Soaking in New York's Hot Springs
One of the states with hot springs in New England, New York, often associated with bustling cityscapes and towering skyscrapers, also harbors a secret – natural hot springs.
While not many hot springs exist in New York, take a page out of Al Capone’s book and take a visit to the hidden hot springs of Arkansas when it gets cold and dreary in the empire state.
Getting there is an easy flight, with plenty of places to stay. As always I suggest getting travel insurance in case nature rears her head and cancels your travel.
Best Time to Go
Spring (March – May) and fall (September – November) offer the most comfortable soaking experiences with pleasant weather and moderate crowds. Summers can be hot and humid, while winters can be chilly.
Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Spa State Park is a historic spa destination renowned for its naturally carbonated mineral springs. Several bathhouses offer soaking experiences, from the historic Roosevelt Baths to the more modern Saratoga National. While public bathhouses can be busy, the park's vibrant atmosphere and diverse amenities make it a popular choice.
Stay nearby at Batcheller Mansion Inn a beautiful Victorian with intricately carved European woodwork, hand carved marble fireplaces, family items on loan from museums, and original 1800’s Batcheller family furnishings. Note there’s no elevator or kids under 16 allowed.
Saratoga Spa State Park is open to the public year round, but during certain periods, there are fees you must pay at the toll booth to enter. Swimming is available for the entire family at the two pools in the park: there's the Peerless Pool complex, which includes a large main pool as well as separate smaller pools, or you can take a dip in the Victoria Pool. The Peerless Pool (below) is free, but there is a fee to access the Victoria Pool.
The Park includes Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Spa Little Theater, the National Museum of Dance, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, the Gideon Putnam Resort and Roosevelt Baths and Spa (below).
The miles of nature trails allow visitors to explore the beauty of this state park. They are open for running, walking, and biking throughout the warmer months. During your adventure, make sure you visit some of the nearby mineral springs along the way, such as the Ferndell Spring (pictured above) and the Orenda Spring.
When the snow falls, you'll find approximately 12 miles of cross-country skiing trails and snowshoeing trails too.
Water Quality: 4 stars (Minor sulfur smell, various naturally occurring minerals)
Ease of Access: 5 stars (Easily accessible by paved road with ample parking)
Ability to Be Alone: 3 stars (Several public bathhouses, can be crowded)
Water Temperature: 4 stars (Comfortable soaking temperature with variations depending on the bathhouse)
Health Benefits: 4 stars (Noticeable mineral content, potential benefits for rheumatism and arthritis)
Nearby Amenities: 5 stars (Spa services, restaurants, lodging options, and various recreational activities within walking distance)
Secret Tip: Visit the Saratoga Springs History Museum to learn about the town's rich history as a spa destination.
The Gideon Putnam Resort
Located within Saratoga Spa State Park, The Gideon Putnam Resort offers a luxurious hot spring experience. Guests can choose from private soaking tubs with mineral water piped directly from the natural springs or indulge in traditional bathhouse treatments. The resort's upscale amenities and personalized service cater to those seeking a pampering getaway.
Established in 1935, the Roosevelt Baths & Spa Saratoga Springs spa resort opened thanks to President Franklin Roosevelt's visionary act to preserve the Saratoga Springs. Authentic and historic, today the Roosevelt Baths & Spa offers wellness in Saratoga Springs via a transforming hydrotherapy spa experience with naturally healing treatments, performed by an attentive staff known for caring and quality of service.
The Roosevelt Baths & Spa offers 42 original treatment rooms. Available Saratoga Springs wellness services include:
Water Quality: 4 stars (Minor sulfur smell, various naturally occurring minerals)
Ease of Access: 5 stars (Easily accessible by paved road with ample parking)
Ability to Be Alone: 4 stars (Private soaking tubs available, shared bath options)
Water Temperature: 4 stars (Comfortable soaking temperature with customizable options)
Health Benefits: 4 stars (Noticeable mineral content, potential benefits for rheumatism and arthritis)
Nearby Amenities: 5 stars (Luxury resort with spa services, restaurants, and various recreational activities)
Secret Tip: Book a couples massage treatment at the resort's spa for an extra dose of relaxation.
Peerless Pool & Mineral Springs
The Peerless Pool offers a more rustic hot spring experience within Saratoga Spa State Park. This single, outdoor pool is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike.
While the shared pool can be crowded, the natural setting and readily accessible location make it a convenient option.
Water Quality: 4 stars (Minor sulfur smell, various naturally occurring minerals)
Ease of Access: 4 stars (Short walk on a well-maintained path within the park)
Ability to Be Alone: 3 stars (Single, shared outdoor pool)
Water Temperature: 4 stars (Comfortable soaking temperature)
Health Benefits: 4 stars (Noticeable mineral content, potential benefits for rheumatism and arthritis)
Nearby Amenities: 4 stars (Restaurants and shops within walking distance in Saratoga Springs)
World Spa
While not a natural hot spring, the folks that designed World Spa in Queens certainly tried their best. You can literally tour the world of different spa and hot spring types ranging from authentic banyas, Finnish saunas, Turkish and Moroccan hammams, cleansing Himalayan salt therapy, to Japanese onsens.
Handmade Moroccan and Turkish tiles adorn the hammams, while authentic Kelo pine was imported from Northern Europe for the saunas and banyas.
Grand Banya – the largest banya in the US is where you go if you are a bit of a masochist and want the thwack of venik, bunches of fragrant birch or oak tree twigs, against your skin. For a lighter touch and less talking go to the Petite Banya room.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
You can’t go to NYC without getting some exposure to theater! Event Sauna takes communal sweating to a new level. Sauna Masters perform the theatrical ritual of sauna aufguss, artfully swirling and twirling towels that push warm, aromatic bursts of heat around the room. Essential oils and music are carefully curated to create a completely unique experience.
The Clay & Hay sauna needs to be seen, felt, smelt and even heard. This is as close as you’ll come to finding a Temazcal, the popular sweat lodge made out of clay and hay adobe found originally in South America, right here in New York. The thick adobe walls are handmade and infuse the sauna with the genuine warmth of Mother Nature.
The aroma sauna is one of WORLD SPA’s hidden treasures (once you find it, you may never want to leave). The scent of the room hits you first. A natural spicy, woody aroma of juniper infuses the room, thanks to juniper wood cuts positioned on the wall near the heater, while bunches of herbs hung from the ceiling, give off a symphony of glorious, natural scents.
The word “hammam” literally translates to “bathroom” or “bathhouse,” which were introduced by conquering Romans centuries ago. Go to the Moroccan Hammam and be transported to an authentic Marrakesh bathhouse, complete with the musky, earthy scents of Morocco. Handmade, brightly colored tiles imported from Morocco adorn the walls, benches and the center “belly stone.” This room is airy and bright and has less humidity than the Turkish Hamam, making it feel slightly less intense.
If you love hot springs, you know that sometimes you just need to cool down, and that’s what the snow room is for, with temperatures of 14-32F. Finns would typically end a sauna session with a cleansing and invigorating “roll in the snow.” There are many health benefits to incorporating hot/cold contrast therapy into your spa visit, including a boost to your metabolism and immune system. In addition, the cold dry air of a snow room offers additional health properties by promoting respiratory health, improving blood circulation, and alleviating sore, inflamed muscles.
I personally love the salt rooms. The Himalayan Salt Room is gilded with pink salts and naturally antibacterial salt particles are gently inhaled, cleaning out the lungs, reducing inflammation and breaking down mucus. Salt inhalation therapy is used to treat asthma, allergies, bronchitis, sinus congestion and even COPD. In addition, salt particles can improve skin conditions, like acne and even eczema. Salt particles produce negative ions which, in turn, cause your body to release serotonin, something that is known to improve overall mood.
The Springs at Clifton
The Springs is a service of Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, an Eastern Region Affiliate of Rochester Regional Health.The Springs provides results-oriented integrative therapies for pain relief, support for patients undergoing treatment for cancer, chronic illness, injury recovery, or simply to provide rest and relaxation from daily stressors.
The philosophy of caring for the whole person started at Clifton Springs Hospital when Henry Foster, MD, founded a “Water Cure Sanitarium” in 1850 on the site of mineral springs, which had been used by generations of Native American healers.
Historically, Clifton Springs was classified as sulfur, which means that sulfur was the predominant element measured. Today, the specific levels vary depending on where the water level in the aquifer is flowing, but the water contains a high level of minerals like magnesium and calcium which are beneficial for reducing pain and inflammation.
All soaks are 20-min in length and are in private bath tubs. There is no community pool or group bathing areas. You can add other oils and minerals for a more relaxing experience:
Lavender: A relaxing blend of oils from multiple lavender species that is also pain relieving and soothing for the skin.
Himalayan Salts: A warm bath infused with Himalayan salts, and an Ayurvedic blend of essential oils that provides pain relief, is balancing for all constitutional types, relieves mental stress & fatigue, and uplifts the spirit.
Frankincense: Encourages stability, emotional balance, & eases anxiety while also assisting meditation.
Moor Peat: Do you remember the swamp thing? Well, now you too can cover yourself in peat. Peat sourced from the Czech Republic and essential oils stimulate the lymphatic system, increase sweating, and imparts humic & fulvic acids from the peat to alleviate skin conditions. This soak is also effective for pain relief.
For other hot springs in New England, take a look at Massachusetts hot springs and spas.
