Hot spring etiquette
Natural hot springs stay good when the people who visit them take care of them. A few basics go a long way.
Pack it in, pack it out
Take every bit of trash with you, including food scraps and bottle caps. Many springs have lost access because of the mess left behind.
Skip the soap and glass
Soap, shampoo, and sunscreen foul the water and harm the microbes that keep a spring healthy. Leave glass at home — a broken bottle in a soaking pool is dangerous and nearly impossible to clean up.
Check the temperature first
Source pools can be scalding. Test with a hand before getting in, and never let kids or pets into an untested pool. Temperatures shift with flow and season.
Share the space
Keep groups small and voices low, take turns at popular pools, and respect whatever clothing norm is established at the spot you're visiting.