Home:
Idaho Hot Springs:
Frenchman's Bend Hot Springs |
|
Sawtooth
National Forest |
Overall Rating: A- |
6,400
ft |
Water Temperature: Depends on season/pool
condition |
Ketchum
/ Smoky Mountains Area |
Usage Level: Heavy |
|
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|
Pool Condition
Wide and shallow, rock-walled with gravel and sand bottoms. Pools
lie on each side of the creek. |
Dates Visited: |
Trash Levels: |
Bug Levels: |
08.29.04 |
low |
moderate |
05.12.02 |
none |
none |
|
Water Clarity:
Clear |
Visibility:
High |
Odor(s):
Slight Odor |
|
Wildlife Sighted: Deer
and Elk |
Seasonal Notes
Seasonal Forest Road closure from October through mid-May (open date
in May depends on snow level). Prime soaking season is between late
June and late October. Pools are buried under spring runoff.
Nighttime closure is posted and still in effect. |
Camping Notes
No campsites around the spring
and area is posted with 'no camping' and 'nighttime closure' signs,
but there is plenty of campgrounds and primitive sites to choose from in the
surrounding Sawtooth National Forest. |
Briefings
08.29.04
I've heard that this place was popular; Frenchman's Bend sees a
steady flow of late summer visitors until sunset every night. It's
easy to see why once you've set yourself into one of the hot and
clear pools. The scenery is great, people are usually pretty nice
and it's only a short drive from Ketchum on a well-used, very bumpy
dirt/gravel Forest Service Road.
Rating A-
05.12.02
Frenchman's Bend was submerged due to spring runoff. However, the two pools that I spotted looked like they would be prime soaks in a few weeks. I couldn't tell much about the condition of the nearby grounds because it was pitch black by the time we made it out to FB.
This spring is now closed at night due to problems with abuse. I've also heard that during the summer
locals clean themselves with soap in the pools on a daily basis. Rumor has it that there
is another HS between FB and Ketchum along Warm Springs Road and nestled
in the same creek. This HS is now day use only.
Rating X
Average Rating:
A-
|
Related:
Hot Springs Guide Books,
Idaho
Posters/Prints, Weather
Conditions |
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