Clothing-Optional Hot Springs in the US: What to Know Before You Go

The United States has a real cluster of clothing-optional hot springs, from developed resorts with reservations and rock-lined pools to rustic, donation-based soaks reached by a short hike. Policies vary by property — some are clothing-optional all day, others switch to a different dress code in the evening — so the single most useful habit before visiting any of them is checking the current policy directly with the property rather than assuming.

Which US hot springs are clothing-optional?

Clothing-optional hot springs in the US cluster most heavily in Colorado, home to five of the best-documented properties: Strawberry Park Hot Springs near Steamboat Springs, Orvis Hot Springs near Ridgway, Valley View Hot Springs near Moffat, and the smaller Dakota Hot Springs and Desert Reef Hot Spring near Canon City. California follows with three notable properties — Sierra Hot Springs, Orr Hot Springs Resort, and Wilbur Hot Springs — and Oregon's Breitenbush Hot Springs and New Mexico's Faywood Hot Springs round out the group. Each is profiled individually on ClothesSuck's hot springs hub, with current policy details and a last-checked date.

Do hot springs policies change between day and evening?

Yes, at several properties. A few hot springs — Strawberry Park Hot Springs is the most cited example — have historically run a different dress expectation during the day than after dark, when the crowd shifts and clothing becomes optional or expected depending on the property's current rules. These policies are set by the individual property and can change, so confirm the current rule for the time of day you plan to visit rather than relying on older trip reports.

Do I need a reservation?

Often, yes. Popular developed hot springs like Strawberry Park and Orvis Hot Springs commonly require advance reservations, especially on weekends, because pool capacity is limited. Smaller or more rustic soaks may operate on a walk-in or donation basis instead. Checking the specific property's current booking process before you drive out saves a wasted trip.

What is the difference between a resort-style hot spring and a rustic one?

Resort-style properties — think Breitenbush Hot Springs or Orr Hot Springs Resort — offer built pools, lodging, and staffed facilities, generally with clearer posted policies and more consistent hours. Rustic hot springs, often reached by a hike or a rougher access road, trade those amenities for a more natural setting and typically simpler, informal rules. Both styles show up on ClothesSuck's hot springs listings, and the individual entry for each property notes which category it falls into.

What about hot springs where nudity is tolerated but not an official policy?

A separate category exists alongside the commercial and non-profit properties above: public-land hot springs — reached by a hike on national forest or BLM land — where clothing-optional soaking is a long-standing visitor custom rather than a posted rule from the land manager. Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs in Oregon's Willamette National Forest, Deep Creek Hot Springs in California's San Bernardino National Forest, and Goldbug Hot Springs on BLM land in central Idaho all fall into this group. Expect a mixed-clothing crowd rather than a guaranteed nude space, no official clothing-optional designation, and no facilities beyond a trailhead — these are backcountry destinations first.