Astoria Hot Springs Park

Soak in natural, mineral-rich thermal waters on the banks of the Snake River, where a historic community gathering place has been beautifully revived.

Astoria Hot Springs Park sits along a quiet bend of the Snake River, roughly twenty minutes south of Jackson, Wyoming, in the Hoback Canyon. For centuries, this geothermal site served as a vital gathering place for Indigenous peoples, including the Shoshone-Bannock, Eastern Shoshone, and Cheyenne, who utilized the warm, mineral-rich waters for physical and spiritual rejuvenation. To honor this deep connection, the Astoria Park Conservancy offers complimentary access to all Indigenous tribal members with a valid tribal ID. In 1811, a group of fur trappers representing John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Company traveled through the canyon, lending the "Astorians" name to the springs. These travelers debated navigating the wild Snake River, then known as the Mad River, in dugout canoes until two Shoshone men warned them against the treacherous rapids, guiding them safely over Teton Pass instead. By the early twentieth century, a gold prospector named Johnny Counts built a small cabin nearby, panning up to one hundred wheelbarrows of gravel a day, and locals would float down the river to soak in what was then called Counts's Hot Springs. The property eventually evolved into a bustling, family-run commercial resort in 1961, but it closed in 1999 and was demolished by a private developer. Thanks to a massive community effort led by the Trust for Public Land, which purchased the gravel-strewn site, and the Astoria Park Conservancy, the park officially reopened in September 2020, restoring a cherished piece of local heritage.

The modern, ninety-five-acre facility is thoughtfully integrated into the riverside landscape, featuring six distinct man-made soaking pools fed by natural thermal springs. Each pool is carefully regulated to offer a different temperature and experience. The spacious Leisure Pool is the largest on the property, designed to mimic the footprint of the historic original pool where generations of Jackson families once gathered. This pool is the coolest of the hot mineral pools, hovering between 100 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit, and features a remote-controlled ADA water chair. Nearby, the Meadow Pool offers a warmer, ADA-accessible option designed specifically for water therapy. For families, the Children's Pool is kept between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, measuring just two feet deep and filled with chlorinated potable water. For those seeking quiet contemplation, the River Soaking Pools are situated directly above the rushing waters of the Snake River. This area includes the Waterfall Pool, which features a gentle cascade designed to relieve tension in the neck and shoulders and is named in honor of local conservationist Luke Lynch. Beside it, the secluded River Pool is named in memory of Liza Benson, offering expansive river views and the hottest mineral water on the property. Guests can also brave the cold plunge pool, which ranges from 48 to 51 degrees Fahrenheit, to stimulate circulation and soothe sore muscles.

Designed by the landscape architecture firm DHM Design, the park features structured parking, modern changing rooms, showers, and a welcome center that sells snacks and merchandise. A network of pedestrian pathways winds through newly planted native vegetation, including quaking aspen, narrowleaf cottonwood, balsam poplar, golden willow, and Douglas fir. These trails lead to constructed wetland ecosystems that act as natural filters, cleaning runoff before it enters the river corridor. The park operates year-round under the stewardship of the nonprofit Astoria Park Conservancy, with all ticket sales directly funding the preservation of the land. Because of its popularity, the park manages capacity through daily soaking sessions that last one hour and forty-five minutes, which are highly recommended to be reserved in advance, though walk-ins are welcomed if space permits. The facility is open Thursday through Tuesday, closing on Wednesdays for deep cleaning and maintenance to ensure the pools remain pristine. Visitors cross the historic red bridge off Highway 89 to access this riverside sanctuary, where the sounds of the Snake River drown out the modern world, and the steam rising from the pools blends into the canyon mist.