Destination: Hot Waters

WHERE TO SIT BACK AND SOAK NEAR 10 IKON PASS DESTINATIONS

After a day of adventuring, there’s nothing better than soothing those sore muscles and quieting the mind in peaceful, mountainous surroundings. These Ikon Pass destinations offer quick access to some of the planet’s best hot springs and spa options to help you achieve a state of deep relaxation.

Alyeska Resort

Embrace the Alaskan elements surrounded by the world’s northernmost rainforest in the Land of the Midnight Sun. A sprawling 50,000 square feet retreat, Alyeska Nordic Spa sits slopeside at Alyeska Resort, inviting you to soak, plunge, rest, and repeat in the heart of the Chugach Mountains. This unique hydrotherapy spa includes hot pools, cedar soaking tubs, multiple saunas, a rainforest steam room, and a cold plunge — be sure to complete your experience at the exfoliation cabin.

Arai Snow Resort

Japan’s volcanic archipelago is home to the world’s most abundant naturally occuring hot springs — known locally as onsen — an important part of the country’s culture. At Arai Snow Resort, the gorgeous slopeside Hoshizora Onsen features an elegant indoor-outdoor spa experience, allowing you to soak under the stars. Its hot water springs from a depth of more than 5,700 feet below the earth’s surface, boasting low-alkalinity for a naturally beautifying effect on the skin.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

New in 2020, the Astoria Hot Springs Park is a steamy retreat with scenic views in Bridger-Teton National Forest, just 30 minutes south of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Six human-crafted soaking pools flank the banks of Wyoming’s Snake River — four hot mineral pools, a cooler chlorinated children’s pool, and a chlorinated cold plunge. After your hot soak, take a cold plunge to instantly numb your nerves, reducing pain and inflammation. Advanced reservations are recommended.

Mammoth Mountain

If you’re in or around California’s Mammoth Lakes region, make sure to stop for a soak or two at any of the area’s abundant natural hot springs. Most of Mammoth’s hot springs are primitive, making them good no- or low-cost options — so bring your own towels and beverages. Soak in stellar views of the Sierras at Crowley, Travertine, or Buckeye Hot Springs, each with naturally hot waters that hover right around 100°F. Pulkey’s Pool and Hot Tub are two more mustn’t-miss favorites.

Niseko United

Located on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, Niseko United is known for more than its plentiful pow pow — it also has some of the country’s most abundant natural onsens, thanks to the region’s volcanically active mountains. Head to Hinode Hills in Niseko Village for serene onsen bathing, Niseko Grand Hotel for three open-air baths, and Ikoino Yuyado Iroha for an onsen with beautifying silicic acid. If you prefer VIP treatment, AYA Niseko offers penthouses with private terrace onsens and stunning views of Mt. Yotei.

Palisades Tahoe

After a day spent exploring the nearby Tahoe National Forest, slip into Sierra Hot Springs to relax and unwind. Located 50 minutes from Palisades Tahoe in Sierraville, this clothing-optional hot springs resort consists of multiple pools, private tubs, cold plunges, and a dry sauna. Whether you prefer a daylight or evening soak in Sierra Hot Springs’ smooth-as-silk waters, be sure to book your spot early, as advanced reservations are required.

Schweitzer

Located in the heart of Schweitzer Village in northern Idaho’s panhandle, Cambium Spa is a year-round wellness retreat that offers unique, immersive treatments that encourage restoration and growth. Book yourself a Forest Air Massage, a Normatec Leg Compression Session, a Sound Lounge Enhancement, or try Cambium’s Halo IR sauna that uses a synergistic combination of infrared sauna and dry salt therapy, engaging all five senses for a truly transformative experience.

Steamboat

Champagne Powder® aside, the historic all-natural mineral hot springs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, are a founding factor in the town’s existence today. Take the kids to splash around Old Town Hot Springs in the heart of downtown Steamboat, complete with two waterslides and a rock climbing wall. You can also opt for a two-hour reservation at the more rustic Strawberry Park Hot Springs, a short drive from downtown — but be advised, clothing is always optional after dark.

Tremblant

Come on up to Canada to embark on your thermal journey at Scandinave Spa Mont-Tremblant. This iconic spa in Quebec’s fabled Laurentian Forest encompasses more than 72,000 square feet, giving you all the space you need to withstand the heat, embrace the cold, and revel in the silence. Scandinave Spa intentionally does not offer Wi-Fi, allowing you to digitally detox, recharge, and reconnect for a one-of-a-kind opportunity for both relaxation and introspection. For a spa experience closer to the slopes, head to one of the spa centers at the Fairmont Hotel or the Westin Hotel in Tremblant’s picturesque pedestrian village, both offer a range of relaxing treatments and services.

Winter Park Resort

After spending the day exploring Winter Park Resort, hop in the car for a 30-mile drive to the historic Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa. Discovered in the 1840s, Hot Sulphur Springs’ natural mineral water now flows up from 35,000 feet below the earth’s surface to its 18 human-made pools. Sit back and soak, or book a massage for a complimentary all-day pass to the resort’s hot springs pools that range in temperatures from 95°F to 112°F.