Within the Park, there are 3 places where you can touch the thermal water. Even though the water comes out of the ground at 147 degrees F, it is cool enough to touch by the time it reaches the pools.
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Hot springs are heated by geothermal heat—heat from the Earth's interior. In volcanic areas, water may come into contact with very hot rock heated by magma. Hot springs in active volcanic zones may produce superheated water, so hot that immersion can result in injury or death.
The thermal waters here emerge at an average water temperature of 143° Fahrenheit, and so they are not safe to swim in. However, the good news is that since the early 1900's these waters have been piped into the local Bathhouses on Bathhouse row for your bathing pleasure.
Within the Park, there are 3 places where you can touch the thermal water. Even though the water comes out of the ground at 147 degrees F, it is cool enough to touch by the time it reaches the pools.
1. Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone. This tallest geyser in the world set the highest temperature ever recorded in the park. It's so far above sea level that the boiling point is 199°F rather than the sea-level 212°, but a hole drilled by scientists to 1,087 feet deep found a temperature of 459°F.
Over the years, Hot Springs became famous for its therapeutic benefits. The area attracted more visitors and developed into a well-known resort nicknamed “The American Spa” because it attracted not only the wealthy but also health seekers from around the world.
A unique chance to stay on Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs National Park is now available. The Hale Bathhouse, one of the former bathhouses on the famous row, has been remodeled into the Hotel Hale.
If it's a commercial hot spring, the water is probably about as clean as it is at a water park thanks to rules and regulations that help keep the average visitor safe. If it's a natural hot spring, it may carry a slight risk. In these instances, take things like water flow (or lack of) and crowding into consideration.