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Hot Springs County
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Hot Springs County pairs mineral pools, dinosaur fossils, canyon scenery and wide-open Wyoming landscapes around welcoming Thermopolis.

Hot Springs County occupies a broad stretch of north-central Wyoming where the Wind River cuts through dry foothills and the Bighorn Basin begins to open towards the north. Thermopolis, the county seat and principal settlement, is the regional base: a small town whose identity is closely tied to its mineral springs, fossil discoveries and access to dramatic high-desert scenery. The county also includes communities such as Kirby, East Thermopolis and Lucerne, although distances between settlements and visitor sites are considerable by urban standards.
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The defining experience is Hot Springs State Park, where naturally heated water emerges from the earth and is channelled through terraces above the Bighorn River. The park combines public bathing facilities, walking areas, changing geological features and a herd of plains bison maintained in the park. Thermopolis is unusual in that visitors can experience its thermal waters in both public and commercial pools, while the surrounding landscape remains unmistakably Wyoming: open sagebrush, cottonwood-lined waterways, pale cliffs and wide skies.
The county is also one of the state’s important destinations for palaeontology. At the Wyoming Dinosaur Center near Thermopolis, fossils and excavation work introduce visitors to the Jurassic creatures preserved in the rocks of the region. The nearby Bighorn River and Wind River Canyon add a different dimension, offering boating, fishing, scenic drives and opportunities to observe the layered geology of the basin and canyon country. Legend Rock Petroglyph Site, west of Thermopolis, preserves rock art associated with Indigenous peoples and requires visitors to approach the landscape with care and respect.
Hot Springs County is best understood as a place for slower, geographically purposeful travel rather than a collection of densely packed sights. Thermopolis makes a practical base for exploring the state park, museums and nearby public lands, while the route through Wind River Canyon rewards daylight driving and time for landscape viewing. Farther from town, roads become more rural and services less frequent, so fuel, water and provisions should be considered before setting out.
The county’s cultural character is shaped by ranching, public-land recreation, geological curiosity and the continuing presence of Indigenous history in the wider Wind River region. Dining is informal, with cafés, diners and family restaurants serving familiar American and western fare alongside Wyoming beef and locally influenced seasonal dishes. Visitors come for soaking, fossils, fishing, hiking and the geological story, but the wider appeal lies in seeing how these elements converge in a small Wyoming county whose thermal waters have drawn people for centuries.

Getting to and around Hot Springs County

How to get there

Most visitors arrive by road via US Highway 20, which passes through Thermopolis and connects the county with the wider Bighorn Basin and central Wyoming. Wyoming Highway 789 follows the Wind River corridor and provides another important approach. Hot Springs County has a local airport near Thermopolis for private and general aviation, but it is not a major scheduled commercial gateway. Visitors flying commercially generally use airports outside the county, such as Central Wyoming Regional Airport near Riverton or Casper–Natrona County International Airport near Casper, then continue by hire car or road transport. Check current airline, road and weather conditions before travelling.

Transportation

A car is the most practical way to explore Hot Springs County because attractions and communities are dispersed and public transport is limited. Thermopolis is walkable in its central areas, including parts of Hot Springs State Park, but rural petroglyph sites, canyon viewpoints and fossil-related destinations require road travel. US 20 and Wyoming 789 are the principal routes; allow time for changing weather, livestock and long distances between services. Cycling can be rewarding on suitable roads, though heat, wind and limited roadside facilities demand careful preparation. Fishing and boating access on the Bighorn River is seasonal and may require local equipment or launch planning.

Top city travel guides in Hot Springs County

The cities of Hot Springs County, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Best attractions in Hot Springs County

Hot Springs County’s attractions are concentrated around Thermopolis but extend into a broad landscape of river corridors, exposed geology and public land. Hot Springs State Park is the essential starting point, combining mineral terraces, walking areas, public bathing and a managed bison herd beside the Bighorn River. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center, near Thermopolis, gives the county a strong palaeontological focus, with fossil displays and an explanation of excavation and preparation. Legend Rock Petroglyph Site offers a quieter and more contemplative encounter with Indigenous rock art, reached by a rural drive and best visited with respect for its fragile setting. Wind River Canyon provides a scenic geological journey of layered cliffs and changing river scenery, while the Bighorn River supports fishing, boating and wildlife observation. Around town, small museums, galleries and local heritage displays add context to ranching, settlement and the springs. The appeal is less about a dense cluster of attractions than about linking scientific, cultural and outdoor experiences across the county’s open Wyoming landscape.

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Best landmarks in Hot Springs County

The most recognisable landmark in Hot Springs County is the mineral terrace at Hot Springs State Park, where warm water has built pale, sculpted deposits above the Bighorn River. It is both a geological formation and a public symbol of Thermopolis, reflecting the 1896 transfer of the springs to Wyoming for public use. The Bighorn River itself is another defining feature, shaping the settlement’s setting and providing a green corridor through otherwise dry country. Wind River Canyon, reached along the route south of Thermopolis, is a major natural landmark whose steep, layered walls reveal the region’s complex geological history; the canyon extends beyond the county, so its wider route should be understood as a regional drive rather than a single county site. Legend Rock’s inscribed surfaces are important cultural landmarks, preserving Indigenous rock art in an open setting. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center and its fossil displays are modern landmarks of scientific identity, while Thermopolis’s courthouse, town streets and modest historic buildings express the county’s civic history rather than monumental architecture.

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Explore Hot Springs County on the map

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Best restaurants in Hot Springs County

Dining in Hot Springs County is informal and closely tied to Thermopolis’s role as a small regional service centre. Visitors will find cafés, diners, family restaurants and casual evening establishments rather than a large restaurant district. Menus commonly draw on wider Wyoming and American traditions, including beef, burgers, sandwiches, hearty breakfasts and seasonal salads, with trout and other river-associated dishes appearing where local supply and restaurant style allow. Coffee shops and bakeries are useful for early starts to canyon drives or fossil visits, while accommodation kitchens and local food shops can help visitors prepare for longer rural outings. Regional ranching gives beef a natural place in the local food culture, though genuinely local provenance varies by business. In summer, farmers’ markets and seasonal produce may broaden the choice, but schedules change. A relaxed pace, early planning and checking current service arrangements are sensible in a county where kitchens and shops may close earlier than visitors expect.

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Best bars in Hot Springs County

Nightlife in Hot Springs County is modest and centred on Thermopolis rather than on a dedicated club scene. Traditional bars, casual restaurants and local gathering places provide the main evening options, with conversation, televised sport and occasional live entertainment more characteristic than late-night dancing. Some accommodation and dining establishments serve drinks, and the town’s visitor economy can create a busier atmosphere during the warmer months, but opening arrangements and entertainment vary. Rural communities such as Kirby and Lucerne have fewer evening services, so visitors staying outside Thermopolis should plan transport and avoid assuming that a late meal or taxi will be available. The most distinctive evening experience is often non-commercial: watching the light change over the Bighorn River, attending a community event when one is scheduled, or relaxing after a day in the pools. Drink-driving laws are strictly enforced, making a planned journey particularly important in a dispersed county.

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Best nightclubs in Hot Springs County

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Best shops in Hot Springs County

Shopping in Hot Springs County is concentrated in Thermopolis and serves both local residents and visitors passing through. The town’s independent shops, galleries, souvenir stores and practical outfitters are the best places to look for books on Wyoming history, fossils, locally themed artwork, western clothing, outdoor supplies and gifts connected with the hot springs or dinosaur heritage. Food shopping is useful for rural excursions, with items such as Wyoming beef, preserves, baked goods and other regional products appearing according to season and individual stock. Small markets and community sales may offer handmade crafts or local produce, but schedules are variable and should be checked locally. The county is not a major centre for designer retail or large shopping complexes; its appeal lies in modest independent businesses and products that reflect geology, ranching and the surrounding landscape. Visitors should shop in Thermopolis before setting out for remote sites, where retail options are sparse and mobile payment or card coverage may be unreliable.

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Hot Springs County essentials

Currency and Payment
Hot Springs County uses the United States dollar, or USD, as part of Wyoming and the United States. Cards and contactless payments are commonly accepted in Thermopolis hotels, larger shops, visitor facilities and many restaurants, but cash remains useful for small purchases, rural services, unattended facilities and areas with unreliable mobile coverage. Notify your bank before travelling if necessary, and do not assume every remote stop will accept a foreign card or have an ATM. Tipping is a normal part of service-sector payment in the United States; customary amounts vary with the type and quality of service.
Safety
Hot Springs County is generally quiet, but visitors should take ordinary precautions with vehicles, valuables and personal belongings. Outdoor conditions are more significant than urban risks: summer sun, dehydration, sudden storms, winter ice, high winds and uneven ground can all affect plans. Keep well back from hot-spring outlets and obey pool and park instructions, as natural thermal water can be dangerously hot. In canyon and river areas, take care near steep edges and changing water levels. Carry water on rural excursions, keep fuel topped up and check forecasts before scenic drives or activities on the Bighorn River.
Emergency Situations
Dial 911 for police, fire or ambulance emergencies in Hot Springs County, as throughout the United States. Give the dispatcher a clear location, road number, direction of travel and nearby landmark, particularly in sparsely populated areas where an address may be difficult to identify. Mobile coverage can be inconsistent beyond Thermopolis, so download maps and tell someone about longer excursions. For serious outdoor incidents, local emergency services coordinate the appropriate response; do not attempt a risky self-rescue near cliffs, fast water or remote roads. For non-urgent medical needs, ask accommodation staff or local authorities about currently available services.
Do's and Don'ts
Do follow posted rules at Hot Springs State Park, bathing facilities, archaeological sites and public lands, and keep a generous distance from bison and other wildlife. Do pack out rubbish and remain on designated paths where requested. Do not touch or mark petroglyphs, collect fossils or remove rock, plants or other cultural material. At pools, observe local hygiene and safety requirements, and respect quiet hours where they apply. Tipping service staff is customary in the United States, while a friendly greeting and patience are appropriate in small-town businesses. Do not assume that an apparently open rural road is suitable in every weather condition.
Local Tips
Thermopolis is the best base for combining soaking, the state park, museums and day drives, but it is worth planning each outing around the county’s distances. Wind River Canyon is especially rewarding when driven in daylight, while the dry climate makes morning and late afternoon comfortable seasons for walking. Ask locally about current river access, road surfaces and weather before visiting remote public-land sites. The county’s attractions can appeal to different interests—thermal water, dinosaur science, Indigenous heritage and ranch-country scenery—so a balanced itinerary is usually more satisfying than treating Thermopolis as only a bathing stop.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHowdy[Ha-dee]
GoodbyeSee ya[See ya]
YesYep[Yep]
NoNope[Nope]
Please/You're welcomePlease/No problem[Pleez/No prob-lum]
Thank youThanks[Thanks]
Excuse me/SorryPardon me/Sorry[Par-don me/Sor-ree]
How are you?How ya doin'?[How ya doin']
Fine. And you?Good. And you?[Good. And you?]
Do you speak English?You speakin' English?[You speak-in' English?]
I don't understandI ain't followin'[I ain't follow-in']
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu, please?[Can I see the men-you, pleez?]
I don't eat meatI don’t do meat[I don’t do meet]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseCan I get the check, please?[Can I get the chek, pleez?]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Get lost![Get lost!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![Call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doc![Get a doc!]
I'm lostI'm turned around[I'm turned around]
I'm illI'm not feelin' well[I'm not feel-in' well]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I want to buy...[I want to buy...]
I'm just lookingJust lookin'[Just look-in']
How much is it?What's it cost?[What's it cost?]
That's too expensiveThat's a bit pricey[That's a bit pry-see]
Can you lower the price?Can ya drop the price?[Can ya drop the pryce?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time ya got?[What time ya got?]
It's one o'clockIt's one[It's one]
Half past (10)Half past ten[Half past ten]
MorningMornin'[Morn-in']
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvenin'[Even-in']
YesterdayYest'day[Yest-day]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorrah[Tomor-rah]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
9Nine[Nine]
10Ten[Ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[Where's the...?]
What's the address?What's the address?[What's the ad-dress?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ya show me on the map?[Can ya show me on the map?]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next bus?[When's the next bus?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket to...[A tick-it to...]

History of Hot Springs County

Ancient Indigenous Landscapes

People have travelled through and lived in the Bighorn Basin and surrounding river valleys for thousands of years, following seasonal resources across a landscape shaped by water, game and exposed stone. Legend Rock, west of Thermopolis, preserves a substantial collection of petroglyphs associated with Indigenous communities and provides visible evidence of long cultural connections with the area. The region lies within the broader homeland and historical sphere of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho, whose present-day reservation is centred farther south in Wyoming. Indigenous history is therefore a living regional context, not merely an archaeological chapter.

Fossils of the Jurassic Basin

The rocks around Thermopolis preserve important evidence of the Jurassic past, when the region formed part of a very different environment inhabited by large dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Fossil-bearing formations have made the county an important place for palaeontological research, excavation and public education. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center grew from this scientific interest and now interprets both the fossils and the methods used to recover them. The area’s geological story extends beyond dinosaurs: uplift, erosion and ancient seas helped create the cliffs, terraces and exposed strata visible across the county today.

The Name Thermopolis and Settlement

Thermopolis takes its name from the Greek words for heat and city, reflecting the mineral springs around which the modern settlement developed. Ranching, transport routes and the arrival of non-Indigenous settlers gradually established a permanent town in the late nineteenth century. The springs were not simply a curiosity; they offered water, warmth and a potential basis for commercial development in an otherwise dry environment. The town’s streets, modest civic buildings and continuing reliance on visitor services reflect this transition from frontier settlement to a small regional centre.

The Hot Springs Gift of 1896

In 1896, the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes transferred the Thermopolis hot springs to the State of Wyoming, with the condition that the waters would remain available to the public without charge. This agreement became the foundation of Hot Springs State Park and remains central to the county’s identity. The park represents an unusual intersection of Indigenous history, public stewardship and tourism. Its soaking facilities, mineral terraces and landscaped river setting continue to express the long-standing importance of the springs, while the original gift is commemorated in local interpretation.

County Government and the Railroad Era

Hot Springs County was created in 1911 from part of Fremont County, formalising Thermopolis’s role as the administrative centre of a sparsely populated district. During the early twentieth century, roads and rail connections helped link the town with markets and larger Wyoming settlements, supporting ranching, public administration and the growth of hot-springs tourism. Transport did not erase the county’s distances, but it made Thermopolis more accessible as a service centre. The resulting pattern—one principal town surrounded by ranches, public land and small communities—still defines local geography.

Hot Springs Tourism and Public Recreation

During the twentieth century, bathing facilities and therapeutic interest turned Thermopolis into one of Wyoming’s recognised hot-springs destinations. Public pools and private bathing establishments developed alongside Hot Springs State Park, while improved highways made the town a practical stop between central Wyoming communities and the Bighorn Basin. Recreation later broadened beyond soaking to include fishing, boating, hiking, scenic driving and fossil tourism. This evolution gave Hot Springs County a mixed economy in which ranching, government, geology and visitor services remain closely connected.

Modern Palaeontology and Heritage Interpretation

Late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century investment in museums, excavation and public interpretation strengthened Thermopolis’s role as a destination for palaeontology. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center presents fossils within a wider scientific narrative, showing how fieldwork, preparation and research contribute to knowledge of prehistoric life. At the same time, archaeological places such as Legend Rock have encouraged greater attention to preservation and responsible visitation. Modern Hot Springs County is consequently shaped not only by its natural springs, but also by efforts to explain and protect the deep human and geological history of the basin.

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Welcome to Hot Springs County, Wyoming, a destination filled with natural beauty, rich history, and exciting adventures. With Evendo, your journey becomes seamless and memorable. Whether you're soaking in the healing waters of the Hot Springs State Park, marveling at the historic Wind River Canyon, or exploring the fascinating Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Evendo equips you with everything you need. Find the best places to dine, such as the beloved Black Bear Cafe or the lively One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company.

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