Boiling Springs | Central Idaho

• Boiling Springs is one of the hottest soaking spots in the area
• Cabins sited near the hot spring are a historic guard station

Boiling Springs is an undeveloped hot spring on the bank of the Middle Fork Payette River in the Boise National Forest. It is one of the hottest soaking spots in the area.

Buildings near the spring are a historic guard station converted into cabins you can reserve.

The spring is open year-round, but the forest service road is covered by snow during winter all the way till late May and might be impassable.

Geothermal Water & Soaking

You will have to hike 0.25 miles from the Boiling Springs Campground to get to the Boiling Springs.

Geothermal mineral water comes from the source at 175° F (79° C). It flows down the cliff into the small stream, filling up soaking pools on the way. A number of soaking pools is season-dependent, with the main pool being a concrete-enforced rock pond. The pools' bottoms are rock and sand with a minimal concentration of algae and silt.

Volunteers construct pools closer to the river, where temperatures are lower, but seasonal runoff destroys or floods those. Some pools are filled by the water flowing directly from the hill, while others are fed from the pipes. Always check the water temperature because it can be scalding hot.

Have a container, like a bucket, with you to add river water if the pool temperature is too high.

Ranger district prohibits nudity, so swimsuits are mandatory.

Multiple hiking trails lead from the Boiling Springs to 5 other wild hot springs.

Littledipper Hot Spring sits 1.8 miles away.

Moondipper Hot Springs and Pine Burl Hot Springs are right next to each other via a 2-mile one-way hike.

Groundhog Hot Springs and Butterfly Hot Springs are also next to each other via a 3.5-mile one-way trail.

Location: 23 miles southwest • Central Idaho • USA
Open: Year-round, but the road is covered by snow during winter
Development: Undeveloped
Clothing: Mandatory
Amenities: None

Hiking distance: 0.25 miles
Road access: Any vehicle, except during winter
Day-use fees: No
Managed by: US Forest Service

Elevation: 4,100 ft (1,250 m)