Bear Valley Hot Springs

Bear Valley Hot Springs is a string of stellar soaking pools of all shapes and sizes along Bear Valley Creek in the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, northwest of Lowman in the Boise National Forest. Reaching them takes a moderate hike and a river ford — and the reward is one of the highest-rated wilderness soaks in Idaho, fed by multiple sources in a spectacular backcountry setting.

Description

Take your pick: a series of rock-lined pools with gravel, rock, and sand bottoms fed by two to three separate sources. The soakable pools are the ones nested into the riverbank of Bear Valley Creek — the pools below the upper sources run too hot to use. The water is crystal-clear; the first source carries a slight sulfur smell while the lower sources are odorless. One caution is well documented here: red spider mites inhabit the rocks around the pools and do bite — avoid sitting on, or leaving clothing and towels on, the rocks.

Seasonal Notes

The trailhead road, Forest Service Road 579, is snowbound in winter and typically opens in late May or early June. Highway 21 stays open through winter, aside from temporary avalanche closures. Two of the three approach routes require a river ford that is unsafe until runoff drops in mid to late July — fording during spring runoff is dangerous because of strong underwater currents. A third, unofficial angler path avoids the ford but is steep, blocked by many downed trees, and slick over rock when wet; it is about half a mile shorter than the main route.

Camping

There is ample camping at the hot springs — use existing sites only. This is protected wilderness: camp at least 200 feet from any water source or trail, and do not create new sites in this already heavily impacted area. Most soakers camp at the trailhead campground (Fir Creek Campground) and day-hike in.

Bear Valley Hot Springs Soak Stats

• Access Type: Hike (moderate, with river ford on most routes)
• Public Land: Boise National Forest / Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness (south half)
• Elevation: 6,360 ft
• GPS: 44.445, -115.239
• Water Temperature: Varies per pool and time of day
• Water Clarity: Crystal-clear
• Visibility: Low
• Odor(s): Slight sulfur at the first source; none at the lower sources
• Nearest Area: NW of Lowman, near Stanley
• Wildlife: Deer, elk, fox, grouse, snakes; black bear and mountain lion sign; excellent birding (osprey, bald eagle)
• Caution: Red spider mites documented around the pools
• Usage Level: Moderate-heavy