Alcova Hot Springs
Alcova Hot Springs delivers water at 129°F—among Wyoming's hottest springs outside Yellowstone—in Natrona County near Mills. The spring requires a 521-meter walk from Alcova Dam Access Road at 5,501 feet elevation within Bureau of Reclamation lands at Alcova Reservoir. Water temperature exceeds ambient air by an extraordinary 84.2 degrees in an environment averaging just 44.8°F annually.
The spring emerges on slopes above Alcova Reservoir, a Bureau of Reclamation impoundment on the North Platte River in central Wyoming's high desert. At 5,501 feet elevation, the landscape features sagebrush-covered hills and exposed sandstone formations characteristic of the region's arid interior basins. Annual precipitation totals just 12.9 inches, though snowfall reaches 51.7 inches in winter. The reservoir's blue waters contrast with surrounding tan and gray terrain, where sparse vegetation reflects limited moisture. Pete's Draw Campground 5.0 km distant provides the nearest developed facilities in this sparsely populated landscape.
Visit from late spring through early fall; winter brings bitter cold and dangerous conditions despite the hot water. The 521-meter walk crosses unimproved terrain; wear sturdy footwear. Pete's Draw Campground offers seven first-come sites with no water; bring all supplies for this remote location. Water at 129°F requires extreme caution and cooling before contact. The 14-day stay limit applies to Bureau of Reclamation campgrounds. Combine with fishing or boating on Alcova Reservoir.
Historical documentation for Alcova Hot Springs predates the 1938 construction of Alcova Dam and reservoir as part of the Kendrick Irrigation Project. Early homesteaders and ranchers likely knew the thermal feature, though no commercial development occurred in this remote location. The Bureau of Reclamation maintains the spring area as open-access public land subject to extractive use provisions (protection status 3). Current conditions show undeveloped thermal discharge with no facilities or improvements.
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Pete's Draw has both a day-use and overnight camping area to enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing, picnicking, fishing, boating and camping. There's a parking area, vault toilet, seven overnight campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, shelters, tent pads, and RV parking, trash receptacle, and a hardened pedestrian trail. No water is available at this campground. Campsites are first come, first served. No overnight parking is allowed in the day use area. This campground receives heavy visitatio...
Alcova Hot Springs sits at 5,501 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 22% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Alcova Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water runs hot, so extra hydration is key. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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