Are you looking for FREE Hot Springs in the Grand Teton National Park? We have 5 secret tips to help you enjoy the Huckleberry Hot Springs. This is usually an easy hike depending on the time of year.
We hike to Huckleberry Hot Springs every time we visit the Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. It is located near the Headwater Lodge & Cabins just north of Jackson Lake in the Grand Teton National Park.
Over the years we have seen a few red foxes and a bear on this hike so be sure to carry Bear Spray! This is our fave Bear Spray from Amazon, or you can get some from most gift shops in the park.
Warning:
According to this article by Elyce Gosselin, E. coli bacteria and the DNA of a possible brain-eating Amoeba (N. fowleri) have been detected recently in the hot spring waters. The article explains: “While a N. fowleri infection (Amoeba) is unlikely, the previous park superintendent David Vela said that he would “highly encourage individuals to avoid contact with these waters”. If you do find yourself or your children lounging in some hot springs, the best way to prevent an infection is to avoid splashing, dunking, or any other activities that could potentially cause water to go up your nose.”
Even with the warning, these thermal beauties are still worth viewing with small groups. My family follows the above advice and takes extra precautions to not enter the water if we have any open sores on our body… and we shower immediately after.
{Related Post: The Ultimate Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary: 4 Day Trip}
Huckleberry Hot Springs
5 secret tips: 1. Polecat Hot Springs is better, 2. Take the shortcut, 3. Bring Water Shoes, 4. Use the Headwater Campground Shower, 5. Visit in the snow. (More details below)
Description:
Huckleberry Hot Springs is a beautiful Hydrothermal Spring near Polecat Creek. You cannot get in the rare and vulnerable pool but you may enjoy its runoff in the creek nearby. Someone has put a few logs in the creek to keep the hot water contained. Soaking in here is nice and refreshing while mixed with the cold creek water, especially after a long day of hiking. Relax and enjoy the scenery of the green meadow, Tree-lined mountains, and the glassy lake. For directions to a better (secret) hot spring nearby, check out my secret tips below! As with any trail, always pack out anything you bring in (ex: trash, food, children).
Directions:
Set your driving directions to the Headwaters Lodge & Cabins in Alta, WY. Park on the north side of the parking lot which will get you close to the Polecat Creek Loop Trail entrance. You can take the Polecat Creek Loop trail to get to both Huckleberry (and the secret Polecat Hot Springs!). There’s a footbridge so you can cross over Polecat Creek. This is the longer and dryer route to take especially if Grassy Lake Rd. is closed for the season. The faster route requires you to cross a knee-to-thigh-deep creek.
If Grassy Lake Rd is closed for the season then park in the same parking lot mentioned above. Walk down Grassy Lake Rd until you reach the trailhead immediately on the right after the road crosses the Creek. You will see the large sign labeled “Huckle Berry Hot Springs”. Follow the trail to Creek and cross it. This is the point where you can hike straight on the trail until you run into Huckleberry Hot Springs, or turn left for Polecat Hot Springs (more info in the secret tips below). If you continue straight to Huckleberry Hot Springs you will find a big Hydrothermal pool with runoff dropping into a small creek. The first picture of this post shows this exact spot.
Now, the moment you’ve been waiting for…
5 Secret Tips:
1. Polecat Hot Spring is Better –
From Huckleberry Hot Springs you can now take the trail south through some trees and over a slight hill (not the direction that you came from). You will arrive at a wide Creek but do not cross it. Instead, head to the right on the narrow path through the tall grass that runs along the creek. You will eventually run into the Polecat Hot Springs.
These pools are better designed for soaking. Do not touch the top pool, this is the actual Polecat Hot Spring. The water drains down into the second pool which is very hot. Then it drains down again into the third pool which has the best temperature in my opinion. The floors of the pools have some sort of algae bottom with dark tiny rocks. Keep your shoes on if this grosses you out.
2. Take the Short Cut –
If Grassy Lake Rd is open for the season (Summer) then drive down it and park in the dirt on the right after you pass over the creek. You’ll see the before-mentioned Huckleberry Hot Springs sign where the trail begins. From here you will follow the trail and cross the knee to thigh deep creek (with water shoes). After you cross you will see a narrow trail to the left in the tall marshy grass that follows along the creek. The trail is wet and squishy so keep your water shoes on. You will eventually run into Polecat Hot Springs.
3. Bring Water Shoes –
These are my favorite cheap water shoes from Amazon. I use them for hiking, rafting, canoeing/kayaking, and backpacking. They dry fast, pack tiny, and protect your feet from cuts. These are a must when crossing the creek. Like I mentioned before, keep the water shoes on after you cross the creek and wear them until you get back to your car. Don’t be a dork like me and try to cross barefoot or in flip-flops… you will lose them! Don’t risk getting your hiking shoes wet either, it WILL happen. Here is my tough teenage friend saving my flip flop, listen to her pain as she walks barefoot!
4. Use the Headwater Campground Shower –
If we are camping at the Headwater Campground then we always shower for free after we visit the Hot springs. But if we are not staying close by then we have asked the Camp host if we can pay for a quick shower. We may have snuck a shower or two if we couldn’t find the camp host, but we made sure to buy a few items at the store!
5. Visit in the Snow! –
Both Hot springs are open year-round so try and visit someday in the snow! You can cross-country ski or walk slowly in snow boots. This hike will take longer in the snow and I would suggest taking the Polecat Creek Loop Trail from the Headwater Lodge parking lot instead of walking down Grassy Lake Rd. to avoid the big creek crossing.
Now you have all information you need to visit Huckleberry Hot Springs. Make sure you bookmark this Post and take screenshots of the map and directions. Cell service is almost impossible to find the Grand Teton Nation Park!