Granite Hot Spring

Teton County, Wyoming · Near Jackson
43.3700°N, 110.4450°W · 7,035 ft
106°F 27°F air · Good soaking weather 7,035 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (10.7 mi)

Granite Hot Spring: a Forest Service hot spring in the Teton National Forest, Teton County, Wyoming, roughly eighteen miles out of Jackson. Temperature on file is 106 degrees, which is a proper hot soak. Open to the public. Settlers dug a pool here long ago, according to Wikipedia, and the Forest Service looks after it now.

Location

From the nearest road, unnamed on file, it is about a tenth of a mile on foot. You are a bit above seven thousand feet. Snow is heavy, thirteen-plus feet through the winter, and total precipitation is around thirty inches. Hoback Guard Station, about eleven miles away, is the nearest camping listed.

December through February leads the record's seasons. Access is open; the record does not list a fee. A 2019 sample found the water mildly alkaline with a moderate mineral load, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfate and chloride. The heat is a hot bath, no scald risk.

History of Granite Hot Spring

The Wikipedia article on Granite Hot Springs says early settlers in the area dug a pool to collect the water and that the Forest Service maintains the spring today. It gives the location as Sublette County, thirty miles southeast of Jackson, which differs from the county and distance on this record.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Granite Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Granite Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Granite Hot Spring
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the southeast.
Highest ground nearby
546 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
86 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 24% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
18°
Jan
20°
Feb
28°
Mar
34°
Apr
41°
May
53°
Jun
63°
Jul
62°
Aug
53°
Sep
38°
Oct
24°
Nov
16°
Dec
Annual Precip: 30.8 in Annual Snow: 159.3 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 16°F · Water 106°F · +90° contrast
January Air 18°F · Water 106°F · +88° contrast
February Air 20°F · Water 106°F · +86° contrast
December offers 47°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
27°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 93% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 68° Low 33° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +38° warmer
Wednesday 70° Low 42° Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 14% precip
Spring is +36° warmer
Thursday 67° Low 45° Showers And Thunderstorms 87% precip
Spring is +39° warmer
Friday 64° Low 43° Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 41% precip
Spring is +42° warmer
Saturday 66° Low 37° Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 18% precip
Spring is +40° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 2019-09-24

The water at Granite Hot Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.5) with 617 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).

pH 7.5 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 31 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 6 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 171 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 147 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 129 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Hoback Guard Station 10.7 mi away

Overview Water & Power are NOT GUARANTEED, Hoback Guard Station was built in 1935 by the CCC to be used as a working Ranger Station, and is considered eligible to the National Register of Historic Places. About 34 miles from Jackson, Wyoming, This guard station beckons guests who want a scenic backcountry experience with the convenience of electricity and running water and great mountain scenery. Water is NOT available until Mid June or July and will be turned off Mid Sept due to freezing t...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 7,035 ft

Granite Hot Spring sits at 7,035 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 28% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
106°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 106°F (41°C)
Avg Air Temp 38°F
Above Ambient +69°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Teton National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Granite Hot Spring?
Granite Hot Spring has a water temperature of 106°F (41°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Granite Hot Spring located?
Granite Hot Spring is located in Teton County, Wyoming at 7,035 feet elevation, near Jackson. Coordinates: 43.3700°N, 110.4450°W.
How do I get to Granite Hot Spring?
Granite Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Granite Hot Spring free to visit?
Granite Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Granite Hot Spring?
Yes, Hoback Guard Station is located nearby (10.7 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Granite Hot Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.5 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 617 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia