The state of Alabama is home to a multitude of natural outdoor beauty, adventure, and history, including popular hot springs and mineral springs.
Whether you’re taking a short weekend trip or an extended vacation, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in the Yellowhammer state while exploring the hot springs. You can visit attractions like beaches, botanical gardens, zoos, and science centers to keep everyone in the family occupied and happy.
Keep reading to learn about hot springs in Alabama you need to see, including what makes each special.
Springs in Southeast Alabama
1. Blue Spring State Park Hot Spring
Blue Spring State Park is full of activities for the entire family to enjoy. This hot spring in Alabama pumps 3,600 gallons per minute of crystal clear water into two swimming areas. You’ll find the temperature of the water around 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
When you aren’t swimming in the natural hot springs, there are plenty of other recreational opportunities from fishing, hiking, biking, and birdwatching to picnicking, playing volleyball, and enjoying a playground area. There are also pavilions on the grounds.
After a long day of exploring the state park, take a load off and relax soaking in this Alabama hot spring. Kids can explore the area just over the spillway, looking for critters among the rocks in the shallows before it flows into the Choctawhatchee River.
The main attraction at Blue Springs State Park is the hot springs, but you can also enjoy excellent camping at any of the 47 campsites available. Guests can tent camp or RV camp, with modern campsites including hookups, as well as primitive areas for those who prefer roughing it.
Springs in Southwest Alabama
2. Bladon Springs State Park Hot Spring
Bladon Springs State Park is located in Bladon Springs and began as a private spa in 1838. This hot spring in Alabama was known for the healing properties of its waters, with guests flocking from all over the country!
As a spa, this spring in Alabama was referred to as the “Saratoga of the South,” with a large Greek Revival hotel built onsite to accommodate all the visitors.
In 1934, the state of Alabama purchased the grounds and converted it into a state park. The resort is now gone, but the spring remains. Guests can explore the tranquility of the state park and observe the spring, in addition to the abundant wildlife including native birds throughout the forest setting.
This state park is open seven days a week from eight A.M. to sundown.
3. Red Hill Spring
Red Hill Spring is a unique setting open to the public with parking provided and no fee. This spring in Alabama is a unique area to visit because the natural spring has been capped and a discharge pipe has been added so people can fill containers with natural spring water.
You won’t be able to swim in this natural spring, but you can collect all the fresh drinking water you want for free. Spring water is cold and refreshing straight from the source, making for the purest of drinking water.
4. Cherokee Mineral Springs
Cherokee Mineral Springs is situated nearby Citronelle Railroad Historic District and Central Core Historic District in Mobile County, and it’s maintained by the USGS Alabama Water Science Center.
This mineral spring in Alabama is chock full of healing minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and manganese.
Other minerals found in this spring are sulfate, silica, fluoride, chloride, bicarbonate, and nitrate. These minerals are known to promote healing, which is what makes mineral springs unique.
5. Healing Springs
Healing Springs is located in Millry and was once home to a thriving spa and resort in its prime, back in the early 1900s. These hot springs in Alabama were said to have healing powers, with people coming in droves seeking cures for various ailments.
These hot springs in Alabama are a significant piece of the state’s history, with the healing powers allegedly discovered by an Indian chief who had a sore on his leg that wouldn’t heal. He rubbed mineral sludge from the runoff of one of the many springs at this location onto the wound on his leg and was cured, according to the legend.
Whether these reports of miraculous healing are true or not, there are many local residents who still regularly collect water from the springs and believe in its healing powers. In its prime, there were 17 overflowing springs at this location.
Today, all that’s left of Healing Springs resort are three overflowing springs and the ruins of the hotel that was built on-site to accommodate wave upon wave of visitors. The three springs left, Mound Spring, Creek Spring, and Iron Spring, are designated for different ailments.
The entrance to this spring in Alabama is gated, but the gate is open to the public during daylight hours. You’ll find the overflowing springs located at the bottom of the hill around 200 yards from the gate.
Mound Spring
This spring in Alabama is designated for female ailments and diseases, in addition to dyspepsia, indigestion, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin disorders like eczema.
Creek Spring
Creek Spring was designated for ailments of the kidney and bladder, as well as urinary tract disorders and Bright’s Disease.
Iron Spring
This spring in Alabama is appointed for instantaneous relief of disorders and ailments like chronic constipation, piles, chills, and fevers.
Springs in West Alabama
6. Big Sandy Springs
Big Sandy Springs is located in Tuscaloosa County and is maintained by the USGS Alabama Water Science Center. This spring in Alabama contains natural minerals that are fantastic for their calming and healing properties.
Reported minerals found in this natural mineral spring include calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, fluoride, chloride, silica, and sulfate.
Other minerals present in the crisp, cold water of this spring in Alabama include cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lithium, mercury, nickel, silver, and zinc. Before you decide to head out to this location, you’ll need to contact the Alabama Water Science Center.
Springs in Northeast Alabama
7. Bethel Springs Nature Preserve
Bethel Springs Nature Preserve is a breathtakingly beautiful park located in Gurley, Alabama, on a 360-acre property. 200 acres of this property are designated for outdoor recreation for visitors.
This spring in Alabama feeds Bethel Creek, which generates an ideal habitat for a variety of ecosystems, aquatic species, and native wildlife in the area. This park offers hikers nearly two miles of free trails available to explore from dawn to dusk daily.
The Land Trust, the authority over this nature preserve, is working with biologists in the area to identify the fish and other aquatic life found in the spring and creek as well.
Along the trails, you’ll encounter upland forest, working farmland, in addition to historic sites, and an environmentally-significant spring and creek. This location features one of Madison County’s largest waterfalls as well!
The main attraction at this spring in Alabama is the large waterfall. This waterfall features an expansive above-ground spring that descends into a cave below and flows downhill underground, exiting through a spring at the base of the mountain.
Benefits of Hot Springs
Soaking in any of these hot springs in Alabama comes with an array of benefits, including healing skin disorders, boosting blood circulation, and relieving pain.
Hot springs are chock full of minerals also, which your skin will absorb as you soak. This is great for those with any mineral deficiencies, as well as those with skin issues. The minerals soothe skin irritations and enrich moisture for healthier skin. Silica, which naturally occurs in most hot springs, smooths and softens the skin.
Soaking in hot springs is excellent for pain relief, with the warm mineral water blocking your body’s pain receptors. It also relaxes your joints and your muscles, for overall pain relief all over the body. After such a painless soak, you’ll be ready for a long night of restful sleep, which soaking in hot springs also promotes.
Mineral springs can improve your overall health, including cardiovascular health and skin conditions. Soaking in a hot spring filled with naturally occurring minerals improves your blood circulation comparably to physical exercise.
You should always be very careful about how long you soak in a hot spring. The heat can quickly dehydrate you, and if the spring is too hot, the water may burn you. Be careful of swimming or soaking in unmonitored hot springs without checking the temperature of the water.
Ideally, you should soak for around 10 to 15 minutes and then take a break to allow your body temperature to return to normal. Don’t go back into the water until your body temperature has been regulated.
Time to Visit These Hot Springs in Alabama!
Hot springs are excellent for many purposes, from relaxing with a soak after a long day exploring to healing properties from the minerals present in the water. These hot springs in Alabama are a must-see on your trip!
Are you looking for more information about all the many things Alabama has to offer? Check out the best places to go camping in Alabama.
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Brittany Tedford is a post-apocalyptic fiction author, an aspiring English teacher, and a writer for Apple Pie Media.
She currently lives in a small town in Northern Mississippi with her two children Anna and Eli, and her two cats Salem and Leo.
With a bachelor’s in Creative Writing and English and a master’s in the same discipline, Brittany is passionate about learning how to live off the land for camping trips, which is why she loves writing for Beyond The Tent. From the best camping gear to camping survival tips and tricks, to finding the perfect campground, there is so much information to share with others!
Brittany can be reached at writerbeefreelancecontent@gmail.com