Granite Hot Springs Pool

What to expect

Granite Hot Springs is a single concrete pool high in the Granite Creek valley on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, north of the Hoback River. Hot water rises from the hillside and has been collected here since early settlers dug a basin for it. In 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corps built the pool out properly, adding a deck, a changing room and a campground, according to the sign at the site.

It is a developed pool, not a wild spring. You pay at the gate, there is a staffed season, and the water sits in a rectangular concrete basin with a deck around it. What makes it worth the drive is the setting: steep forested slopes and rock cliffs above the pool, Granite Creek running past, and no cell signal at all.

Water temperature changes a lot through the year. In winter it reaches about 112°F44°C, a figure the Deseret News also got from the concessionaire in 1994. In summer it runs in the mid-90s°F, more of a warm swim than a hot soak. During spring snowmelt it can drop into the 80s°F. Facilities are basic: a bathroom with vault toilets, picnic tables and a few information kiosks.

Getting there

The pool is at the end of Granite Creek Road (Forest Road 30500), about 34 miles from Jackson. The Forest Service directions:

1. From the Town of Jackson, drive southwest on US-189 for about 13 miles to the roundabout at Hoback Junction.
2. Take the second exit to stay on US-189/191 east, following the Hoback River, for 11 miles.
3. Turn left onto Granite Creek Road (FR 30500). After about a mile it becomes Granite Road.
4. Continue about 8 more miles. The pool is on the right at the end of the road.

Allow about 50 minutes from Jackson in summer. The last 9 miles are a forest road. Ordinary cars drive it in summer, but take it slowly and watch for wildlife and oncoming traffic.

In winter, Granite Creek Road is closed to wheeled vehicles, and the Forest Service says the pool can be reached only by snowmobile, dog sled, skis or fat bike. The Deseret News put the winter trip at about 10 miles each way from a parking area just off the highway. Without your own sled, the practical options are a rental or a guided snowmobile or dog sled trip from Jackson. Check the Bridger-Teton winter travel restrictions for the Jackson Ranger District before riding.

When to go

The pool has two seasons:

• Summer: usually late May to October 31. In 2026 the road opened to wheeled vehicles on May 1 and the pool reopened on May 22. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., dropping to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. after Labor Day.
• Winter: early December to March 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Between those seasons the pool is closed. In spring the Forest Service posts a notice that it is “closed due to deteriorating access conditions” while the snow on the road turns to slush and mud. This is the normal annual pattern, not a long-term closure.

September and October are good months: the summer crowds thin out and the water is warmer than in early summer. Summer weekends are busy. Winter is the most memorable time to soak here, with hotter water and snow on the deck, but it takes a full day.

Prices and rules

• Entry: $12 per person per day for anyone 12 and older, $7 for 11 and under.
• Cash only. There is no cell or Wi-Fi service, so cards cannot be processed. Bring exact change if you can. For current fee information, the Forest Service lists 1-307-690-6323.
• No alcohol in the hot springs.
• No camping at the pool. Bridger-Teton order 04-03-24-204 (July 10, 2024 to July 10, 2029) bans camping on all national forest land within a quarter mile of FR 30500 north of Granite Creek Campground, including the Granite Hot Springs and Granite Falls day-use areas.

This is a staffed pool used by families, so wear a swimsuit.

Where to stay nearby

Granite Creek Campground, about a mile down the road from the pool, is the obvious base. It has 51 sites, some reservable on Recreation.gov and some first come, first served, at $20 a night. It normally closes for the season on September 15, when water, toilets and trash service stop; the upper loop’s gate stays open after that and can be used without a fee. The Forest Service page also notes that trash pickup was suspended and only one loop was open, so check before you rely on it.

Other rules apply to camping in the area. From May 1 to Labor Day, the same order limits stays to five days in any 30 on Jackson Ranger District land and bans camping within half a mile of the Hoback River from the Snake River up to Granite Creek. Forest-wide, order 04-03-328 limits camping to 14 days in any 30 within a five-mile radius.

For a roof, Jackson is the main option, about 50 minutes away. On the way back, Astoria Hot Springs Park, just south of Hoback Junction, makes a second soak with bookable sessions.

Safety notes

• Bears: This is grizzly and black bear country. Food storage order 04-03-330 applies from March 1 to December 1 every year: store food and garbage in a bear-resistant container or a vehicle, and keep a clean camp. Carry bear spray on any walk.
• Heat in winter: At 112°F44°C the winter pool is hot. Keep soaks short and get out if you feel lightheaded, especially after a cold ride in.
• Winter travel: A 10-mile snowmobile or ski trip each way, with no phone signal, needs proper clothing, a plan for breakdowns and someone who knows when you are due back.
• Fire history: The Granite Creek Fire burned more than 1,700 acres around the valley in July 2007. Expect standing dead trees on windy days.

Nearby stops worth adding

Granite Falls is about half a mile downstream, where Granite Creek drops over a wide ledge. Below the falls is a primitive hot spring pool by the creek, and the falls were one of the filming locations for the 1992 film A River Runs Through It. The creekside pool is easily swamped in high water; treat it as a summer and fall extra, and remember the falls area is a day-use area with no camping.