Winter Trekking Adventures to Hot Springs for Ultimate Relaxation

A rare but enjoyable phenomenon

Most hot springs around the world have been listed and there were old wooden structures near them for the visitors to relax in the older days, though now you will find small hotels close to them at the least. Most will require you to seek the assistance of a guide to reach them unless you believe that your maps and your navigation skills will be good enough. Yes, some of them will have roads leading to them, but most don’t! Here we list the most popular ones around the world, which will include the ones on the radars of the seasonal holidaymakers in the USA.

Baranof Hot Springs in Alaska

These hot springs are in the east of the island of the same name in southwestern Alaska. These are part of the Tongass National Forest, which stretches across a few islands, so you can have a long family or solo adventure here. The springs themselves are 9 in number and the temperatures of the waters here stay above 30 degrees throughout the year. You may think that these will be popular in winter, but icy covers over the land make it difficult to reach here, so a larger number of tourists come here in the summer with others preferring spring or autumn. You will be able to find lodging in cabins here if you wish to spend more than a day here. The Sitka airport on this island will be the best way to get here.

The natural spa at Blue Lagoon in Iceland

Regarded as one of the natural wonders of the world, here in southwestern Iceland, close to the Atlantic coast, this large host spring is one of the major tourist attractions and is recommended as part of the itinerary for holidays to this country. The area around the hot spring is well developed and you can choose to bath with people of the same gender or if you don’t mind in the communal waters, which means that you will need to pay a fee to bath in the waters and you should book your entry a few months in advance. Here you will be offered physical and cosmetic treatments to choose from if you require them. There are views of the mountains apart from the waters themselves as you dip in. There are international airports, including the one at the capital Reykjavik within driving distance from this tourist resort.

Radioactive therapy at Radium Hot Springs in Canada

These hot springs will be found in British Columbia, within driving distance from the US border. These are in the Kootenay National Park, so expect to see a lot of mountains of Canadian Rockies and rivers as you drive to these. There are different pools here with water at different temperatures, which means in one you will just take a dip while in the other you can stand and enjoy the warmth of the water. There are motels here and you can always add a trip to these springs to your tour of the surrounding region. There are more natural sites with pools of smaller sizes offering you a more natural experience. The Cranbrook airport is within driving distance, if you plan to catch flights to reach here.

The Tayako Onsen in Japan

Onsen refers to hot springs in Japanese and the one in Tayoko, in the Hokkaido, the northern large island in the country is very popular with domestic tourists. It is part of the large lake Yoka which has numerous hotels on its edges with their own large spas, along with restaurants offering items from Japanese and continental cuisine. You will find a lot of lighting shows here including fireworks in the evenings of winter months. In the daytime, you can go for a walk along the shores of the lake, catch boat rides, or try your hands at kayaking. The New Chitose Airport will be ideal for international visitors to reach here, though you will need to spend some hours on the highways to get here.

Pumpkin Spring in Arizona

This hot spring in the southern state of Arizona is not meant for swimming and even drinking its water is not permitted due to high mineral content, but it does offer a good view, no matter what time of the year you come here. If you are on a trip to the Grand Canyon in the state, you should certainly come here, though you will need to hike some distance to reach here or you can come here as you go river rafting over the Colorado River. You can always spend some serene time here, there are not many visitors here, so a trip here will be ideal for those looking for a quiet break. Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is the closest to get to this location.

Conclusion

Hot springs are a good sight, even if you have no plans to dip in them. You can always enjoy the views of the steam rising from the surface of the water as you lie along the edges of these. In winter yes these will entice you to dip and you should if it is allowed. Above we have listed some popular thermal springs that people have enjoyed in the past and some others not so well known for your consideration.