Red River Hot Springs

Deep in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest east of Elk City, Red River Hot Springs is a developed, year-round resort built around a set of natural hot springs: a large outdoor swimming pool, three soaking tubs, and a lodge where some rooms let you soak in private without leaving your bathroom. The resort runs on National Forest land under a Forest Service permit, and the Forest Service notes it has been reopened by new owners with renovations ongoing.

Red River is a full destination rather than a quick roadside dip. The trade-offs are the drive, with cell service fading well before you arrive, and the weekly Tuesday closing. Plan around both and it is one of the most complete hot springs stays in north-central Idaho.

Soak Stats

Location	Red River drainage, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, about 23 miles east of Elk City, Idaho County; elevation about 4,950 ft
Coordinates	45.7875, -115.2000
Soak type	Developed resort: outdoor pool, three soaking tubs, private in-room mineral soaking
Water temperature	Source water emerges at roughly 130 to 135°F; the pool runs warm rather than hot and varies by season; untreated flow-through mineral water
Season	Year-round, closed Tuesdays
Hours	Wednesday to Monday, 9 am to 9 pm for day guests; registered guests may use the pool 7 am to 10 pm
Admission	Day use available; no day-use rate is published online, so confirm the current fee by phone
Reservations	By phone only; call 541-300-6182
Access	Drive-up; the last 10 to 11 miles are gravel, and winter access can fail in snow
Land & management	Private resort on National Forest land under a Forest Service permit, Red River Ranger District
Facilities	Lodge with cafe, cabins, tent and RV dry camping, showers, changing room, picnic area

The Soaking Experience

The main pool is a large outdoor swimming pool, 32 feet by 28 feet and 4 to 9 feet deep, with a roped shallow end. Fed by the springs, it runs warm rather than steaming and shifts with the season, so think of it as a long, comfortable swim rather than a hot soak. For the hotter seat, the resort keeps three soaking tubs, and guides describe the water as untreated and constantly replenished: Hot Springs Locator reports a light mineral content of 285 ppm total dissolved solids and no odor. Bathing suits are required; clothing is not optional here.

The signature detail is private soaking. Several lodge rooms are plumbed so the spring water comes to you: Rooms 1 and 3 have a mineral water faucet in the bathroom, and Room 4 has a tub and shower combo fed directly by spring water, so guests can draw a hot mineral soak in their own room. Overnight guests also get the long end of the day at the main pool, from 7 am to 10 pm.

Location, Map & Directions

Red River Hot Springs sits about 23 to 24 miles east of Elk City and roughly 75 miles, or about 2 hours, from Grangeville. Following the Forest Service directions, take ID-14 east from Grangeville; about 3 miles before Elk City, turn south on Red River Road (Forest Road 222) and follow it to the Red River Hot Springs Road (Forest Road 234) junction by the old Red River Ranger Station, then continue about 9 miles east to the resort. The last 10 to 11 miles are gravel, cell service is unreliable at the resort, and the road is not always passable in snow, so call ahead in winter.

Place Information

Address	3827 Red River Rd, Elk City, ID 83525 (Idaho County)
Phone	541-300-6182
Website	redriverhotspring.com

Fees, Hours & Reservations

The resort is open year-round, Wednesday through Monday, and closed on Tuesdays. Day guests use the pool from 9 am to 9 pm; registered overnight guests get extended hours, 7 am to 10 pm. No day-use admission price is published online, so call ahead for the current fee.

All reservations are by phone at present; the resort says online booking is planned, but for now every stay starts with a call to 541-300-6182. Lodge room rates from the official site, each with $20 per additional person: Room 1 is $300 per night for the first 5 people, with 5 queen beds and one twin. Rooms 2 and 3 are $175 per night for the first 2 people; Room 2 has one queen and four twin beds and a large bathtub, and Room 3 has four queen beds and a mineral water faucet. Room 4 is $165 per night for the first 2 people, with one queen bed and a couch with a hide-a-bed. Cabin, tent site, and RV rates are not published online; ask when you call.

Facilities, Lodging & Nearby

The lodge is the hub: four guest rooms, a cafe that guides describe as serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a lounge, and the changing room and showers for the pools. Beyond the lodge, the resort offers cabins and a campground with tent sites and RV dry slips (no hookups), plus a picnic area above the pools. Pets are welcome in the cabins and lodge rooms for a $35 cleaning fee; keep them on a leash and out of the pool area and lobby. Rooms are smoke-free.

Elk City, about 23 miles west, is the nearest town for fuel and supplies, and it is a small one, so arrive stocked.

History

The springs were known to and used by the Nez Perce, whose trail through Nez Perce Pass followed the Red River, and mountain men and fur traders used the same route. As the National Register nomination for the Meinert Ranch Cabin tells it, the cabin meadow below the springs was a historic stopping point, the last open meadow and horse feed before the climb over the ridge to the Selway River, and Red River miners soaked here long before any building stood at the springs.

Commercial development began in 1901, when Irad and Emma Meinert built a combination post office and sleeping quarters for guests. In 1908 the Meinerts obtained a Forest Service lease for 30 acres including the springs, later extended to 99 years, and around 1913 they built the road along Red River roughly where the forest road runs today. Irad died in 1945 and Emma sold the lease in 1946. The current lodge building dates to 1986. The resort has had quiet stretches since: guests in 2014 thanked a new steward for bringing it back to life with an overhaul of the pools, lodge, and grounds, and the current era began with the reopening and ongoing renovations the Forest Service describes.

Safety & Health

The main hazards here are the drive and the distance, not the water. The last 10 to 11 miles are gravel, winter storms can make the road impassable, and there is no reliable cell service at the resort, so tell someone where you are going and call ahead in winter. The spring water is untreated and hot at the source, so test tubs before climbing in, take breaks, and stay hydrated.

Best Time to Visit

Summer and early fall bring the easiest driving and the warmest pool temperatures. Winter is the quiet season and the most atmospheric, with snow on the lodge roof and steam on the water, but it demands a call ahead and a vehicle ready for an unplowed forest road. Whatever the season, avoid Tuesdays: the resort is closed.

Nearby Hot Springs

Red River is the developed anchor of a remote corner of Idaho County, and the region’s other soaks are wilder. Up on the Lochsa River corridor, Jerry Johnson Hot Springs is the classic hike-in riverbank soak, and Weir Creek Hot Springs hides a single pool up a short trail. More North-Central Idaho hot springs →

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Red River Hot Springs open?

Year-round, Wednesday through Monday, and closed on Tuesdays. Day guests use the pool from 9 am to 9 pm, and registered overnight guests from 7 am to 10 pm. Winter storms can close the access road, so call ahead in the snowy months.

How much does Red River Hot Springs cost?

Lodge rooms run $165 to $300 per night depending on the room and occupancy, per the official site. Day-use, cabin, and camping rates are not published online, so confirm those by phone before your trip.

How hot is the water at Red River Hot Springs?

The source water emerges at roughly 130 to 135°F. The big pool runs warm rather than hot and varies by season, the soaking tubs deliver the hotter soak, and several lodge rooms have spring water plumbed straight to the bathroom for a private soak.

Can I camp or stay overnight at Red River Hot Springs?

Yes. Stay in one of four lodge rooms, a cabin, or the campground’s tent sites and RV dry slips. Pets are welcome in the cabins and lodge rooms for a $35 cleaning fee.

Do I need a reservation for Red River Hot Springs?

For overnight stays, yes, and reservations are by phone only: call 541-300-6182. Day use needs no booking, but the resort is closed Tuesdays and the day-use fee is not published online, so a quick call before the long drive is worth it.