11.01.09 Loftus Hot Springs Trip Report
Finally… at last! A nice long soak was enjoyed at Loftus with minimal interruption. I visited Loftus in conjunction with a number of other hot springs along the Middle Fork of the Boise River. This trip was actually dubbed as the “PIE” trip. I like pie, but not this kind. Poison Ivy Eye (PIE).
I partook in a stellar soak, making sure to stick my head (face first) into the hot waterfall that feeds the pool from above. Afterwards, everything seemed fine and dandy. Even hours later, all was well. However, the next morning it was completely swollen shut. Ironically, this was the same day KIVI wanted to chat with me on TV about the demise of the pools at Rocky Canyon Hot Springs.
After a little freak out, I finally went to a doc in the box. I thought something was stuck in it. The doc took a look, then asked if I had been in any poison ivy. Well. I did notice a few growing above the hot springs, where the hot waterfall originates from. As well as, what I thought to be at the time, small clusters of oil in the actual pool.
Apparently, the ivy is too diluted once it enters the pool. However (lucky me), not the case with the waterfall. He prescribed me a $300 tube of steroid cream and was out. My eye eventually opened back up and looked like a beast eye for a few days. KIVI let me keep my shades on by shooting outside, and I have learned to not stick my head into hot waterfalls.
Thank goodness the soak was incredible. There was a friendly Asian fellow that soaked as well, but only for about a half hour before leaving. Who, I might add, spent more time than I in the hot waterfall. Nearby, there was a semi-awkward hunter guy who had setup camp at one of the primitive sites. He would wander out of his camp, where he just stood in one place, to a knoll above the road when vehicles passed by. Then, return to his standing position. Luckily he wasn’t visible from the pool unless he was milling about. You see/meet all kinds out here folks.
I was just happy that there was practically NO TRASH, and that I got enjoy a kick*ss soak without having to pick up a bunch of trash first. Impressive, considering the terrible condition of the entire area my last visit.
Side Note: I took the Middle Fork Boise River Road off State HWY 21 near Lucky Peak on the way into the area. On the way out, I made a bad judgment call and took a series of forest roads up towards Morse Creek Summit thinking it would be a quicker way back to Boise. I’ve taken this route before, but only during the summer.
It was a NIGHTMARE. Steep, slick, rutted, wash boarded, frozen and littered with deep pot holes. I had good tires on my truck; a rear-wheel, two-wheel drive vehicle with virtually no weight in the back. It was one of those trips where I kept thinking “Crap. I’m pretty sure I didn’t tell anyone where I went.” over and over again. Obviously, I made it back, but not after thrashing my truck on the way out.
Rating: A-
Rating: A-
Hey Hot Springs Guy!
The Reason for so little trash is likely due to a little clean up I’ve organized. We call it the “Middle Fork Clean Sweep”. You can find us on facebook. We cleaned up Loftus in August of 09 with about 30 volunteers and it was disgusting. Cigarette buts hypo needles, diapers, you name it. We cleaned it again in august of this year (2010) will likely be hosting the 3rd annual clean up again in 2011. it should be noted our clean up encompasses the whole Middle fork road from the turn off to Atlanta We should get together at some point. you could add valuable insights and help get the word out!
Eric
208-703-1811
Hi Eric!
Thanks for the comment and all of your had work! It is very much appreciated. I concur, working together is key… at the very least let me know when clean-ups are going down and I’ll post them here as well as try to attend.
Thanks again for the comment and for organizing the “Middle Fork Clean Sweep” – sweet!!
HSG
Hi,
Idaho is such a great hotspring mecca isn’t it. Wanted to let you know that the Pine Flats hotsprings used to be hot. My first visit was in 1995 and they were hot. They seemed to be cooler on subsequent trips but were still hot in 1998, and in 2001 in April the only one hot enough was up top on the rocks. Went back in 2004 and none were very warm. I wonder what kind of geothermal cooling is going on and why?
Have you been to the awesome hot springs down the road just past Crouch. You have to park on the pullout on the main road and hike up the hill down the road a bit. It is well used and easy to find. Three deep soakers in a steep canyon. I don’t have my book out so I am not sure what the name of that one is but it is nice and deep and hot!
Since moving back to Midwest I can only dream of the hot springs and may have to enjoy them vicariously through your site. I spent a great deal of time exploring the easy to get to springs in Idaho for ten years, and always try to make a stop when traveling through.
Thanks. Heather
Hi Heather,
Thanks for the comment! It made my day! 🙂
I’ve been trying to figure out the same thing in regard to Pine Flats. It was hot in the late 90s and maybe even in early 2000s, but around 03-04 it lost a lot of heat. This was also around the same time that a group of people re-structured every single pool. I think that the around-the-bend pool, if made smaller, and moved closer to the waterfall, would be back in business.
I have been to the hot springs north of Crouch, quite a few times I might add. They are always a stellar soak.
Let me know the next time you are coming though, I’m sure that I could recommend a great soak!
Best,
HSG