Bonneville Bliss

Bonneville Hot Springs in the Boise National Forest, located north of Lowman, was one of the first hot springs I had ever soaked in (see old trip reports at the bottom of this page). The first being Pine Flats and second Bear Valley. I’ll never forget what it felt like to drop down that last wedge of trail just as the monolithic, steaming geothermal mass known as Bonneville Hot Springs revealed itself for the first time.

Sunrise at Bonneville is a special treat, especially this time of the year. The cold, brisk spring air is usually in the 30s this early, which means the large expanse of hot water will churn out steam reminiscent of geyser giants in Yellowstone. Add to that the unique light radiating from the rising sun and you have a very mystical-ish environment. It’s like venturing into another world, that is, before the air warms and sun fully crests the treeline horizon.

March 29th, 2013 Trip Report

Visiting Bonnie this time of the year has inadvertently become a tradition. I didn’t realize it until today, but I’ve been returning this place during early spring for years. Despite heavy traffic at nearby Skinnydipper, Hot Springs CG, Pine Flats and extreme usage at Kirkham Hot Springs, Bonneville was left alone. For a bit.

There was patchy snow and ice on the trail, clearly the time for snowshoes and skies has come and gone. The entrance and gate to the campground of the same name remain closed until May 20, when the campground officially opens. For me, the extra mileage just ensures the journey is that much more worth it. That’s actually a good rule-of-thumb to live by. The trailhead to Bonneville is located at the north end of the campground.

I was really excited about not finding ANY trash! Not having to enact my typical pre-soak, trash bagging routine is always a huge plus. Watch the video for the deets. On the trail, I encountered 3 young ladies from Boise State who were on a hot springs sojourn for their last day of spring break. I remember those days fondly, as most of my spring breaks as a student were spent trudging through the snow and sun ISO stellar soaks. That’s how real Idahoians do spring break, ha ha. They were really nice, I was a bit worried about the two that had flip flops on. I noticed they were equipped with the BNF flyer the visitor centers and ranger stations have been handing out for years.

I also noticed that they were from Kootenai County. Which, ironically, is where I too came from prior to making Boise my home to attend Boise State (and how I came to discover hot springs, but that is another story). Up north we’ve got a lot of big, HUGE lakes. Any one of which make Lucky Peak resemble a puddle. However, the north severely lacks geothermal wonderment, except for those few hot springs located in the Clearwater National Forest and Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Idaho really does have it all, backcountry-wise.

By the time my vehicle was in sight on the return hike two more cars had pulled into the small pullout in front of the campground gate. Even though the day started in the 30s, it was nearing 70 out after I tossed the pack in the back of the truck. I have been pleasantly surprised how nice and considerate soak seekers have been of late. I hope this trend continues, as the growth-rate for the human Jackhole sub-species seems to always be on the rise.

I immensely enjoyed the hike in, soak and hike out at Bonneville. Maybe one crisp, early spring morning, it is you that I’ll quietly hike past whilst wandering down your own path to geothermal enlightenment.

Until then, happy trails!

References:

• Bonneville Hot Springs Posts and IDHS Listing
• Skinnydipper Hot Springs Posts and IDHS Listing
• Hot Springs Campground Posts and IDHS Listing
• Pine Flats Hot Springs Posts and IDHS Listing
• Kirkham Hot Springs Posts and IDHS Listing
• IDHS Guide to Boise Area Hot Springs