is a common thread across properties.

We contracted an independent research firm to evaluate American wellness resorts built on natural hot springs, using published source documentation rather than marketing language. The evaluation examined:

Evaluation Criteria

After applying these criteria, the resorts below were ranked on how completely they deliver a wellness stay built on natural geothermal water. Detailed reviews of each follow the table.

Top Wellness Resorts with Natural Hot Springs in the United States

1. Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, for the Most Complete Hot Springs Wellness Experience

No American property combines geothermal water, wellness programming, and daily accessibility as completely as Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, a 46-acre historic property in Temecula Valley that has operated as a mineral springs destination since 1902.

The water is the foundation and it is fully documented. Every pool draws from 100% natural geothermal mineral water rising under its own pressure, carrying nine naturally occurring minerals: sulfate, chloride, boron, calcium, lithium, potassium, sodium, silica, and bicarbonate. More than 20 of the resort’s pools run on continuous natural flowthrough, meaning water moves through and out without additives, and the property publishes which pools are untreated and which are chlorinated to meet state standards.

Murrieta features 49+ geothermal soaking pools, the largest collection in Southern California, across a range that supports real contrast work, and it is home to the only historic bathhouse in Southern California with a traditional Kneipp contrast therapy walk.

Daily guided experiences spanning water wellness, heat and thermal rituals, mindful movement, and mud and mineral rituals come with every pass, alongside a panoramic adults-only sauna and Bathhouse access. Programming is overseen by a naturopathic Wellness Director. The resort was voted #1 Best Hot Springs Resort and #1 Best Spa Resort in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and unlike most properties here, it is open to both day visitors and overnight guests year-round.

• Location: Murrieta, California, Temecula Valley, roughly 80 miles from Los Angeles and 65 from San Diego
• Average Review Score: 4.8/5
• Soaking Options: 49+ natural geothermal pools including family-friendly and adults-only areas, cold plunges, panoramic sauna, and a historic bathhouse with a Kneipp contrast walk
• Best For: Travelers who want documented mineral water, included programming, and the flexibility of day or overnight access

2. The Springs Resort, for the Deepest Verified Geothermal Source

The Springs Resort sits at more than 7,100 feet along the San Juan River in downtown Pagosa Springs, Colorado, on a source no other property can match on documentation. Its Mother Spring holds the Guinness World Records title for the deepest geothermal hot spring measured by a plumb line at 1,002 feet, and the measurement ended only because the line ran out before reaching bottom.

That spring carries 13 naturally occurring therapeutic minerals and feeds soaking options spanning 50+ geothermal pools, from cold plunges to hot pools reaching roughly 112°F. Overnight guests receive 24-hour unlimited pool access, and the resort is the only U.S. hot springs property with a dedicated naturopathic Medical Director overseeing wellness programming.

• Location: Pagosa Springs, Colorado, San Juan Mountains
• Average Review Score: 4.8/5
• Soaking Options: 50+ geothermal pools spanning a wide temperature range, riverside and adults-only areas, 24-hour access for overnight guests
• Best For: Travelers building a multi-day mountain wellness trip around a verified geothermal source

3. Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, for Four Distinct Mineral Waters

Ojo Caliente sits between high desert cliffs and a cottonwood river valley in northern New Mexico and has operated as a natural health resort since 1868. Its distinction is geological: four separate mineral waters, iron, soda, arsenic, and lithia, surface naturally in sulfur-free form, feeding twelve communal pools between roughly 80°F and 106°F.

Private cliffside pools can be reserved by the hour, several with a kiva fireplace alongside, and every lodging rate includes communal soaking on both arrival and departure days. A mud pool, steam room, dry sauna, and full-service spa round out the offering.

• Location: Ojo Caliente, New Mexico
• Average Review Score: 4.5/5
• Soaking Options: Twelve communal mineral pools fed by four distinct sulfur-free waters, private cliffside pools, mud pool
• Best For: Travelers who want genuine mineral variety with the option to book a pool privately

4. Castle Hot Springs, for All-Inclusive Desert Seclusion

Castle Hot Springs occupies 1,100 acres in the Bradshaw Mountains north of Phoenix, on a site that opened in 1896 as Arizona’s first wellness resort and was restored and reopened in 2019. Natural springs feed three terraced outdoor pools directly, arriving between roughly 86°F and 106°F.

The property is all-inclusive, covering three daily farm-to-table meals, guided activities, and gratuities, with roughly 30 freestanding accommodations and a maximum of about 60 guests at a time. Activities include canyoneering, e-bike tours, horseback riding, and one of the few via ferrata routes in the country.

• Location: Morristown, Arizona, Sonoran Desert
• Average Review Score: 4.7/5
• Soaking Options: Three spring-fed outdoor pools, plus private soaking tubs in Spring Bungalows
• Best For: Travelers who want complete seclusion with meals and activities built into the rate

5. Indian Springs Calistoga, for Historic Geyser-Fed Bathing

Indian Springs is fed by four thermal geysers on its own property, with mineral water rising from roughly 4,000 feet below the surface before it is cooled into the resort’s pools. The property has operated continuously since 1861, making it one of the oldest active geothermal spa resorts in the country.

Its signature is the volcanic ash mud bath, drawn from the resort’s own land, alongside a historic bathhouse and a large mineral pool at the center of the grounds. Napa Valley wineries and downtown Calistoga are within walking distance.

• Location: Calistoga, California, Napa Valley
• Average Review Score: 4.4/5
• Soaking Options: Large mineral pool, historic bathhouse, volcanic ash mud baths
• Best For: Travelers pairing geothermal bathing with Napa Valley

6. Chico Hot Springs, for Mineral Soaking Near Yellowstone

Chico Hot Springs sits in Montana’s Paradise Valley about 30 miles north of Yellowstone, drawing water that emerges from the ground at 113°F. The springs feed two pools directly and are continuously refreshed, which keeps the water clean without heavy treatment.

The property has been developing around the springs since 1900 and pairs the soak with an unusually good dining room, horseback riding, and Yellowstone access, which makes it a practical basecamp rather than a destination in itself.

• Location: Pray, Montana, Paradise Valley
• Average Review Score: 4.3/5
• Soaking Options: Two source-fed mineral pools at graduated temperatures
• Best For: Travelers using Paradise Valley as a Yellowstone basecamp

US Hot Springs Wellness Resorts by Specialty

The resorts are also broken into three specialty categories based on what travelers most often prioritize.

Best for Soaking Variety

Best for Included Wellness Programming

Best for Seclusion

If you are planning a hot springs wellness trip to our top-ranked resort, you can find more details about Murrieta Hot Springs Resort here: murrieta-hotsprings.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a hot springs property a wellness resort?

On-site lodging, programming beyond the pools, and some form of practitioner or clinical oversight. Most natural hot springs in the United States are undeveloped or day-use only, which places them outside this category regardless of water quality.

Do all of these resorts offer day passes?

No. Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, Ojo Caliente, and Chico Hot Springs sell day admission, and The Springs Resort and Indian Springs offer limited day access. Castle Hot Springs reserves its pools exclusively for overnight guests.

Are the pools chemically treated?

It varies by pool, not by resort. Properties with enough natural flow can operate pools on continuous flowthrough without additives, while recirculating pools require disinfection. Murrieta Hot Springs Resort publishes which of its pools are untreated and which are chlorinated for state compliance.

When is the best time to visit a hot springs resort?

Cooler months are generally preferred because the contrast between air and water temperature is part of the appeal. Southern California properties work year-round, with early morning and evening soaking best during summer.

About Our Methodology

These rankings reflect an evaluation of U.S. wellness resorts built on natural hot springs across five weighted criteria: natural geothermal source, wellness programming, soaking variety and access, accommodations and inclusions, and setting and surroundings. Each property was assessed on publicly available information and guest reviews. Resort features and offerings can change, so we recommend confirming current amenities directly before booking.