Lil Dipper Hot Springs
Open
Summer and fall; the access road is snow-covered in winter until about late April or mid-May.Open seasons
- Access
- Hike-in via the Middle Fork Payette River trail, in the Boise National Forest. Water temperature is upper 90s °F from a low-flow source; the water can be murky.
- Accommodations
- A primitive site sits directly above the spring's source, with official and primitive campgrounds throughout the area.
Lil Dipper Hot Springs is a small hot spring on the Middle Fork Payette River trail in the Boise National Forest north of Crouch, Idaho — you’ll pass it on the hike to Moondipper and Pine Burl. The old listing is honest about it: with low flow and only upper-90s temperatures, Lil Dipper is a landmark on the way to better soaks, not a soak itself.
Description
A source pool and a second pool below it, fed by a low-flow source at upper-90s temperatures. The water is murky, and use is light — most hikers pause, look, and continue up the trail to Moondipper.
Seasonal Notes
The Forest Service Road providing access to the trailhead is snow-covered all winter until approximately late April or mid-May.
Camping
Primitive and official campgrounds are all over this area. There is a great primitive site directly above the hot springs source.
Lil Dipper Hot Springs Soak Stats
- Season: Summer, fall
- Access Type: Hike
- Public Land: Boise National Forest
- Elevation: 4,060 ft
- Water Temperature: Upper 90s°F
- Water Clarity: Murky
- Visibility: High
- Odor(s): None noticed
- Nearest Town: Crouch (north of)
- Wildlife: Deer, elk, moose
- Usage Level: Light
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lil Dipper Hot Springs?
A small trailside spring on the Middle Fork Payette River trail north of Crouch: a landmark on the way to Moondipper and Pine Burl, rather than a destination soak in itself.
How hot is the water?
Upper 90s °F from a low-flow source; the water can be murky.
How do you get there?
Hike the Middle Fork Payette River trail from the Boiling Springs trailhead area; you pass Lil Dipper on the way to Moondipper and Pine Burl.
When is it accessible?
Summer and fall. The Forest Service road to the trailhead is snow-covered all winter until approximately late April or mid-May.
Can you camp nearby?
Yes. There is a primitive site directly above the hot springs source, and official and primitive campgrounds throughout the area.
Does it cost anything?
No fee is published for this undeveloped spring.
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