Hot Springs in Idaho, USA
Enjoying hot springs is one of our favorite family adventures! We frequented many hot springs in the PNW while living in Oregon. Since moving to Idaho, we have started to explore the hot springs in this state! Here is my ongoing list of springs in Idaho we have visited and my reviews of them!
Check back here or bookmark this page as I will continue to add new reviews as we visit new springs! :)
FRENCHMAN’S HOT SPRINGS — Ketchum, IDaho
This was the first hot springs we went to in Idaho — just a short and beautiful 30 minute-ish drive from Sun Valley up the warm springs road. On your drive there is a good chance that you might see elk, deer, antelop, or moose up this road, so be mindful of that while driving. Upon arrival there is a small pull over parking lot before driving past the springs. If you continue to drive past the springs you end up at a larger parking lot. We usually park at the spot before the springs.
This hot springs is a natural style spring. So there is some finessing to be done with the rocks to get the temperature as on point (as possible). To my understanding, no one person really maintains this spring but rumor has it some locals care take for it (thank you locals!). Whenever we have gone, it can take some time to get it dialed and it won’t be like “perfect” in all of the spots but it’s beautiful scenic views make up for it.
Frenchman's is totally doable and accessible if you have kiddos — specifically the main hot spring that is off the side of the road is the best to access for little ones and while holding stuff, towels etc… We have a lil’ pro tip if you are visiting during snow season and about to leave — have one person get out of the spring first and get the car from wherever you parked it and then valet service it up for the remaining individuals by pulling up next to the spring. It might not seem like a big deal but when it’s zero degrees outside it can make a world of difference especially for the littles.
BEAR RIVER HOT SPRINGS — Preston, Idaho
View from our truck upon driving up…
Fun fact! Preston, Idaho is where the movie Napoleon Dynamite was filmed! That vibe is somewhat carried over here lol. We met a nice local guy who has been going to this hot springs since high school (now going with his younger kids). He was telling us that over the last few years the springs has undergone new ownership and he seemed very happy with it compared to what it was like before. He said the concrete used to be really uneven and that they used to call the springs “Reckneck River” as you would come home a little beat up from the place — his words not mine! LOL
View of their big slide (*warning use the mat to slide down on - Cory scratched his back real good from this slide going bare. He still has a scar from this slide and that was almost a year later!)
^ We probably spent most of our time at this big pool. Lots of algae in the water as you can see floating around.
I took this photo at one of their hotter pools and it was nice until I turned around and NO joke…I saw a lady squeezing a zit on another guy/her boyfriends back WHILE in the POOL! I would like to say that I don’t blame Bear River for that experience but I immediately turned to Cory and was like “we’re getting out now” he responded “why” and I told him to look behind me….! DEDDDDDDDD. hahaha He immediately followed my evacuation to another part of the hot springs.
The locker room was pretty clean and look somewhat recently renovated.
Easley Hot Springs — Ketchum, Idaho
Just a short 20ish minutes outside of Sun Valley is Easley Hot Springs! First thing to bring up about this spring is that it’s not that hot. Which has it’s pros and cons depending on the time of year. This spring is a good one for kiddos with the big pool style spring. There are two other smaller springs/tubs above that are both hotter than the large pool but get occupied quickly as they are small. We’ve been frequenting this spring during the summer as it’s not that far away from the Wood River Valley and we prefer it over a chlorinated pool!
Kirkham Hotsprings — Lowman, Idaho
The first time on our way to Stanley, Idaho we found Kirkham Hot Springs located in Lowman, Idaho. You can see it from the side of the road. Very accessible (no big hike to get in) and a short walk from the parking lot. It was winter time when we discovered it first — that time it was snowing and raining but it looked so dreamy...steamy, beautiful, natural style springs with many pools. We finally were able to visit Kirkman Hotsprings this summer and it was very lovely! I can imagine that in the winter it’s probably a lil’ more difficult to get down there as everything would be slick being covered in snow or icy. $5 day use.
Miracle HotSPRINGS — BUHL, Idaho
View of the main hot spring pools. Four different pools with varying temperatures.
Our most recent and favorite addition to check off our list is Miracle Hotsprings. We definitely will be going back here again! From where we live in the Wood River Valley it’s beautiful 1.5 hour drive to Miracle Hot Springs. We decided for our first time to reserve our own private VIP room.
When you open the door to your own private hot pool.
The VIP soaking pool at Miracle Hotsprings
View from the private hot pool looking towards the changing room.
We had reserved the VIP/private pool for 1.5 hours (we could have been fine with just the 1 hour). Then we adventured into the main hot spring pools. The biggest advantage with reserving a VIP/private hot pool is privacy for sure…but it is totally not necessary. The main hot springs pools are great enough on their own! And you get more space to move around. Excited to go back here again.
1000 SPRINGS — HAGERMAN, IDAHO *…REVIEW IN PROGRESS…
Comment below and let me know if you have been to any of the hot springs mentioned or share a tip of where we should go next! :)
