Thermopolis can be planned around specific differences: Hot Springs State Park has a free bathhouse for therapeutic baths; the dinosaur offerings include a one-hour tour and a program with its own participation requirements. Historic sites and outdoor activities also give the trip different focal points.
Thermal Water and Trails at Hot Springs State Park
The water in the bathhouse is kept at 104 degrees Fahrenheit for therapeutic baths. Check the bathhouse’s current operating details before your trip. Another figure concerns the park’s terrace: more than 1.8 million gallons of water flow over it every 24 hours at a constant temperature of 128 degrees Fahrenheit. These figures refer to two different features of the park: the bathhouse and the terrace.
For walks and hikes, Hot Springs State Park has 6.2 miles of universally accessible trails. The T-Hill Trail in the park was developed in 2019. If you are weighing a soak against getting some exercise, the same park has both the bathhouse and these trails; check the bathhouse’s specific operating details in advance.
Two Dinosaur Offerings with Different Requirements
The Wyoming Dinosaur Center’s Dino De-Tour is a one-hour educational ride to the Something Interesting (SI) Quarry. The tour vehicle reaches the quarry in ten minutes. Since tour availability can change, check before your trip whether it is offered on your preferred date.
The Dig-for-a-Day program is open to people aged three and older, regardless of experience. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Advance reservations are required, and a program fee applies to each participant. Check dates before your trip. The De-Tour is described with a specific duration; for the Dig-for-a-Day program, age, supervision, and reservation rules are the main planning considerations.
Museum and Downtown History
At the Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center, the Old Town exhibit includes a wooden boardwalk with historic storefronts and a jail. The museum also has an original bar once frequented by outlaws from the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, including Butch Cassidy. The exhibit and the bar offer different ways to explore local history: a recreated historic setting on one hand, and an original object with its documented connection to well-known visitors on the other.
Downtown can also be understood through specific historic details. Visitors can still see many of its historic buildings today. The Downtown Thermopolis Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Broadway was laid out at a width of 150 feet. Hot Springs State Park also has historic significance: it was declared Wyoming’s first state park in 1897. The history of a designated district, downtown buildings, and the park’s early history thus stand alongside one another as distinct points of reference.
More Places and Outdoor Activities
The Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site is located 29 miles northwest of Thermopolis. It has a visitor center, interpretive trails, and a picnic shelter. Seasonal conditions can affect access, so check conditions before visiting.
Local outfitters offer guided fishing trips, rafting, and whitewater trips in the Wind River Canyon area. Trip availability may vary by season; check in advance. The Big Horn River is described as a “blue-ribbon trout stream” and listed among Thermopolis’s attractions.
Golf offers a different focus, too: Thermopolis Golf Course has nine holes. Golfers may see deer, antelope, and foxes during a round. Whether you prefer thermal baths, museum visits, dinosaur programs, or outdoor activities, Thermopolis offers several distinct themes to help guide your travel decisions.
For the broader travel overview: Hot Springs County.
