Spring Into Wellness
June 13–14, 2025
Lava Hot Springs’ annual Spring Into Wellness Festival is “a gathering of wellness helpers and healers” that provides an opportunity for restoration — and a feast for the senses.
The event is a chance to fuel your mind by learning about the healing properties of herbs, essential oils, exercise, music, and other therapeutic practices. Attendees can revel in the experience of a soothing crystal singing bowl meditation, participate in a group Gyrokenesis® session, and nourish the body with sunset yoga at the Labyrinth, followed by a relaxing soak in Lava’s geothermal pools. (The Lava Hot Springs Foundation provides hot pool passes to every attendee of the wellness festival, which can be used during the weekend or at a later date.)
For a full schedule and to purchase tickets to the Spring Into Wellness Festival, visit https://lavahotsprings.org/event/wellness/.
At a time when our devices hold us captive, traffic propels us into chaos mode, and our hectic work schedules complicate our lives, a wellness-inspired getaway to Lava Hot Springs can be a transformative experience that is refreshing for the body, mind, and spirit.
Whether you prioritize wellness through massage, yoga, and spiritual practice, or by way of healthy eating and physical exercise, Lava affords plenty of opportunities to find calm, restore your energy, and reignite your inner fire. Traveling here — whether for a day, a weekend, or much longer — is like pressing your own personal reset button.
The Perfect Day in Lava Hot Springs
Imagine watching the sun rise while in quiet meditation along the banks of the Portneuf River, where the sound of flowing water soothes your nervous system. An early morning swim at the Indoor Aquatic Center invigorates your body, and a stroll through the Sunken Gardens offers a moment of reflection among the local flora.
Next, the highlight: a restorative soak in one of Lava Hot Springs’ mineral pools, where naturally heated, odor-free waters provide relief for tired muscles and promote overall wellness. Seeking more privacy? Head back to one of several local hotels that channels the town’s geothermal waters into private soaking tubs, allowing guests to enjoy the springs in solitude.
If, from here, you choose to explore the town (or the region beyond), there’s a range of outdoor activities for a multitude of interests and energy levels, like hiking, tubing, fishing, golfing, mountain biking, skiing, and even zip lining.
To round out the day, enjoy a therapeutic massage at one of the town’s welcoming spas, which will help to release any lingering tension. As evening descends on the valley, savor a meal on a restaurant patio, watching as the sun sets behind the mountains — a peaceful close to a day dedicated to self-care.
The “Land of Healing Waters”
Lava Hot Springs’ legacy of healing is an important part of its history, with the area being long revered by Indigenous peoples as a place of restoration and sanctuary. The Shoshone-Bannock tribes originally referred to this region “Poha-Ba,” or “Land of Healing Waters,” and used its geothermal mud baths and mineral-rich springs for physical well-being and daily survival.
These natural resources were considered sacred, a place where various tribes gathered peacefully to bathe, rest, and benefit from the springs’ curative powers. Later, settlers and travelers also found healing in the area’s unique geothermal features.
Today, Lava continues to be a peaceful retreat for individuals seeking wellness and renewal. Visitors to the area, who come from as far away as Europe and Japan, seek out the mineral-rich waters of Lava Hot Springs for their healing properties. “Our bodies absorb those minerals, and they do help with ailments,” says Destiny Egley, Management Assistant at Lava Hot Springs Foundation. “We have Lava Hot Springs locals and surrounding area locals come every single morning to enjoy the hot springs because it helps them feel better.”
The locals even drink the water in Lava Hot Springs, which has won awards and been praised by water sommeliers and experts the world over. George Katsilometes, who owns Lava Hot Springs Inn, has been bottling the water here for 22 years. With 37 minerals, including calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, and many others shown to benefit overall health, it’s believed to be one of the best mineral waters in the world. “The water is very healing. That is what has attracted people to Lava Hot Springs for centuries, and that is what will always attract people,” says Katsilometes.
Modern-Day Wellness in Lava
At the Lava Hot Springs World-Famous Hot Springs, five well-maintained, geothermal pools are open to the public year-round, with water kept at varying temperatures (102 to 112 degrees). At the Olympic Swimming Complex & Indoor Aquatic Center, visitors can swim outdoors during the summer months in an Olympic-sized pool or enjoy an enclosed indoor pool and hot tub at any time of year.
The State of Idaho oversees the operation of these hot baths and swimming pools through the Lava Hot Springs Foundation, which ensures the facilities remain accessible, clean, and restorative. “We are blessed to have the foundation because they do a beautiful job,” says Gail Palen, Owner of Riverside Hot Springs Inn & Spa.
To promote relaxation and well-being, accommodations in the town of Lava Hot Springs make the most of the region’s geothermal resources, incorporating the natural hot springs into their guest amenities. “There are four lodging properties that have mineral hot springs, and they’re all unique,” says Palen.
At Lava Hot Springs Inn and the Riverside Hot Springs Inn & Spa, guests can soak in the onsite hot spring pools before or after a massage or other treatments. Guests at The Lava Hotel have the option to pair their hot mineral soak with massages and specialty services at eLAVAtion Spa (inside the hotel). At The Home Hotel, some of the bathrooms have hot mineral water piped to their soaking tubs.
Several spas also offer additional wellness services, such as facials, scalp massages, and reflexology, creating a comprehensive approach to healing and relaxation. Some spas offer specialized aquatic bodywork that leverages the buoyancy and warmth of the hot springs. For example, Watsu massage — a form of aquatic bodywork — is offered in the warm mineral pools at Lava Hot Springs Inn, where therapists gently support and move clients through the water. This technique is designed to stretch the spine, improve range of motion, and induce deep relaxation, making it particularly beneficial for those with arthritis or mobility concerns.
Also located in Lava Hot Springs is the Intermountain Vipassana Center, which offers ten-day meditation courses to participants interested in learning the basics of the method. The scenery is beautiful — hilly and rustic. Accommodations are simple but comfortable, and food is cooked fresh every day.
A Few Final Tips for a Wellness-Inspired Trip
Lava’s peaceful setting invites visitors to find solace and reprieve from the pressures of daily life, resetting mind, body, and spirit. “What refuels my energy is to see people enjoying our town, and also trying to make it a better place for our residents,” says Lava Hot Springs Mayor Vicky Lyon.
To make the most of your trip to Lava, the locals have some recommendations:
“If you’re coming to Lava Hot Springs for wellness, just slow down. Disconnect,” says Collin Petrun, Chamber Board Member and Owner of Bristol Park Historic Cabins. “Everything in town is walking distance, so leave your car here and walk downtown. Shop for some crystals and gifts and just take your time instead of worrying about finding a parking spot,” he adds.
It’s important to experience the healing properties of the water in Lava — however possible, recommends Katsilometes. “Get in the water and drink the water. You have to put their body in the water and soak because your body will absorb the minerals — it needs them and it uses them,” he says.
And if you’re hoping to avoid crowds? “The state foundation’s outdoor hot springs are really nice at night,” says Palen. “If you’re looking for something tranquil, it’s nice to go soak in the evening and sit under the stars.” Egley also recommends visiting right when the hot pools open at 8 a.m. “Monday through Thursday morning are the best for somebody wanting more of a quiet, peaceful time,” she says.
However visitors to Lava define wellness, all are invited to relax and let nature do its thing: provide you with care and rejuvenation. “I’ve grown to appreciate and understand the special place Lava Hot Springs is. It’s like living in a temple,” Petrun says. “For thousands of years, nobody lived in this valley other than medicine people. And it’s an honor to live in the temple; it’s an important role because it serves a lot of people.”