Many thanks to my fellow soak-seekers for sending in the following updates!

1. The super-soaker at Bonneville Hot Springs near Lowman, Idaho is back in action after being repaired by multiple volunteer groups.
2. The surrounding landscape at Willow Creek Hot Springs near Pine, Idaho was severely damaged by wildfire in 2008; I recently received word that no soaking pools have resurfaced, and that not much potential remains.
3. Deadwood Hot Springs has been cleaned and tinkered with a few times. Despite the attempted improvements, a thorough cleaning and adjustment of the source hoses will most likely be required pre-soak. Spend the night or make sure you have ample time if you make the hike out.
4. Multiple reports of Jackhole sightings have surfaced in regard to Skinnydipper AKA Mile Marker 4 Hot Springs near Banks, Idaho.  Reports included alleged sightings of public urination/defecation in the parking area and next to the pools.
   Side note: Skinny was officially closed at night for 2 years ending in 2009. However, Jackholes either defaced or removed signs and the closure was never really enforced. Very sad because the surrounding area has been abused so much that it was classified as ‘critically endangered’ years ago. This subsequently resulted in management/jurisdiction of MM4 changing hands from the Forest Service to the BLM.
5. This season brought about a sizable fee-hike to $25/night for campgrounds in the Atlanta, Idaho area near Atlanta, Power Plant and Chattanooga Hot Springs.
6. A little reworking has taken place at Secesh Hot Springs, northeast of McCall, Idaho. Smaller pools have been disassembled in favor of a larger primary pool. Initial qualifications have been favorable.

Please Remember

Pack it In Pack it Out – No Trash or Glass at the Hot Springs!

Travel Tools

• Check road reports/conditions
• Check the weather forecast
• Check listing of hot springs with Red Spider Mites (RSMs)
• Learn about how to test if a hot springs is safe to soak
• Submit access and/or condition updates

Pictures from a recent visit to Kirkham Hot Springs in Idaho…

View Kirkham on IHS

Last Saturday, December 20th, a group of 4 men and 2 women partied it up at Pine Flats Hot Springs in the Boise National Forest, which is located about 1.5 hours north of Boise, Idaho. The source and pools are only about a 0.35 mile hike from the official National Forest campground of the same name.

Pine Flats is a popular summer campground destination and is frequented occasionally during the winter months by locals. The hot springs pools are located in a variety of locations near and around the source, and are typically shallow and too cool for wintertime soaking. Despite being easy to reach, pools located above the river require a steep hike up jagged, loose rocks. These are normally the hottest pools, while the riverside soaks are usually much cooler.

From the way the story reads; the group got tanked, didn’t protect their clothes from the elements while soaking and then got disorientated on the hike back. Sadly, I’ve heard renditions of this same story all too frequently in the past, at least a few times each winter. This group was very fortunate that they all made it out alive.

Just a couple weeks ago I almost got into serious trouble at the very same hot springs. I wasn’t drinking, but still somehow managed to fall into the hot springs pool with all of my clothes on. In regard to the news article; there’s pretty much only one way in and out of Pine Flats… unless they were able to scale an ice-covered cliff or ford the near-frozen Payette River. My guess is that they missed the path back up to the parking area on the return hike and continued east along the river in Lowman’s direction. This is where the river gradually shifts back toward the Banks-Lowman highway. Not so in the other direction.

Long story short; 4 of the group ended up on the Banks-Lowman highway without much clothing on when spotted by a snowplow driver, who in-turn called in the Idaho State Patrol. ISP arrived, tracked down the other two, and brought them back into Boise.

Here’s a map of Pine Flats, you can see Lowman to the east. Note where the river moves toward the highway…

I’m really glad that everyone made it out ok. When events like these go bad, hot springs get closed down. Something the story neglects to mention, is that the hot springs pools at Pine Flats are currently NOT warm enough for a soak. I would imagine that they began the hypothermia-like chilling process as soon as they climbed into the pool. I can’t stress it enough, reliable (waterproof) water thermometers are a very important tool that should be in every hot springer’s arsenal. Optimal soaking conditions exist at 100 to 110 degrees, 102-106 is a great target range. Also, a good rule of thumb when in a hot spring pool: 1 beer = 3.

Read the guide to backcountry hot springs; contains gear list, safety info., etiquette and more…

KTVB actually used a few pictures I’ve taken of Pine Flats in the story video…

More: view pictures, video clips and past trip reports of Pine Flats Hot Springs

As always, check road reports, weather conditions and be prepared when attempting to visit backcountry hot springs during inclement weather seasons.

Be safe and have fun! Happy Holidays!

[where: Lowman, ID]

Hot Springs Name: Pine Flats Hot Springs
Additional Info: View complete listing on IHS
Near: Lowman, Idaho
Type: Public
NF: Boise National Forest

Trip Report

It had been a couple months. I was antsy to get out. So, I took off Friday evening for Pine Flats. There’s nothing quite like a hot soak under the stars in Idaho’s backcountry during winter. The gate into the campground of the same name was open, and I was able to drive down to the trailhead parking area with ease, not much snow/ice here… yet.

After the brief hike to the ’round the bend’ pool I began my routine. First, I started by dropping my non-waterproof digital thermometer into the pool. Then, I finished off by falling into the pool with all of my clothes on, coat, shoes and all. Not so smooth considering the air temperature was below 20 and I still had to hike back out.

I then proceeded to make another smooth move. I stripped down and immediately climbed into the pool… not fully knowing the temperature. After a few minutes of shivering I decided that it was around 96. Not good. At least my coat was somewhat dry, but my shoes and pants were drenched. Needless to say, I enjoyed my truck’s heater after the return speed-hike. All things considered, I ventured out because I needed a break from the norm. It turned out to be a pretty fun trip regardless. My soaking companion thought it was a riot. For some reason I neglected to see the humor in it until a few hours later.

A huge plus to the whole debacle was that I found Pine Flats to be trash-free for the first time in years.

[where: Lowman, ID]

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

Revisiting one of the first hot springs ever soaked. Features a short hike to secluded pools along the Payette River in the Boise National Forest.

View additional pictures, video clips and trip reports for Pine Flats Hot Springs in Idaho

[where: Lowman, ID]

Well, I’m back. Fresh from a week of backpacking to remote hot springs in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. I think I’m still feeling a little culture shock.

It was a different kind of drive back home from the trailhead. The sky was stained dark orange from all of the wildfire smoke. Fire planes and helicopters filled the air with unnatural noise. I passed what seemed like acres of land, dotted by hundreds of multicolored firefighter tents.

The most stunning was when driving by Bonneville Hot Springs. It was on fire, as well as the area around it. Human started, of course. Evacuated campers with concerned faces lined part of the road near the campground entrance while first responders battled the blaze. Chunks of burning earth tumbled to the ground as fire personnel waved me through. I caught glimpse of a small row of firefighters that were collapsed back to back on the side of the road, with faces flushed red from exhaust and blackened by soot.

North of Lowman, near the Sawtooth Lodge and Grandjean trailhead into the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) and nestled on the banks of the South Fork of the Payette River lies Sacajawea Hot Springs.

Sacajawea Hot Springs features a seasonal batch of rock walled pools with river rock, sand and gravel bottoms. The good news is that over the years Sacajawea has accumulated a variety of user-built, rock-walled pools. The bad news is that your soak depends on the cold river water to keep the pool temps in the usable range. Which means you better keep stirring the pool in hopes of dispersing the frequent blasts of hot and cold. That is, if you can find a pool level enough with the river.

With that said, there may or may not be a good soak waiting for you, depending on the river level, but at least the view is beautiful. Sacajawea Hot Springs is well known, easy to get to (during the warm months) and is located near the Sawtooth Lodge, Grandjean Campground and trailhead. Expect to see and interact with people.

View the complete listing for Sacajawea Hot Springs in Idaho

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Bonneville Hot Springs, a .25 mile hike and accessible from the official campground of the same name is located just off highway 21 north of Lowman. Bonneville features user built rock pools with sand/silt bottoms and a private soak shack that houses a bathtub.

While the hot springs are accessible all year, the campground closes during winter – access via snowshoes or skies. This increases the length of the hike from .25 miles to approximately 1 mile. The campground usually opens mid to late April, and on occasion early May (depending on snow levels).

Bonneville is an actual National Forest Campground, the hot springs are a short hike north of the camping area. Other NF camping sites/areas are also available nearby.

01.15.07 Trip Report

I had to break the chain; the last 2 times I’ve been here were both in April. No more. January proved to be the perfect time visit Bonneville Hot Springs. We could have snow shoed or cross country skied into the hot springs, but boots were our selected mode of transportation. Luckily there’s almost always a well-packed trail. In the past, the entrance to the campground was plowed just enough for a couple vehicles to park. This time the only place to park was at the Warm Springs Trailhead parking area shortly before the Bonneville campground entrance, which is also an alternative route to the hot springs.