Some Idaho hot springs are at their best in summer, when high country trails are clear, rivers run at soakable levels, and long evenings stretch the day. This collection gathers the springs tagged for summer visits, from roadside pools to backcountry soaks reached on foot. Summer is also the busiest season at the popular spots, so start early, pack more water than you think you need, and check fire and road conditions before you go.
Council Mountain Hot Springs — also known as Laurel Hot Springs — is a rock-walled soak in the Payette National Forest near Council, Idaho, reached by a forest trail climbing the side of Council Mountain. The single pool runs about 96–98°F, warming as the season progresses, and sees only moderate use.
Bernard Warm Springs — also known as Smalley — is a long-forgotten warm spring in the Boise National Forest near Cascade, Idaho. Once a full-fledged hot springs resort, its seldom-used pool now sits inside the remnants of the old resort’s foundation, soaking at a mild 98°F.
Weir Creek Hot Springs is a crystal-clear forest soak in the Clearwater National Forest near Lolo, Montana, reached by a short but steep hike from the Highway 12 corridor. Its enlarged main pool runs 105–108°F and holds 8–10 soakers, making it one of the most popular wilderness soaks in North-Central Idaho — expect company, and pack out more than you pack in.
Stuart Hot Springs is a little-known wilderness soak at the edge of a grassy meadow in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, in the Lochsa Ranger District of North-Central Idaho. It is reachable only at the end of a long, arduous, multiday trip involving multiple river fords — one of the most committing hot springs approaches in the state.
Stanley Hot Springs is a chain of rock- and log-dammed pools in the ancient forest of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, more than 20 miles east of Lowell, Idaho — not to be confused with the town of Stanley in the Sawtooths. The pools sit at the end of a grueling 6-mile hike on a rough trail, and the reward is a deep, wide soaker in one of the wildest settings in North-Central Idaho.
Prospector Hot Springs is one of the least-documented soaks in Idaho: a remote hot spring deep in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, in the Lochsa Ranger District of North-Central Idaho. Almost nothing is published about the pools themselves — reaching them is a hard-to-find, multiday backcountry trip in its own right.
Banbury Hot Springs near Buhl, Idaho, is now owned by Miracle Hot Springs and reopened in 2026, offering a large general pool, individual private pools and lodging.
Indian Springs Resort & RV is a commercial hot springs resort and campground in American Falls, Idaho, centered on “The Nat,” a historic pool with slides and a jumping board, open seasonally from May 9 to September 22. Swim prices run $9.50–$11.50 for ages 12+, and tent, RV, and car camping are open year-round.
Riverside Hot Springs Inn & Spa is a historic 1914 adults-only inn in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, with three indoor private soaking tubs and one outdoor tub included with an overnight stay. Its 18-room hotel adds the Portneuf Grille & Lounge and a continental breakfast, at 255 East Portneuf Street.
Bear River Hot Springs (formerly Riverdale Resort) is a year-round natural mineral hot springs resort five miles north of Preston, Idaho, with four pools including a hot tub and a therapy pool. Lodging includes an 8-room hotel with in-room jetted Jacuzzi tubs, plus cabins, RV sites, and camping at 3696 N 1600 E, Preston.
Lava Hot Springs Inn & Spa is a historic inn in downtown Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, with 6 outdoor mineral pools ranging from 94 to 107°F plus a 44° cold plunge pool. Public soaking passes are $15 with pools open daily 7 AM to 11 PM, and lodging includes a full hot buffet breakfast.
Home Hotel Lava Hot Springs is a historic hotel in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, operating since 1918 and known for private in-room natural mineral hot springs in over-sized two-person baths in most rooms. Check-in is 3:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM, with a 24-hour front desk at 306 E Main St.
Downata Hot Springs is a family-run resort south of Downey in South-East Idaho, built around a natural hot spring flowing at about 109 degrees. Its 300,000-gallon recreation pool with slides, quieter hot soaking pools, restaurant, spa, and campground make it a full-service stop.
Epic Hot Springs (formerly Bear Lake Hot Springs) is a beachside soak on North Beach at Bear Lake near St. Charles, Idaho, with two shallow outdoor pools held at about 103°F and lake beach access included with admission. It is open daily in summer and closed for the winter season; rates are not published online, so call (208) 242-8589 before visiting.
The Lava Hotel & Spa (formerly Aura Soma Lava Hot Springs) in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, has a large hot springs soaking pool open daily from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM for overnight guests. Lodging spans 5 rental homes — 3 with private natural mineral pools — and 2 motels, with a conference center, the on-site Lava Spa, and Liège waffles at Lava Waffle in the lobby.
Sharkey Hot Springs is a BLM-managed soaking site just off Highway 93 near Baker, south of Salmon, Idaho, with two deep concrete pools, changing rooms, and picnic facilities. Visitors aged 16 and older need a Sharkey Hot Springs Pass from Recreation.gov.
Panther Hot Springs is a primitive hot springs in the Salmon-Challis National Forest near Shoup, Idaho, with small rock-walled dug-out pools and a unique rock sauna at 4,400 feet elevation. The source water can run near boiling, so test the water before entering; pool conditions change with the seasons.
Goldbug Hot Springs is a hike-in natural hot springs in the Salmon-Challis National Forest south of Salmon, Idaho, reached by a roughly 2-mile trail with a steep final half-mile. Rock-walled pools and hot waterfalls line the creek at about 6,200 feet elevation.
Warm Springs Creek Hot Springs is a barely used wilderness hot spring, the Sitz Bath, in Idaho’s Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, reached by a difficult hike. Access roads are open only from about July to October, spring runoff destroys the lower pools, and the trip is best done as an overnighter with primitive camping nearby.
Shower Bath Hot Springs is a remote wilderness hot springs in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, reached by a trail that follows the Narrows of Warm Springs Creek. Its rock-walled pools vary in size and temperature, and access roads are open only about July to October, leaving a short 2–3 month visiting window each year.
Marten Creek Hot Springs is one of the most remote soaks in Idaho, deep in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho County. Reached only by a multiday backpack with multiple river fords, it is best attempted in mid to late summer.
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs is one of Idaho’s most popular natural hot springs, in the Clearwater National Forest along Highway 12 in North-Central Idaho. Three sources feed rock-walled pools at the end of a short hike; nude soaking is the norm and the site is day-use only, 6 AM to 8 PM.
Snake Pit Hot Springs is a small, primitive natural hot spring on the edge of Stanley, Idaho, near Valley Creek. Its single silty-bottomed pool is free to soak in, with no facilities, in the shadow of the Sawtooth Mountains.
Zims Hot Springs is a Nez Perce Tribe-operated hot springs a few miles outside New Meadows, Idaho, with outdoor mineral pools fed by an artesian well — a small pool at 100–105°F and a large pool at 90–100°F. Day use is $13 for adults, $8 for children, and $10 for seniors, with RV parking and camping on site.
