Top 6 Best Lake Tahoe Hot Springs and How To Get There in 2023

For thousands of years, beating, throbbing, pulsing heat from below the earth’s surface has been warming natural pools of water. Around the world, people seek out thermal hot springs for their minerals and healing properties, as well as for soothing the body, mind, and soul. Soaking in these pools dates back centuries.

If you’re planning a vacation to magical Lake Tahoe, it’s great to know that you can find some of these hot springs as close as 30 minutes from the lake. After time spent hiking, biking, water-sporting or even skiing, it might do you good to plan a soak at one of the thermal springs on this list.

A road trip around ‘Big Blue’ – Lake Tahoe – offers so many options. With views, views, and more views from every shoreline and overlook, to activities, attractions and entertainment, it can become quite overwhelming to figure out what’s worth seeing and doing.

Explore Lake Tahoe with Shaka Guide

For help navigating your way around the lake and hitting all of the best spots, Shaka Guide offers a fantastic self-driving road trip app that’s akin to having your own personal tour guide in the passenger seat.

And if you’ve got extra time to drive a little further off the beaten path from that spectacular turquoise lake, here’s a list of hot springs closest to Lake Tahoe:

Historic Carson Hot Springs, Carson City, NV

Carson Hot Springs

This place is less than 45 minutes east of Cave Rock (Lake Tahoe). The location has a gorgeous scenic drive over the mountain pass between Carson City and Lake Tahoe along Hwy 50.

With daytime and evening hours all year round, walk-ins welcome and no reservations necessary. Carson Hot Springs is a very convenient place for some soothing thermal healing. At dusk, as the stars start to come out, the springs take on a completely different vibe than a dip during the day would.

There’s just something about soaking under the stars surrounded by those majestic mountains. And – there’s an on-site brewery as well as a restaurant!

Carson Hot Springs boasts an incredible history that dates back to 1849. It is when the Washoe tribes and some early settlers, en route to California for the Gold Rush, utilized it in its natural state.

Finest Thermal Pool

These springs eventually developed a reputation as having some of the finest water in the West when it came to thermal pools in the Sierra/Rocky Mountain chain of hot springs.

The ground at Carson Hot Springs releases natural mineral water as hot as 121 degrees from 35,000 feet below. To maintain comfortable temperatures, a cooling system is employed when refilling the pools daily (no chemicals or city water is added.)

The outdoor swimming pool maintains temperatures of 95 - 100 degrees in the summer and 100 - 104 degrees in the winter. Wearing bathing suits is mandatory in the swimming pool. Prices are reasonable.

There are also nine small private pools indoors that each hold up to four people, bathing suits optional. Private rooms cannot be reserved – they’re first-come, first-served. Bring your own towels (or you can rent one based upon availability.)

David Walley’s Resort/Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Genoa, NV.

David Walley's Resort

This place is just 16 miles east of South Lake Tahoe.

Dave Walley’s mountain hot springs resort sits in the Carson Valley. The valley is located in the quaint little town of Genoa, the oldest town in Nevada. This lodge, now run by Holiday Inn. Which features five natural mineral hot springs and a heated swimming pool surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Carson Range.

With an overnight stay and the additional purchase of a day pass, you can soak in all five of the hot springs. And Nevada’s oldest watering hole, the Genoa Bar & Saloon, is just down the street, dating back to 1862!

Fun Fact: this town is not pronounced like the popular Italian city (and salami) that bear the same name. The town in Nevada is pronounced jen-OH-uh.

Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa, Reno, NV

This place is only about 40 minutes north of Incline Village (Lake Tahoe) via Mount Rose Highway/431 (a gorgeous scenic drive over Mount Rose with views for miles).

Steamboat Hot Springs is a natural spring with geothermal mineral water traveling directly from the ground into their soaking tubs. Acquiring its name from cracks in the earth emitting steam, sheds constructed over those cracks provided steam baths as far back as the 1800s.

When a doctor by the name of Ellis, who had received his hydrotherapy training in Bavaria, treated patients using the natural healing properties of the hot springs. Steamboat was the first location in the world outside of Bavaria to apply the hydrotherapy techniques. Later, it was soon replicated in some of the most famous spas of Europe.

At Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa, you can choose from therapeutic experiences that include:

private mineral baths
outdoor tub soaks
massage
full body scrubs
mud treatments
infrared saunas
geothermal steam baths

Sierra Hot Springs Resort & Retreat Center, Sierraville, CA

This place is an hour north of Tahoe City (Lake Tahoe) or Kings Beach (Lake Tahoe), and 30 miles north of Truckee.

A not-for-profit retreat and workshop center, Sierra Hot Springs sits on the edge of a forest and alpine valley. Reservations are required – no drop-ins are allowed. You can either make day-use reservations or choose an overnight stay. (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.)

Temple Dome

Temple Dome

Features include the Temple Dome main hot pool (kept at 105 - 110 degrees), which is enclosed in a large geodesic dome of stained glass and skylights. Plus two cold plunges. Outside of that is the large Warm Pool with a large sundeck and a dry sauna.

Meditation Pool

Meditation Pool

Then there’s the Meditation Pool, which is outdoors, surrounded by rock tile – a serene outdoor hot pool for enjoying the night skies.

Phoenix Baths

The Phoenix Baths fill the private tubs with fresh water between each guest. All of the pools are clothing optional.

The Temple Dome Warm Pool and the Phoenix Baths welcome children. However, children under 15 are not permitted in the Meditation Pool, the Temple Dome Hot Pool, or the sauna, as these areas are reserved for adults only.

Travertine Hot Springs, Bridgeport, CA

hot spring in the wilderness Image from Flickr by Philip

This place is two hours southeast of South Lake Tahoe. It’s worth the long drive from Tahoe if you’re looking for absolutely stunning, all-natural hot springs in the middle of the Sierra wilderness. These pools are more primitive than at the man-made lodges and spas. Oh, and there’s no charge here.

At Travertine, you’ll find several natural pools each surrounded by rock formations as you take in the Sierra mountains while you soak. One of these pools is close to the parking area and gets the most crowded. You have to walk about the distance of a football field further to reach the others.

Although the temperature of the water at its source is a bubbling 103 degrees, by the time it reaches the pool it’s cooled down to about 103 degrees (which can still feel pretty darn hot).

However, this place attracts a large number of visitors and experiences crowding. So, it is advisable to arrive early if you plan to make the trip.

Note: Make sure to bring your own drinking water and hat for shade. Clothing optional. There are restrooms in the parking lot.

Tip: Go early on a weekday morning in any season except summer for your best shot at soaking without a crowd joining you.

Feather River Hot Springs, Twain, CA

Feather River Hot Springs

This place is two hours and 45-minutes northwest of Tahoe City (Lake Tahoe). If you’re combining a trip to Lake Tahoe with a drive to Lassen Volcanic National Park, this would be on the way, and a great place to book a campsite for the night. Otherwise, you can simply reserve a 2-hour soak without lodging.

To reach Feather River Hot Springs, the directions say to ‘turn at the big red flatbed truck,’ which seems refreshingly quaint. Sitting in a canyon surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains, the campgrounds and hot springs are a stone’s throw from the picturesque Feather River.

It's so scenic that it’s described as ‘a little slice of paradise.’ In fact, this is one of the few camping sites in the entire U.S. that has natural hot springs right next to a winding river, so if you love rustic beauty, this is for you.

Safety Guidelines

In order to get to the tubs, you’ll have to walk along a rocky footpath. So protect your feet, and make sure you have a flashlight or headlamp in case you’re walking either way in the dark. Flammables are not allowed on the property. That means no flames and no smoking. And dogs are not allowed. No exceptions.

Reservations

The hot springs pools remain open year-round … by text reservation. No drop-ins. Yep – you heard me right. You’ve gotta text a request for a two-hour soak in one of the two hot springs pools.

In your text (which must be submitted at least 24-hours in advance of when you hope to soak) include with your:

name
number of persons
date and time you hope to come

You will receive a reply with an available two-hour time slot. Each of the two hot springs tubs can comfortably accommodate six people and temperatures range from 99 - 104 degrees.

Contact Details

You’ll also have to pay a day-use fee. The number to text 925-783-2913. (Do not call.) If texting is not available, you can email rockisgarden@yahoo.com to make a reservation.

The campgrounds and cabins are open seasonally If you’re staying there, your soak in the hot springs is free of additional charge.

Unwind in Lake Tahoe's Hot Springs

Lake Tahoe is more than just outdoor adventures! While you’re there - enjoy a soak in a hot spring. It’s the perfect way to relax after a long day exploring with Shaka Guide!

Shaka Guide’s Lake Tahoe Driving Tour includes 25 stops and takes you around the lake, visiting all the best attractions, beaches, hikes, and more!

We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.

For more detailed information to help you plan, check out Lake Tahoe Itinerary and Know Before You Go guide.

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