I’ve started a new habit at the hot springs, pH testing!

Here’s Molly’s Hot Spring

And, Holdover Hot Springs

Vulcan’s Pool Cave-In

The Rundown

The sole pool at Molly’s has been reconstructed, complete with valves for hot and hotter (no cold!!!). The pool at Vulcan is indeed gone, but great potential remains. And, Holdover is barley surviving spring runoff in addition to heavy road construction access restrictions.

Area forest service roads that provide access to all 3 hot springs are currently under construction. Plus, the Warm Lake Highway (FSR 22) is experiencing a surge in motorcycle traffic due to the opening of a biker bar on Warm Lake.

Read the full trip reports:

• Molly’s Hot Spring
• Vulcan Hot Springs
• Holdover Hot Springs

Greetings fellow hot potters (sorry, hadn’t used that nick in bit – gotta mix it up)

If you are gearing up to head out into the backcountry please pay attention to the following road and area closures, as they could effect access to your hot springs destination.

Area: NE of Cascade: Warm Lake / Yellow Pine / Krassel District

Closure: Forest Service Road 474 North from August 4th through November 1st (NR)

Hot Springs: Sugah, Penny, Teapot, Buckhorn, Lodgpole, Darling’s Cabin

Closure: Stibnite Road in August, Exact Date TBA (NR)

Hot Springs: Kwis Kwis and access to the FCRNRW

Closure: Stolle Meadows (NR)

Hot Springs: None, but near Vulcan

Area: Lowman / Stanley

Closure: Fir Creek Campground until August 30th (NR)

Hot Springs: Bear Valley

Closure: Bull Trout Lake until August 30th (NR)

Hot Springs: Sitting Bull

Despite a redesign looming in the horizon for IdahoHotSprings.com, I took some time and did some spring cleaning. I removed a bunch of slow code, ads, and non-relevant pages. I did everything I could short of a complete redesign, which is coming, did I say that already?

Last weekend I was up camping and hiking around the Warm Lake and Krassel areas. Runoff was picking up, but not quite enough to bury the pools at Trail Creek and Sugah. However, it was enough to limit access to the hot shower at Buckhorn and bury Penny and Teapot. Forest Road 474S road into Molly’s, Molly’s Tubbs and Vulcan was still snow-covered.

Forest Road 474N is in the worst shape I’ve ever witnessed. After the wildfires and before winter, crews had to quickly replace a series of over 20 large, metal culverts along the road, and unfortunately didn’t have time to repave the road after installing the new culverts. That’s exactly where all the rough spots are, some are tire killers! Go slow, it’s only the first 20 miles.

On the way up to Cascade, passing through Banks revealed tons of people. The pass between Cascade and Warm Lake had at most 7feet of snow on the roadside, but the road itself was dry pavement. However, snow drifts, at times, covered an entire lane throughout many blind corners. I experienced a few scares with speedy oncoming drivers not paying attention on the way in and out.

All things considered; trash was low, the nights were cold, but the campfire, warm spring days and hot springs were stellar.

In 1980/1981 Mile-16 Hot Springs in Idaho was located and cultivated by Al Borup, the late 70s and early 80s fire crew Chief of the Krassel work station. Al is currently working in Boise for the National Interagency Fire Center, continuing to fight the good fight no doubt.

The large rock in the north end of the pool took him and two others an entire day to move, which is still an integral part of the original pool that exists today. Thank you Al, this hot springs is a special place to many. Al has told me that the name Fire Crew was because of how fast people caught wind of the new soak. What he doesn’t realize is that the Fire Crew nickname is because of him.

Note: the access road to Mile-16 is currently closed, click for more info.

View the complete listing for Mile-16 Hot Springs in Idaho on IdahoHotSprings.com

Forest Service Roads 474 North and 474 South in the Warm Lake area northeast of Cascade Idaho are both closed due to road construction, more than likely, until just before snow falls.

The closures effect access to the following hot springs:

474 South

Vulcan Hot Springs, Molly’s Tubbs, Molly’s Hot Spring and All of the other Molly’s.

474 North

Penny Hot Spring, Sugah Hot Springs, Teapot Hot Springs, Buckhorn Hot Springs, Darling’s Cabin Hot Spring and Lodgepole Hot Springs.

Whew!

If you have a cheap travel insurance, all you can do while looking for a last minute travel is a cheap travel deal. You surely cannot get orlando hotel in those rates. Only cruises fit that bill aptly.

(not the actual sign.. heh)

Forest Service Road 474/674 North, also known as the South Fork Salmon River Road; which grants access to Yellow Pine by way of the Warm Lake Highway will be closed from July 30th until October 15th 2007 because of road construction. This will temporarily effect access to the following hot springs:

1. Buckhorn Hot Springs
2. Teapot Hot Spring
3. Lodge Pole Hot Spring
4. Darline’s Cabin Hot Springs
5. Mile-16 (Sugah) Hot Springs
6. John Wayne Hot Springs
7. Dollar Creek Hot Springs
8. Penny Hot Springs

To recap, the South Fork Salmon River Road, northeast of Cascade, will be closed from July 30th, 2007 until October 15th, 2007 due to road construction. This road is located in both the Boise and Payette National Forests.

03.24.07 Trip Report

What a weird and wonderful place Idaho is. Where else can you soak in a hot springs, get some sun and play in the snow all on the same day? The air temperature was about 65 and the water around 104. This was one of those rare times where there’s still mountain snow on the ground, the roads are clear and sun is warm. This is the small window before spring runoff; which last year buried Mile-16 for one of the first times that I’m aware of.

The soak was stellar, and I found NO trash and a freshly filled pool to boot. Did I say there was no trash! Awesome! M16 has some great caretakers. However, I found tons of angler trash along the South Fork and a couple creeks nearby. Shame on you fishermen – I’ve found so much angler trash over the years. Get it together and show the land you take from basic respect. Sheesh.

Please note, the South Fork Salmon River Road (FSR 474/674 North) will be closed the majority of THIS SUMMER due to road construction. So, from June through mid-October 2007 all of the hot springs in this area will get a break.
Rating A+

View the Complete Listing for Mile-16 Hot Springs in Idaho

General Description
An almost always perfect temperature soak located in the fringe of the Boise National Forest northeast of Cascade, Idaho. The sole rock mortared pool features a rock, sand and gravel bottom and a light coating of algae. This scenic soak is situated right next to the beautiful north fork of the Salmon River.

Seasonal Notes
Accessible all year – CAUTION – please note that the Warm Lake highway and FSR 474 N travel during winter will require a 4×4 and chains to get though safely. The roads are narrow, slick and almost always snow covered.

Camping Notes
There is plenty of Boise National Forest camping nearby: official and primitive – no camping at the springs.

02.04.07 Trip Report

The drive in? No problem. The drive out… YIKES! It was cold on the way in and warm on the way out; meaning the 3-4 inch thick ice sheets on the road got slick and slushy once the air temperature warmed up. Was it worth it? You bet. But, next time I think I’ll wait until at least March before making a run at this soak. The drive out was just too scary. Add single track roads with oncoming traffic to the above equation and I think you’ll understand my line of thinking.

The soak was stellar, and was actually the hottest I’ve ever experienced, clocking in consistently at 106 and 107. Garbage was moderate and usage seemed low.
Rating A