Langford Hot Springs
Near Hot Springs, Texas · on Rio Grande · Big Bend National Park
Verified · 6 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- hot spring
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $30 per private
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Langford Hot Springs
Langford Hot Springs (also called Boquillas Hot Springs) is a historic 105°F geothermal spring on the north bank of the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, Texas, inside the Hot Springs Historic District. A warm counterpart to the classic swimming hole, it lets visitors soak in a shallow pool built on the foundation of a bathhouse constructed by homesteader J.O. Langford in the early 1900s.
The spring sits directly on the bank of the Rio Grande within the Hot Springs Historic District, an area with evidence of human occupation spanning thousands of years, including rock art and early-1900s structures such as a historic post office. The site is reached via a two-mile gravel road that descends through a rough, narrow wash from the main park road near Rio Grande Village.
Swimming at Langford Hot Springs
Soaking, not swimming, is the norm: a shallow, primitive rock-and-concrete pool holds mineral-rich water at about 105°F right beside the Rio Grande. NPS guidance is explicit that this is a soaking pool ('soak only, use no soaps or oils') and that swimming in the adjacent river itself is discouraged because of unpredictable currents and depths.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Rio Grande Village, follow the park road to the Hot Springs turnoff and descend a two-mile gravel access road through a narrow wash to the trailhead; motor homes and oversized vehicles are prohibited on the one-way sections of that road.
The hike in
Hot Springs Trail (short spur to Langford/Boquillas Hot Springs), with an optional Hot Springs Historic Loop above the river
- To the water
- 0.25 mi one-way (0.5 mi round trip) to the spring itself
- Time on foot
- About 15-20 minutes round trip for the spring alone; roughly 45-60 minutes if adding the full historic loop
Difficulty: easy, flat, short walk from trailhead to the spring pool; the optional 1-mile loop adds mild elevation gain along the bluff
Trailhead: At the end of the ~2-mile one-way gravel Hot Springs access road, which branches off the main park road near Rio Grande Village and descends through a rough, narrow wash to a small trailhead near the historic district ruins.
The spring spur is a short 0.5-mile round trip. Hikers can extend the visit with an additional roughly 1-mile loop trail that climbs the bluff above the Rio Grande, passes historic district structures/rock art, and loops back down to the spring.
The access road itself (not the walking trail) is the rougher part of the trip: a narrow, rough 2-mile one-way gravel road through a wash, closed to motorhomes and oversized/trailered vehicles per NPS.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
NPS explicitly advises limiting children's exposure time in the 105°F spring water because prolonged soaking can cause burns/skin reactions; the adjacent Rio Grande itself is not recommended for swimming due to unpredictable currents and depth, so kids should stay in the shallow soaking pool only, briefly, rather than swim in the river.
Parking
Free
Reached via a roughly 2-mile, one-way gravel Hot Springs Road that turns off the main park road near Rio Grande Village and descends through a narrow wash to the trailhead; NPS prohibits motorhomes and other oversized/trailered vehicles on this road. No separate parking fee exists beyond the standard Big Bend National Park entrance fee ($30/vehicle for 7 days per prior research); exact lot size/surface not documented in sources found.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
The soaking pool itself normally holds clear, mineral-rich 105°F spring water, but NPS notes that flash flooding on the adjacent Rio Grande can submerge the pool in muddy water or bury it under rocks/silt, sometimes requiring it to be re-cleared. The Rio Grande itself is a silty desert river that runs cloudy/turbid rather than clear, which is part of why NPS discourages swimming in the river proper (unpredictable currents and depth on top of low visibility).
On the water
Restrictions: A free NPS river-use permit is required for private boaters running the Rio Grande in the park; landing on the Mexican riverbank is prohibited and treated as an illegal border crossing. Craft used on this stretch are effectively non-motorized (canoe/kayak/raft), no motorized-boat allowance was found, and outfitters note they switch from rafts to canoes when water is low, implying the river is generally too shallow/rocky for motorboats.
NPS's river-trips page specifically describes the Hot Springs/San Vicente Canyon stretch (which includes this location) as floatable, calling it 'a relaxing day or overnight float... for all skill levels.' NPS recommends checking current water levels before departing, since flow varies seasonally.
Rentals nearby
Self-guided canoe rentals plus guided canoe/raft day and multi-day trips and shuttle services through Santa Elena, Boquillas, Temple, and Hot Springs canyons on the Rio Grande
Prices: $50/day canoe rental (includes canoe, paddles, one life jacket per person plus a spare, and a spare paddle); additional gear +$7/day (or $10/trip for overnight items like sleeping bags/pads); deposit or credit card required
FM 170 West, just past the Highway 118 junction, about 3 mi from Big Bend National Park's west entrance (Study Butte/Terlingua area), roughly a 1.5-2 hour drive from Rio Grande Village/Hot Springs on the park's east side · 9 AM-4 PM year-round, with extended hours in peak season
Guided canoe, kayak, and raft trips on the Rio Grande, including a Hot Springs Canyon day float and multi-day Boquillas Canyon trips, plus hiking/mountain biking guide services
Prices: $150/person (4-person minimum) for the ~5-mile Hot Springs Canyon day float; general Rio Grande day trips $150/person (2-person min), $120/person ages 12 and under; $900/person ($850 for ages 12 and under) for the 4-day/3-night Boquillas Canyon trip including meals, shuttles, boats, gear, and guides; 10% discount for groups of 6+
Based in Redford, TX; contact Charles Angell (432-384-2008 office / 305-336-2787 cell), trips require advance arrangement/shuttle to the put-in near Rio Grande Village
Backstory
J.O. Langford began developing the springs in 1909, building an adobe house, a stone bathhouse, and brushwood bathing shelters; the bathhouse and a store/motor court with seven cabins were rebuilt in 1927. Only the foundation of Langford's bathhouse remains today, forming the walls of the current soaking pool. The area is preserved as the Hot Springs Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Langford Hot Springs: FAQ
Does Langford Hot Springs charge a fee?
Standard Big Bend National Park entrance fee applies ($30 per private vehicle for 7 days, $15 for pedestrians/cyclists, $55 Big Bend annual pass, per NPS fee schedule).
Is Langford Hot Springs kid friendly?
NPS explicitly advises limiting children's exposure time in the 105°F spring water because prolonged soaking can cause burns/skin reactions; the adjacent Rio Grande itself is not recommended for swimming due to unpredictable currents and depth, so kids should stay in the shallow soaking pool only, briefly, rather than swim in the river.
How hard is the hike to Langford Hot Springs?
A hike is required, about 0.25 mi one-way (0.5 mi round trip) to the spring itself to the water (about 15-20 minutes round trip for the spring alone; roughly 45-60 minutes if adding the full historic loop). Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Langford Hot Springs?
Reached via a roughly 2-mile, one-way gravel Hot Springs Road that turns off the main park road near Rio Grande Village and descends through a narrow wash to the trailhead; NPS prohibits motorhomes and other oversized/trailered vehicles on this road. No separate parking fee exists beyond the standard Big Bend National Park entrance fee ($30/vehicle for 7 days per prior research); exact lot size/surface not documented in sources found.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Langford Hot Springs?
NPS's river-trips page specifically describes the Hot Springs/San Vicente Canyon stretch (which includes this location) as floatable, calling it 'a relaxing day or overnight float... for all skill levels.' NPS recommends checking current water levels before departing, since flow varies seasonally.
What are the rules at Langford Hot Springs?
NPS prohibits alcoholic beverages and glass containers at the springs, bans overnight camping in the area, and prohibits purchasing items from vendors across the river in Mexico; visitors are asked to pack out trash. Soaking only is advised (no soaps or oils).
What water body is Langford Hot Springs on?
Langford Hot Springs is on Rio Grande, a natural hot spring verified in USGS hydrography data.
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