The 10 best mineral springs to taste in Saratoga Springs

The springs are why Saratoga Springs exists, and every public tap is free. The waters differ more than most visitors expect: some are mild and fresh, some fizzy, some salty enough to make you wince.

This list runs geographically, starting downtown and ending in Saratoga Spa State Park, so you can build a loop. Bring a cup and start with small sips.

How we chose

We chose springs that are publicly accessible and described by the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center or Discover Saratoga, and we spread the list across downtown and the state park so you can build a walking loop. The order is geographic, not a ranking.

Hours and dates below come from each business, event organizer or official source and change without notice. Call ahead if you are making a special trip.

Congress Spring

Congress Spring is the spring that started the city. It was discovered in 1792, and the village that became Saratoga Springs grew up around it. Its water was bottled and shipped around the world and was once the most famous of all the Saratoga waters. Today it flows under a covered pavilion in Congress Park. It is one of the milder downtown springs, which makes it a good first taste.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Congress Park, Broadway and Spring Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why they made the list

• The village that became the city grew up around this spring.
• It is one of the milder downtown waters, so it is a good first taste.
• It flows under a covered pavilion in the park.

See the full directory listing

Columbian Spring

Columbian Spring sits in Congress Park a short walk from Congress Spring, so the two are easy to taste side by side. It was once nicknamed the headache spring, and older claims said its iron-rich water strengthened the stomach and the blood. That iron gives it a noticeable metallic finish. Take a small first sip, then compare it with Congress Spring to see how different two neighboring waters can be.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why they made the list

• Its iron content gives a noticeable metallic finish.
• It is a few steps from Congress Spring.
• Older claims said it strengthened the stomach and blood.

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Deer Park Spring

Deer Park Spring is a small cast-iron fountain dating to around 1880, tucked along the paths of Congress Park. It draws from a vein of the Congress Spring, which is why locals sometimes call it the Deer Spring. It is easy to walk past without noticing, so finding it is part of the fun. Tasting it after Congress Spring shows how water from one source can change between two taps.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why they made the list

• The fountain dates to about 1880.
• It shows how water from one source can taste different at two taps.
• It is easy to miss, which makes finding it part of the fun.

See the full directory listing

Hathorn Spring No. 1

Hathorn Spring No. 1 is the city’s most famous acquired taste. The water is strongly salty and heavy with minerals, and it was once prescribed for digestion. It flows under an early 1900s pavilion at the northeast corner of Putnam and Spring streets, a two-minute walk from Congress Park. Our read: it belongs on any first tasting loop, even if you only take one small sip.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Putnam and Spring streets, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why they made the list

• It is widely described as the strongest-tasting water downtown.
• It was once prescribed for digestion.
• It is a two-minute walk from Congress Park.

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High Rock Spring

High Rock Spring emerges from a mound of rock built up by centuries of mineral deposits at High Rock Park. According to local history, the Mohawk brought an ailing Sir William Johnson here in the 1700s, and his recovery helped spread word of the springs. It sits across Maple Avenue from the Olde Bryan Inn. On summer Saturdays the farmers market sets up next door, which makes a good pairing.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: High Rock Park, 112 High Rock Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why they made the list

• Johnson’s recovery helped spread word of Saratoga’s springs.
• The rock formation was built by centuries of mineral deposits.
• The farmers market meets next door on summer Saturdays.

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Peerless and Governor springs

Peerless and Governor springs sit side by side on High Rock Avenue, across from High Rock Spring. Peerless is a moderate, palatable saline water, one of the easier salty springs to drink, and Governor is its neighbor a few steps away. Tasting them back to back shows how much variation fits into a single block. The High Rock Avenue lots make this the most convenient downtown stop for drivers.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: High Rock Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why they made the list

• Tasting them back to back shows how much variation fits in one block.
• The High Rock Avenue lots make this the easiest downtown stop by car.
• Peerless is one of the easier saline waters to drink.

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The Island Spouter

The Island Spouter, known locally as the Geyser, sprays mineral water up from an island of hardened, multicolored deposits near Geyser Creek in Saratoga Spa State Park. It is the most photographed spring in the park and a sure hit with children. It is a spouter rather than a tap, so enjoy the show and taste the springs nearby. Parking on Geyser Loop Road is a short walk away.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Geyser Loop Road, Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why they made the list

• It is the most photographed spring in the park.
• Children love it.
• Tasting springs are a short walk away.

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Orenda Spring

Orenda Spring spills over a large, rust-orange mound of tufa built from its own iron-rich overflow, a short walk from the Island Spouter. The mound is one of the most striking natural sights in the city, especially after rain. The roughly 2.9-mile Geyser Trail passes Orenda along with several other springs, so it is easy to build a loop around it. Bring sturdy shoes, since the path can be wet.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Geyser Trail, Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why they made the list

• The tufa mound is one of the most striking natural features in the city.
• It is rich in iron.
• The 2.9-mile Geyser Trail passes it along with other springs.

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Hayes Well Spring

Hayes Well Spring sits right by the Island Spouter parking area, which makes it an easy first stop in the park. Its water is salty, and Discover Saratoga notes that some people breathe the gas venting from it to clear their sinuses. At the height of the spa era, people lined up each morning for a glass or two. It is a good spring for visitors who cannot manage a long walk.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Near the Island Spouter parking area, Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why they made the list

• It is right by the parking area, so it is an easy first park stop.
• In the spa era, people lined up each morning for a glass.
• The gas vent is a quirk no other spring shares.

See the full directory listing

State Seal Spring

State Seal is the mildest and freshest-tasting spring on this list, and it is where you will most often see locals filling water jugs. It flows along the Springs Trail in Saratoga Spa State Park. If you only like one Saratoga water, it will probably be this one. Bring a bottle to take some home, and look for Polaris and Tallulah springs nearby for two more mild options.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Springs Trail, Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why they made the list

• It is the mildest and most drinkable spring on this list.
• Locals use it for everyday drinking water.
• Polaris and Tallulah springs nearby are two more mild options.

See the full directory listing

Frequently asked questions

Can you drink the water in Saratoga Springs?

Yes. The public springs downtown and in Saratoga Spa State Park are free to drink from. Tastes range from mild to very salty, so start small.

Which Saratoga spring tastes best?

State Seal in Saratoga Spa State Park is the mildest and the one locals fill jugs with. Hathorn No. 1 downtown is the strongest.

Is the spring water safe?

The waters contain real minerals, including sodium. Anyone watching salt intake should keep tastes small, and springs are occasionally shut off for maintenance.

See a place we missed or a detail that has changed? Send us a correction.