Summer 2011 Molly’s Hot Spring Trip Reports

Had to make some hose adjustments, but after about an hour of work and waiting I was able to get the temperature and flow just right for a soak. I made the hike up to the sources and was able to survey the situation from above. There wasn’t much trash to pick up and didn’t have any visitors either. I did notice that the hoses had been adjusted between the times I soaked; must have just missed someone else.

The chiggers nibbled at first, but eventually ate me alive!! Chiggers are either Red Spider Mites on steroids, or are some mutant variant that are no fun to deal with. I really liked my soak at Molly’s after hiking up to Tule Lake and back, but the chiggers will definitely get me to think twice next time I’m in the area.

Rating: C+

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Hiking and Hot Springs in the Boise National Forest from HSG on Vimeo.

An early spring hiking trip to and near hot springs in the Boise National Forest. Spring runoff is a little late this season, submerging hot springs, trails and making river fords impossible. A careful route had to be selected, regardless, awesome natural hot springs pools were located and properly qualified.

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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

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This video is from a recent trip to the Boise National Forest, northeast of Cascade, Idaho.

The following trip report is from a mid-July Boise and Payette National Forest venture, that took place northeast of Cascade, Idaho in the Krassel Ranger District.

Trail Creek = ultra slammed! A brief stop revealed less trash in the pullout than my last visit. On down the road.

Forest Service Road (FSR) 474 South was under heavy construction. ALL official and primitive camping areas are still off-limits due to area restoration efforts. Why the National Forest doesn’t just close the road to recreation traffic, or AT LEAST post 474 S as being under construction (massive mud/rocks) and that no camping is allowed, is beyond me. You would think they could work more efficiently with less traffic. Plus, aside from visiting (not camping) Vulcan (only roadside parking), Molly’s and Molly’s Tubs all other areas are off-limits.

The tubs at Molly’s Tubs are really, truly … gone. And, (big surprise) so is the trash. I recently received a trip report about the formation of two natural pools, however.

In regard to Molly’s Hot Spring… red spider mite alert! More and more people have been letting me know about this, and a recent email entailing of a spider mite infestation got me thinking it was time to ring the alarm. Why are so many of Idaho’s hot springs afflicted by the mites? Here’s the complete list of hot springs that have reported red spider mite activity… if you have more to add – please comment!

FSR 474 North was under pending construction. Nothing was going on, but the signs stated that construction would begin soon and would completely shut down the south fork road for about a month. They are going to replace all of the main culverts that run underneath the road.

Also worth noting, 474 N currently does not grant access to Yellow Pine and the Mule Hill trailhead to hot soaks in the Frank Church Wilderness (Kwis Kwis and the Middle Fork hot springs). Bridge out. To reach the afore mentioned destinations, take the Stanley-Landmark Highway instead. Drive past the 474 N turnoff towards Warm Lake and look for it near the lake heading north. There are plenty of signs to help you along.

This brings me to the title of this post. After turning onto FSR 474 North (AKA the South Fork Road) I began to notice a trend that made me feel very uneasy. Trash. Everywhere. Yep. Animals got into it.

I’ve been coming up here for almost a decade and have never seen it this trashed. Not even close. Not even after (or during) a fourth of July weekend. Campsites, both primitive and official – trashed. Garbage on the roads, trails and riverside. Fish entrails everywhere.

Apparently, this week a particular tribe is granted access to this area for fishing rights and free camping. Sadly, this type of behavior was something I’m accustomed to from other groups. I know so few fishermen that respect the land these days. Gotta give the Krassel crew a pat on the back for the cleanup. I picked up a ton of trash myself… it’s a compulsive habit nowadays. It barley made a dent though.

This was also the first time I have witnessed pimped-out cars bumpin gangsta rap in this area. Lovely to say the least. It was especially fun having a car pull into my campsite late at night just to be rudely asked “where are the hot springs?”. Oh joy. You can guess what I did. Played dumb.

Keep in mind, great soaks under the stars were had along with excellent mild-weathered hiking during the day. Wildlife was abound everywhere. Including the bugs. Even with bug juice on they ate me alive. Mosquito bites on my hands and face, a big (itchy) spider bite on the inside of my palm (still visible) and a mutant bug bite on my belly that left a scar! After a trip like this I’ve decide to look into garlic tablets.

“Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” –John Muir

Trip Reports for Rocky Canyon and Molly’s Tubs Hot Springs in Idaho

09.16.08 Rocky Canyon Hot Springs

A welcome improvement to report at Rocky Canyon Hot Springs; the hot water channel and pool mortaring has been revamped; hot water from the source now travels down an encased tunnel, which helps trap the necessary heat required to keep the pools sizzlin hot. All of the pools feature elevated temperatures. Lately, it’s been the opposite, and soaking near the top was a must. Now, it’s time to enjoy the lower pools. That creek ford though, it was cold. At least the water is low this time of year, and the pools are waiting to warm your numb feet one way in. On Sunday, this place was slammed, uber-slammed! Come Monday, not a soul.
Rating: A+

09.15.08 Molly’s Tubs Hot Springs

Not much new to report here… tubs and temps are in good soaking condition. Check out the video for more. Note: all primitive and official campground are currently closed for restoration purposes. Camping anywhere in the vicinity will be difficult at best.
Rating: B+

A quick look at Molly’s Tubs Hot Springs, located in the Boise National Forest, northeast of Cascade, Idaho.

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According to the Idaho Outdoors Yahoo! User Group, the Tubs at Molly’s Tubs Hot Spring northeast of Cascade Idaho (Warm Lake Area) have been used as target practice and are all full of bullet holes.

Sadly, this is yet another example of abuse and overuse that is becoming all too common at easy access hot springs. I hope this is just a rumor, because cleaning up those tubs is going to be a nightmare. This is exactly why natural pools should be built verses hauling in crap to soak in.

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.

There are currently many fires raging in Idaho that are effecting access to hot springs.

The South Fork Complex Fire in the Payette National Forest has closed down the South Fork Salmon River road which grants access to Yellow Pine and the Mule Hill Trailhead to Kwis Kwis. This road closure will also bar access to Johnson Creek (AKA Hubcap) Warm Spring near Yellow Pine.

Note: The Warm Lake Highway is also closed, barring access to Trail Creek, Mile-16, all of the Mollys, Vulcan, Buckhorn and all of the other hot springs in the region.

View the South Fork Complex Fire Blog for updates.

The Rattlesnake Complex Fire has closed the Forest Service Road north of Crouch and Garden Valley, barring access to the following hot springs (which may be on fire):

Rocky Canyon, Fire Crew, Boiling Springs, Silver Creek Plunge, Bull Rack, Bull Creek, Pine Burl, Moondipper, Groundhog and Butterfly

The fires are really hitting the hot springs hard this season, with fires raging in almost every area with high concentrations of hot springs in Idaho.

Visit the National Interagency Fire Center for fire updates.

Expansion of the Boundary Fire has led to the closure of the trail to Bear Valley hot springs at the trailhead. Note, you can still drive down the forest road to the Blue Bunch Pack Bridge and even camp at Fir Creek campground, but all of the trails leading into the Frank from this area are closed and have been since Aug. 9th.

I tried to make a run for the Upper Loon hot springs but hit road closures at Sunbeam for the same reason and was advised that just about every FSR road was closed around the Stanley and Challis areas due to the Potato and Trail Creek Fires.

View the Boundary Complex Fire Blog for updates.

View the Potato and Trail Creek Fires Blog for updates.

The Middle Fork Complex Fire is currently threatening the Loon Creek Guard Station, Diamond D Ranch, Lost Packer Mine site and Castro Historic Site.

View the Middle Fork Complex Fire Blog for updates.

The above fire information is also viewable in the hot springs forums. If you have any fire information related to hot springs please feel empowered to post it in the forums.