Hot Springs Etiquette
You’ve read our Campsite Etiquette now check out some of the nuances to partaking in some hot springs soaking.
1. Be Welcoming – Everyone gets to be there and have their own space. This means kids, older and maybe a bit slower, and yes Hannah’s bachelorette party.
2. Be mindful when taking pictures – People don’t want their faces all over your social media, and remember some of the areas may have nudity involved. If you’re taking pics, keep them close-ups of yourself and your friends only, don’t make any passersby unwitting and unwilling models.
3. Leave No Trace at the Hot Spring! – the tenants of Leave No Trace are important everywhere, but more specifically: do not bathe or use soap in any hot springs. Using soap pollutes the pools, kills plants and fish, and creates gross algae blooms. If you’re able, rinse off before getting in, and don’t wear heavy lotions, perfumes, or cosmetics while bathing. Remember to pack out what you bring in, including any and all trash.
4. Keep the Noise Down – Look let’s be blunt, no one cares about your vacation to Hawaii two years ago Linda. Keep conversation to a reasonable volume, don’t bring a music speaker, and try and keep your language PG, it’s a public space.
5. Party politely – Alcohol may be permitted in certain areas or hot springs, depending on how they’re maintained, but don’t bring any glass to hot springs. Broken glass is a massive safety hazard and no one wants that! Just as mentioned before, keep sound to a polite volume and don’t blast music – and definitely no keg stands (sorry Jamie).
6. The hot springs are not a bathroom – Does this have to be explained further? Don’t be gross. And keep any non-potty trained kiddos in swim diapers. Use washrooms or outhouses to prevent the spread of disease, which can get into the hot springs.
7. Leave your dog at home – This is one place Fido is not wanted. Dogs can carry diseases like leptospirosis that thrive in warm water. Furthermore, there can be certain health hazards for your pooch. Keep it safe and leave them at home.
8. How to Handle Nudity at Hot Springs – Depending on where you go, laws about public nudity may vary, and even if it’s not officially permitted, it’s still very common, especially at night.
9. Don’t camp next to hot springs – For health, safety, and overall politeness, and many times legality, hot springs are not for camping, but for visiting.
Other tips:
- Bring a water bottle and drink lots of water. Otherwise, you can get dehydrated or overheated easily.
- Bring some flip flops or sandals to wear around the pools. Undeveloped springs often have sharp or uneven rocks. At commercial springs, sandals are nice to have for sanitary reasons.
- If you plan to travel on backroads or hike into the hot springs, leave a trip plan with a friend and carry at least 48 hours worth of any major medications you may need, as well as some snacks, and lots of water (as mentioned above).