Snake Pit Hot Springs
Open
A separate soak from Mountain Village Resort's guest-only pool next doorOpen seasons
- Access
- Short walk from the Stanley Museum turnoff parking; cross the footbridge
- Price
- No fee, per the listing itself (Not verified)
- Reservations
- None required
Snake Pit Hot Springs is a small, primitive natural hot spring on the edge of Stanley, Idaho, near Valley Creek. A single silty-bottomed pool soaks for free in the shadow of the Sawtooth Mountains — no facilities, no signage, and no fee, just a quiet locals’ soak a short walk from the highway.
The pool sits just behind the Mountain Village Resort property, whose own developed hot springs pool is reserved for its guests; Snake Pit is the undeveloped, do-it-yourself alternative next door. The pool is roomy enough for several soakers, with a soft, muddy bottom that some visitors love and others find squishy underfoot. There is no maintenance, no changing area, and nothing to mark the spot — finding it is part of the experience. What it does offer is the same million-dollar Sawtooth view as the resort soak, and deer are known to wander past at dusk. Because the spring sits close to resort property, visitors should stay on the path, respect the resort’s boundaries and guests, and pack out every scrap of trash.
Snake Pit Hot Springs Need to Know
- Fee: None
- Facilities: None — no restrooms, changing areas, or trash service
- Pool: Single natural pool, silty/muddy bottom
- Clothing: Swimwear recommended (visible, near-town location)
- Note: Not the Mountain Village Resort pool — that soak is for resort guests/reservations only
Snake Pit Hot Springs Directions
In Stanley, turn off the main highway at the Stanley Museum and follow the road around the bend to the small parking area. Cross the footbridge and the natural pool is to your left, behind the Mountain Village Resort hot springs building. With no sign marking the spring itself, the Stanley Museum turn-off and the footbridge are the landmarks to navigate by, and first-time visitors may need a few minutes of looking around the bend to spot the unmarked pool.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to visit, and what does it cost?
The listing states there is no fee and the soak is free. No official source confirms that either way, so treat the price as the listing's own statement (Not verified).
Is Snake Pit the Mountain Village Resort pool?
No. The resort next door keeps its developed pool for its own guests; Snake Pit is the separate, undeveloped pool behind the property, open to anyone who finds it.
Is clothing optional?
No, swimwear is the expectation: the listing recommends swimwear because this is a visible, near-town location.
What facilities are there?
None at all: no restrooms, no changing areas, and no trash service, so pack out every scrap of trash.
How do I find it?
Start at the Stanley Museum turnoff, park in the small lot around the bend, and take the footbridge across; the pool lies behind the resort's hot springs building, with no sign to mark it.
What is the pool like?
One roomy natural pool with a soft, muddy bottom and no maintenance or changing area, sharing the resort's Sawtooth view; deer wander past at dusk.
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