Secesh Hot Springs

Secesh Hot Springs is a chain of rock pools perched high above the Secesh River in the Payette National Forest, in the Warren area northeast of McCall. Reaching them takes a river ford followed by a quarter-mile, near-vertical scramble — and the payoff is some of the softest hot springs water in Idaho, in a place that sees very little use.

Description

Hot water from the source flows directly into the top pool; its outflow, plus two smaller sources, fills the pools below. The third pool down is neither warm nor deep enough to soak, and the lowest pool, down by the Secesh River, holds frigid, stagnant water. The hot springs water is remarkably soft — skin feels amazing after soaking, not dried out. Note that red spider mites inhabit this hot spring. Please tread lightly: the area is heavily impacted because of the nearby, popular Loon Lake loop (hike, bike, and motorbike traffic).

Pool Condition

All pools have rock walls with gravel and rock bottoms, at most about 3 feet deep and 6–8 feet wide. Because use is low, expect to revamp and clean the pools on arrival — they collect algae and debris. A 2010 update reported the smaller pools disassembled in favor of a larger primary pool. Always remove tarps or plastic when you leave.

Seasonal Notes

Fording the Secesh River limits access until late summer — usually mid to late July — and the season runs until the snow falls, sometime between September and November. Winter access might be possible by snowmobile to the trailhead plus snowshoes, but fording the river then would be extremely ill-advised.

Camping

There is one fairly large, semi-flat grassy campsite next to the river, well below the hot springs. There is no camping up top near the springs — no open or remotely flat ground. Please use the existing primitive camp rather than creating a new one. Other primitive camping is available near and at Loon Lake, and at the trailhead campground.

Secesh Hot Springs in Idaho