Elkhorn Hot Springs (Boat Box)
Open
Reports differ on the tub's current state: it was reported washed away in 2023, and a later report says a tub has returned to the spot. No official source confirms it, so check locally in Stanley before counting on the tub.Open seasons
- Access
- A single soaking tub right beside Highway 75 on the Salmon River near Stanley (GPS 44.245, -114.885), fed by Elkhorn Hot Spring, with rock-walled seasonal pools by the river that submerge during runoff.
- Accommodations
- No camping right at the spring; campgrounds and primitive sites are plentiful in the surrounding Sawtooth National Forest and Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
Elkhorn Hot Springs — better known to regulars as Boat Box — is an easy-access wooden soaking box right next to Highway 75 near Stanley, Idaho, in the Sawtooth National Forest. Fill the tub, temper it with buckets of cold Salmon River water, and settle into one of the most beloved roadside dips in the Stanley area — it’s usable all year.
Pool Condition
The wooden soaking tub works year-round: put the stopper in, let it fill, then adjust the hot water with the plastic bucket usually left beside the tub, carting cold water in from the river. The tub has sunken seating. Beside it, rock-walled seasonal pools next to the river submerge during spring runoff. Be careful climbing in when the river runs high.
Seasonal Notes
Accessible all year. The lower pools submerge during runoff; the tub is usable in every season.
Camping
Plenty of campgrounds and primitive sites in the surrounding Sawtooth National Forest and Sawtooth National Recreation Area — none right next to the hot spring.
Elkhorn Hot Springs Soak Stats
- Season: All (listed summer/fall; tub usable year-round)
- Access Type: Roadside
- Public Land: Sawtooth National Forest
- Elevation: 6,100 ft
- GPS: 44.245, -114.885
- Water Temperature: Adjustable (tempered with river water by bucket)
- Water Clarity: Low (silt and algae, per the live listing)
- Visibility: Low
- Odor(s): Slight
- Nearest Town: Stanley
- Wildlife: Deer, elk
- Usage Level: High
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Boat Box Hot Spring?
Boat Box is a single soaking tub right beside Highway 75 on the Salmon River near Stanley, fed by Elkhorn Hot Spring, with rock-walled seasonal pools by the river that submerge during runoff.
Is the Boat Box tub there now?
Reports differ. The tub was reported washed away in 2023, and a later report says a tub has returned to the spot. No official source confirms its current state, so check locally in Stanley before counting on it.
How hot is Boat Box?
The tub is tempered by hand: you adjust the hot water with cold river water, bucket by bucket, so the temperature is whatever you make it.
Can I camp at Boat Box?
There is no camping right at the spring. Campgrounds and primitive sites are plentiful in the surrounding Sawtooth National Forest and Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
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