The slopes of Mount Sabalan, the massive extinct volcano rising south of Meshkinshahr, are dotted with mineral hot springs that have been used for centuries. The springs at Googerdi and Qotoor Sooyee are the most accessible from the city, reached by a road that climbs through increasingly dramatic highland scenery. The water at the main spring has a strong sulfurous smell but a reportedly pleasantly warm temperature, and locals attribute therapeutic properties to the minerals.
Mount Sabalan itself, at 4,811 metres, is one of Iran's highest peaks and a serious mountaineering destination. The crater lake near the summit — frozen in winter, accessible on foot in summer — is one of the higher-altitude crater lakes in the world. The hot springs trips can easily be combined with a walk into the mountain foothills for views over the Meshkinshahr plain.