Penny Hot Springs
Open
Pools bury during spring runoffOpen seasons
- Access
- Hike to Penny #1; Penny #2 reachable only at low water
- Accommodations
- Campsites a half to three-quarters of a mile away; National Forest camping throughout the area
Penny Hot Springs is a small cluster of three springs in the Boise National Forest’s Warm Lake/Yellow Pine area. The main event is Penny #1 — “New Penny” — a rock- and sand-walled pool fed by a source marked by copper-colored algae, with two smaller siblings nearby: a one-person soaker downstream and Twopenny across the river.
The Pools
Penny #1 (New Penny) — the main pool. Rock and sand walls, a sandy bottom, and water at 100–103°F that is crystal-clear to silty depending on how much use it has seen. Penny #2 sits about 30 yards south of #1 along the river: a small, one-person soaker at the base of a rock cliff, reachable only at low water. Penny #3 (Twopenny), about 30 yards further south across the river, never really developed — two shallow, slow-flow pools full of sludge and cool water; not recommended.
Seasonal Notes
The pools are buried during spring runoff, and late in the summer or early fall they can be stranded — too hot to soak. Plan around the water year.
Camping
A couple of good campsites sit 0.5 to 0.75 miles from the spring, and plenty of National Forest camping is available in the area.
Penny Hot Springs Soak Stats
- Season: Summer, fall
- Access Type: Hike (Penny #1)
- Public Land: Boise National Forest
- Elevation: 4,800 ft
- Water Temperature: 100–103°F
- Water Clarity: Crystal-clear to silty
- Visibility: Low-moderate
- Odor(s): None noticed
- pH: 8
- Nearest Area: Warm Lake / Yellow Pine
- Wildlife: Deer, elk, moose, fox, black bear
- Usage Level: Moderate
Frequently Asked Questions
How hot is the water?
Penny #1, called New Penny, runs 100 to 103°F on the listing’s figures. Twopenny's two shallow pools are cool, and the listing does not recommend them.
When is the best time to visit?
Summer and fall, timed to the water year: runoff buries the pools in spring, and by late summer or early fall the water can be stranded too hot to use.
Can I camp nearby or stay overnight?
On the listing’s figures, a couple of good campsites sit a half to three-quarters of a mile from the spring, and National Forest camping is plentiful in the wider area.
How hard is the access?
The listing rates access as a hike for Penny #1. Penny #2 waits roughly 30 yards downstream along the river and can only be reached at low water.
What are the three pools?
Penny #1 (New Penny) is the main pool: sandy bottom, walls of rock and sand, fed by a source the listing marks by its copper-colored algae. Penny #2 is a one-person soaker beneath a rock cliff. Penny #3 (Twopenny) lies across the river, never really developed, and is not recommended.
What is the water like?
It depends on use: Penny #1 runs anywhere from crystal-clear to silty.
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