The number one post of 2011 was … Holiday Hot Springing in Idaho, posted in November 2011.

Number two goes to … Loftus Hot Springs Near Boise, Idaho is No More, posted in May 2011.

Number three … Dippin’ @ Skinny, posted in October 2011.

So, you’ve finally got some extra time and hot springs have been on your mind. Good news ole chap, there are plenty of options for the intrepid soak-seeker!

Old man winter may be hindering access to many of Idaho’s geothermal delights, but not all of them.

The quintessential hot springs listed below are usually accessible during Idaho’s winter months. Just to be safe, make sure to check road conditions before rolling out.

Boise, Idaho Area Winter Hot Springs

Fairly accessible, family friendly, privately owned, with facilities of some sort and with a usage fee:

• Gold Fork Hot Springs - view all posts
• Miracle Hot Springs - view all posts (has private pool options)
• Roy Stone Hot Springs - view all posts

Accessible via short hike (snowshoes may be needed), family friendly, located on public land, no facilities, no fees:

• Bonneville Hot Springs - view all posts (snowshoes advised)
• Pine Flats Hot Springs - view all posts
• Kirkham Hot Springs - view all posts
• Hot Springs Campground - view all posts

There are, of course, many other public and commercial hot springs. However, the springs listed above are the most (relatively) accessible from the Boise area during the winter months.

First time hot springing in Idaho? Check out the guides, pick up all trash and don’t bring glass – and enjoy!

Contributor, fellow soak-seeker, writer and backcountry traveler Daniel Claar has graciously contributed “Hot Spring Break – Road Trippin’ Idaho Style” to IdahoHotSprings.com. Daniel was recently the winner of Idaho Magazine’s Publisher’s Choice Award for 2010.

While friends and family set sail for some sunny beach on their annual spring break, my wife and I drive towards one of the coldest inhabited places in the continental United States. The frigid mountain town of Stanley, Idaho has a population of roughly 50 hardy souls and brutal six month winters are the main reason. Even in these last days of March, Jamie and I expect nightly temperatures to plummet below zero, and we’ll be lucky if daytime highs break the freezing mark. We will also be car camping, an endeavor begging questions from our peers. Are we crazy? Are we not sick of winter’s gray cloak? Are we not dying to step into shorts and feel warm again? The answer is yes, yes, and most certainly, yes. In fact, we have swimsuits packed, and, in the American spring break tradition, predict we’ll see public nudity along the way.

Read the rest of the article on IdahoHotSprings.com

Related: “Naked, Wet, and Wild in Idaho” by Daniel Claar

With winter in full-swing I thought it would be a good time to start a series that focus-on hot springs that are viable winter destinations from the city of Boise, Idaho.

Boise’s Best Winter Hot Springs

1 Hour from Boise

Skinnydipper AKA Mile Marker 4 Hot Springs near Garden Valley

Skinnydipper is about a 45minute to 1 hour drive from Boise, followed by a 0.5 mile hike up steep switchbacks to the actual hot springs. Visiting should be avoided during inclement weather. Roads and the trail can become treacherous quickly. It’s popular, so go on the weekdays or in the morning or both if you can. Luckily, there’s usually 2 or 3 pools in good working order. Thus, decent space to accommodate moderate sized groups of people. Lock-up your vehicle and hide your valuables, as theft has been on the rise in the parking area.

View all Skinnydipper posts
View Skinnydipper on IdahoHotSprings.com

Directions

• From Boise, take Highway 55 north to Banks, Idaho (45 minutes)
• Head east from Banks on the Banks-Lowman Highway to the mile marker 4 sign and trail head parking area (15 minutes)
• Cross the road and find the well-used and visible trail that heads north, up the side of the mountain
• Follow the switchbacks all the way up before dropping down to the pools (.5 mile hike/steep elevation)
• Be careful! This hike can be treacherous during inclement weather conditions

Check Idaho Road Conditions and Reports

Fees
None. Skinnydipper is a public hot springs located on BLM land.

Overnight Options
Nearby campgrounds on highway 55, north of Crouch and east of Garden Valley plus a couple hotels in Garden Valley.

Special Considerations
Skinnydipper is a recent find, and has only been around since the mid to late 90s – much unlike the rest of Idaho’s natural hot springs. It is also one of Idaho’s most abused hot springs and survives primarily due to the efforts of volunteer groups like ‘The Keepers’, ‘Boise River Volunteers’ and a few locals. Please remember to not bring any glass (not fun to step on in the pool) and pick up all trash you come across.

Upcoming Boise’s Best Winter Hot Springs Series Posts:

Gold Fork Hot Springs near Donnelly and Cascade

Miracle Hot Springs near Hagerman

Kirkham Hot Springs near Lowman

Bonneville Hot Springs near Lowman

Juntura Hot Springs near Juntura, Oregon

Hot Springs Water Quality in Idaho

The question of how ‘safe’ is it to soak in a hot springs in Idaho is a common one. The following techniques will help you discern if that backcountry hot springs you tracked down is relatively safe to qualify.

1. pH strip testing
2. water flow-through and pool size considerations
3. red spider mite infestations
4. wildlife concerns

Learn how to judge if it’s safe to soak – continue reading the complete article on IdahoHotSprings.com…

Daniel Claar is true hot springs brethren. He’s also a published author – and has graciously offered to contribute his work titled “Naked, Wet, and Wild in Idaho” to Idahohotsprings.com.

Daniel’s article features a bevy of tips, tricks and tactics all aimed at helping ease oneself into Idaho’s pristine public hot springs. Learn how to deal with ‘jackholes’, take care of a hot spring pool and if it’s ok to soak au naturel.

Read “Naked, Wet, and Wild in Idaho”

The below map features every commercial hot springs in Idaho that I have information on. Please leave a comment if you know of another that should be on the map.

View Larger Map

I always come back from wilderness pack trips different. I’m reminded of the insane amount of waste we produce, stuff we have, ridiculous inhibitions we hold on to. I truly believe that there are two core problems we face in life as a society; education and over population. And, everything boils down to education. Peace. Health. Pollution. The Environment. Almost every challenge, threat and problem we face can be traced back to either of the two.

The more time I spend in nature, with only my backpack to provide the two primary staples of food and shelter, the more attune I become with myself and the world. If only I could backpack more, as to keep rejuvenated mentalities and perspectives fresh.

Wilderness is inspiring. My best ideas have come from the result of a wilderness adventure. One week away from all of the noise, advertising, routines and hustle and bustle of everyday life is liberating in so many ways.

The Story of Stuff, a 20 minute video by Free Range Studios, encapsulates much of what I’ve come to learn since I started backpacking in 1999 – and then some. It’s an eye-opening look at the world we are living in. Check it out:

Visit the official website

Download the full version (50MB) [have a viewing party]:

Serious injury and even death can and have occurred at hot springs. The most common dangers/warnings are listed below:

• Alcohol consumption and dehydration in hot springs – drinking and soaking gets you wasted fast because hot springs dehydrate the body. Many have drown or fallen off a ledge while hiking due to mixing alcohol and hot springs together.

• Soaking in the sun without replenishment – sun and hot springs can sap the juice right out of your body quickly; keep water, electrolyte drinks, sunscreen and sun protection handy.

• Avoid visiting popular hot springs at the most popular times – I’ve heard horror story after horror story about how a newbie visited a popular hot springs on a Saturday afternoon and had a terrible time. Same goes for popular hot springs on weekend evenings. Fights, vehicle break-ins, vandalism and overcrowded pools are not just something people in Oregon and Washington have to worry about. Unfortunately, it happens all too often in Idaho too.

• Acanthamoeba – an amoeba that is known to inhabit some hot springs which can enter the brain through nasal passages and cause meningitis. This is another reason to keep your head above water while soaking. Usually, hot springs with acanthamoeba are signed.

• Hot Springs & Red Spider Mites

• Snakes – this is generally not a concern, but a few hot springs feature nearby thermal vents that provide year-round habitat for snakes. If you leave them alone – they’ll leave you alone.

• Hunters – hunters like hot springs so much that they often (and illegally mind you) build tree-perches so that they can shoot deer and elk that graze on hot springs algae. Their illegal kills and hasty clean-ups can lead to animal parasites entering the water complex and any people that soak in it along with attracting scavengers. While I’ve encountered respectable hunters in Idaho, the bulk majority have discouraged me greatly. I’ve seen drunk hunters shooting out their truck window while barley being able to drive, coke-head hunting parties and idiot hunters so paranoid of the woods and bears that they randomly shoot off their guns throughout the night.

• Adult Situations – that’s right, unfortunately. For some reason, people think that popular hot springs are a good place to get their freak-on. Not such a great idea. And really, how would it feel to get busted by little Johnny or Suzy with their family in tow, or a dozen drunk hunters? Think about it.

• Spring Runoff – even small creeks and rivers experience large undertows during spring runoff. Don’t try to cross anything fast moving until spring runoff is over, which is usually around late June to early July depending on elevation. See Research Seasonal Barriers for more information.

• Pets – soaking with Fido can be an enjoyable experience, but the majority of hot springs are NOT dog safe for a variety of reasons.

Related Links:

Hot Springs Etiquette from the Scenic Hot Springs Blog
Guide to Backcountry Hot Springs
Guide to Roadside Hot Springs