Idaho Hot Springs shine during mud/shoulder season and wacky spring weather

Main pool at Gold Fork Hot Springs, near Donnelly.

Hi all,

It's always great to cap off a ski day or a workout with a dip in a natural hot springs pool.

Truth be told, I've been hanging out in McCall this week, doing client work at my cabin and skiing Brundage in the last week of their season ... they close on Sunday, April 10. Bogus Basin and Tamarack Resort closed last Sunday.  

The skiing at Brundage has been absolutely FANTASTIC! A bunch of my friends have been skiing daily, so it's just a blast to ski the mountain with those guys. High-speed big carving turns on the groomers, and fun skiing in the fluff and soft bumps. Brundage got 5" of new on Monday, another inch Tuesday, morning, so we're finishing off the season with a bang up there. 

On my way back to Boise this afternoon, I zipped over to Gold Fork Hot Springs, south of Donnelly, to take a dip after a super-fun ski day and cap things off correctly! 

I haven't soaked at Golf Fork since the covid pandemic hit. They were closed for a time, and reopened last summer. They're open 6 days a week (closed Tuesdays), and they require vax cards or a cell phone photo of same, plus I.D. No big deal for me! Happy to oblige. Entry fee is $10 for adults. 

Main pool is fed by a natural hot springs. Really soothing beautiful water, about 102-104 degrees.

Gold Fork was practically empty today 4/7, but I'm sure it'll get busier as the spring progresses. Be aware the dirt road to Gold Fork is soft, bumpy and chock full of pot holes. Take your time! 

Hitting Idaho's hot springs at this time of year can be a great call when the weather is acting kind of "in between" seasons, like it will be in the next week, after a really warm day tomorrow (Friday), with a high of near 80! Later this weekend, the high temp will be in the high 40s! That's what April is supposed to be like! 

Anyway, think about hitting Gold Fork, The Springs in Idaho City (online reservations required), Zims in New Meadows or visit a natural hot spring in the region. See a statewide listing on the Idaho Hot Springs site.  

Lower pool is a bit cooler and shallow, good for young kids. 

More pools below ... looking out to Gold Fork River 

Entrance yurt is separate from changing rooms yurt now. More room for people to change
into swim suits. 

The Springs, Idaho City 

Zims Hot Springs pool 

Have fun! 

- SS 

Gotta plan ahead to visit The Springs in Idaho City! Stay overnight at Inn the Pines

The Springs pool at night (Courtesy The Springs)

The Springs during the day ... please note that the pool is reserved for adults on Wed-Fri each week. (Courtesy The Springs)

Hi all, 

It's a little exasperating how challenging it can be to book pool time at The Springs in Idaho City. I would readily admit that I don't necessarily like to plan ahead that much, but I have learned that if you want to book some pool time at The Springs, you MUST plan ahead! Two weeks or more! That's just the deal! 

Two friends of ours, Greg and Jan, booked a private pool for all four of us at The Springs last week (booked a month in advance), and we also booked rooms at Inn the Pines. We really enjoyed our time up there. 

The private pools are $45/hour, and hotel rooms are about $115/night. They have package deals. 

The snow is deep in Idaho City, too! But it's melting! Consider doing a hike in Charcoal Gulch before soaking. 

We went up on a Wednesday, so I had some work-related things to clear in the first half of the day. Then we got up to Idaho City in time to do a little boot hike on Charcoal Gulch Trail just outside of town before our leisurely soak at The Springs. The snow was brick-hard, so we didn't even need to deploy our snowshoes ... just cruised around on top of the snow in our snow boots. The trail is located next to the Idaho City airport on the south side of town ... try it sometime. 

Our private pool was booked for 4:30 p.m. We showed up at 4 p.m. to hang in the main pool before going into our private quarters. We had a beer and relaxed while the sun began to shine through the clouds for the first time in days. The Springs has pool-side service, so that's a plus in my book. They seem to really emphasize customer service, and that must be why The Springs has become so popular! 

The private pool was a perfect size for 2 or 4 people. It's a little cozy with 4, but if they're good friends or family, it works fine! You have total privacy in that space, so suits are optional. You can bring drinks and food into the private pools. But they will only serve you one drink while you're in the private pool FYI. 

The private tubs are warmer than the main pool ... I would guess they keep them in the 102-103 degree range. It felt just about perfect to us. 

After you've had your private pool session, you can hang in the main pool as long as you want. We were pretty pruned after about 2 hours of soaking, so we back to the Inn the Pines to change for dinner. The locker rooms at The Springs are very nice, BTW, they have complimentary lockers that come with your swimming pass, and nice showers. 

We thought the rooms at Inn the Pines were really nice. The hotel was just built a year ago or so, so everything seems almost brand new. They have cable TV and wifi in the rooms, even though there is barely any cell service in Idaho City, so that's another plus. I had some work-related things I had to send out by email in the morning. That worked without a hitch.  

We had dinner and breakfast at Trudy's Kitchen. We should have had dinner at the Gold Mine or Diamond Lil's, most likely, because they specialize in serving dinner. But Trudy's makes good burgers and has good breakfast. Here's the Trip Advisor rundown for Idaho City restaurants. 

All in all, we heartily recommend soaking at The Springs and staying at Inn the Pines. All you have to do is plan ahead!!! Combining the soaking experience with a fun day of skiing by Mores Creek Summit or at the Idaho City Park and Ski Areas would be the ultimate home run day, in my book. 

In the weeks ahead, it also would be a fun home run day to do the Banks-Lowman drive to see elk down by the road and Payette River, and then hit the Springs in Idaho City late in the afternoon. Stay overnight and relax! 

If you want to soak at The Springs, go online and reserve a time for your group. The reservations system lets you see what's available on a given day online. Pick what works for you! 

-----------------------

On another subject matter, during Spring Break week the lower trails in the Boise Foothills dried out and people were out using the trails in droves! Huge numbers of cars at the trailheads! Just wanted to remind folks to be aware that the the trails could get muddy this weekend if we get substantial amounts of rain. Please pay attention to the Ridge to Rivers web site or Facebook page for the latest updates! 

- SS 

Go visit Miracle or Banbury Hot Springs near Hagerman, go hiking, sight-seeing on the way

Launching into the pool at Banbury Hot Springs

Big pool at Banbury is good for large groups and Scout groups 

Newly remodeled, Miracle Hot Springs has a really nice aesthetic ambiance 

Large pool at Miracle Hot Springs; Private rooms border the main pools outside.

Covered pool at Miracle is kept between 105-106 degrees 

Hi all,

There's nothing quite like immersing yourself in a natural hot springs and feeling the water cleanse your body and soul. Precious geothermal hot water -- heated naturally deep inside Mother Earth -- penetrates your pores and clears your head of all worries.

Just lie there, float freely and weightlessly in the steam-covered pool, and enjoy. It doesn't matter if it's snowing or raining, the hot water keeps you comfy and warm. Now that we're moving into early spring, it's prime time season for hot springs! Pack up your swimsuit, a towel and flip flops, and take some friends or family on a road trip!

If you like Gold Fork Hot Springs in Donnelly, you'll love Miracle Hot Springs -- the closest natural hot springs resort to Boise, near Hagerman.

Side pool at Miracle Hot Springs. 

Miracle was remodeled in 2012, and it turned out really nice - it has a ruggedly handsome design and ambiance, creating a very inviting and comfortable feeling for soakers and swimmers.

Miracle is an easy drive about 1.5 hours from Boise via I-84. Go east on I-84 to the Hagerman exit (exit #141). It's located about 15-20 minutes from the freeway. Take U.S. 30, the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway, to Miracle Hot Springs, located on the right side of the road next to Salmon Falls Creek. 

They have camping available on-site, or across the highway at Banbury Hot Springs. There's also some camp domes available for overnight accommodations, with prices ranging from $69 to $94/night, depending on how much room you need. Call ahead to make reservations if you want to stay overnight. Those domes are in high demand on weekends. 

Along the way, you could stop at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument or the Hagerman Museum to learn about the Hagerman horse and many other fascinating animals that lived in the area as long as 3.5 million years ago in more of a swampy grassland environment that existed in that era. 

Or, there are several state and national fish hatcheries you can visit, or stop at Thousand Springs State Park, visit Minnie Miller Springs and go for a hike on Ritter Island next to the Snake River. It's an easy, scenic hike that I highly recommend. Minnie Miller springs is one of the few springs in the Thousand Springs complex that hasn't been harnessed for hydropower or fish production.

A visitor once asked Dean Olsen about the name, Miracle Hot Springs. "The water contains over 50 minerals, which can be therapeutic and might make you feel much better," Olsen said. "This is our miracle -- the water."

When I visited Miracle Hot Springs, I spoke with three 40ish moms from Castleford, decked out in one-piece swimsuits, glittery sunglasses and hats, who were soaking in one of the side pools, kept in the 102-103 degree range. How's the water?

"Wonderful!" "Perfect!" "Lovely!"

The women come to Miracle as often as possible. "This is a great place all year round, and it's close to home. I love it," said Mickey Dekryf.

"You soak and it makes me feel great," adds Lori Hale, moving her shoulders around to loosen them up.

Miracle also has a 15 private hot pools enclosed in tasteful private rooms with a changing area and bath pool. It has 6 VIP private hot pools, which can be reserved in advance. The other private pools are first-come, first-served. Hot and cold water feeds allow guests to control the water temperature to their liking. 

Miracle has spa services as well. "You come here and it's like a vacation in one visit," says Jane Olsen, massage manager. They have a massage therapist on duty at all times; advance reservations are recommended. Call 208-543-6002 to make a reservation. 

Banbury Hot Springs, a property recently acquired by the Olsen family, is located across the highway from Miracle. Banbury has a large pool kept at about 100 degrees with a diving board and a large log to hang onto or plan on for kids. It also has private bathing rooms. The Olsens plan to do a full remodel of Banbury starting this fall. But the large pool is a good option for large groups and scout groups. 

The grassy camping and picnic areas at Banbury are really nice, located under a canopy of old cottonwood trees. Bald eagles often perch on the cottonwoods next to the Snake River during the winter. "Sometimes there are 15-20 eagles in one tree," says Enoch Olsen, co-owner. 

There's a free boat launch location at Banbury, which opens up opportunities to go Stand-Up Paddle Boarding, canoeing or kayaking on the Snake. One trip I'm planning to do when the weather warms up a bit is to launch at Banbury and go visit Box Canyon State Park, just 1.5 miles downriver. You can explore Box Canyon, the 11th largest natural spring in the United States, by foot on some hiking trails. Unique fish species live in the water because of its pure water and constant temperature 

There is not much current in this section of the Snake, allowing folks to paddle back upstream to the launch without much trouble. 

The other thing you have to do on this trip is stop at the Snake River Grill in Hagerman and have a hearty meal. They have sturgeon, catfish, alligator and many other exotic items on their menu. Highly recommend it! 

Enjoy your trip! 

- SS 

Idaho Hot Springs mountain biking route proves to be a big hit with cyclists

Looking out the double doors in the hot springs behind
the Mountain Village Hotel in Stanley.

Looking over at Redfish Lake from a White Clouds singletrack trail. Wowsa!  

Riding through an old Idaho burn in Central Idaho.

Camping by Washington Lake in the White Clouds. 

Hi all,

We're in the heart of the fall season, and the weather is pretty much perfect for biking. It's a good time to tackle some challenging high-elevation rides because of that wonderful cool, crisp mountain air.

I wanted to recommend the Idaho Hot Springs Route, as something to consider this fall -- not necessarily the whole thing (the route is over 500 miles) -- but maybe there are chunks of it that you'd like to ride before the snow comes, whenever that may occur.

The Hot Springs Route is a brand new mountain biking route, the brainchild of Casey Greene, an avid rider and a cartographer for Adventure Cycling in Missoula, Mont. Casey came up with the idea after doing a 10-day bike tour across North Idaho and Montana when he and some friends biked to a different fire lookout tower every night. "At the end of the tour, I thought this whole concept of having a destination where you end up each night was kind of cool ... basically, destination mountain biking," Casey said.

The light bulb for the hot springs route went off when he was soaking at a hot springs in Pole Bridge, Mont. He was thinking that Idaho had the highest concentration of hot springs in North America, so why not try to connect the dots? He started evaluating the situation from looking at maps, plotting the hot springs, looking at connecting routes, and came up with a tentative route. Then he ground-proofed them to see if it would work. Last summer, he rode the whole route that's connected by dirt roads, all 517 miles of it, and he also logged a number of singletrack routes that add spice to the whole experience.

Adventure Cycling published a set of two maps -- the main route and the singletrack routes (227 miles), and rolled them out in February. Turns out Casey had a pretty hot idea! The maps are selling like hot cakes and they've already done three printings in the last eight months. The first version came out in February 2014.

Lots of people are trying the route, and they're really enjoying it, Casey says. Dylan Gradhandt of Boise rode the entire dirt road route with his brother-in-law in mid-June. "It was a blast, I'd do it again," Gradhandt says. "In bicycle touring terms, I'd give it a huge "approved for all audiences" rating. It's actually super doable for the average cyclist, in my opinion." 

It took them 11 days of pedaling to cover the whole 517-mile route. They resupplied every 2-3 days. They included one rest day. They did the whole route without vehicle support and traveled very light with special bike packs. 

You can see the pack set up on the bike and a very lightweight tent ...
photo courtesy Dylan Gradhandt

The timing of the hot springs route was great because the whole sport of "bike-packing" is becoming quite popular, and the hot springs route is tailor-made for either bike-packing or riding with vehicle support, Casey says. "Bike-packing is like the new hot thing right now." 

Plus, cyclists from all over the nation are realizing that there's a lot more to Idaho than just potatoes. "The hot springs are like the big enticement, but once people come to Idaho, they are blown away by the scenery, the people, and the rugged mountains," he says.

The main hot springs route follows dirt roads.
It's a big loop from Boise to Ketchum to McCall
and back. 

The main hot springs route provides access to 41 hot springs along the way. Because it follows dirt roads, Greene says you could do the route with light-weight bike-packing gear, more traditional panniers, or Bob trailers. You also could do it with vehicle support, and take turns driving the support vehicle.

The optional singletrack routes feature a number of popular mountain singletracks such as the Bear Pete Trail near Burgdorf Hot Springs, Eagle's Nest Trail near Cascade (both featured in my Mountain Biking in McCall book) and some of the sweet singletracks in the White Clouds and the nifty Willow Creek trail along the South Fork of the Boise River near Featherville. The singletrack optional route provides access to another 10 hot springs.

Optional singletrack trails on the Hot Springs route. 

You'll need to order the two-map set to get all of the details. They cost only $29.50. You can order the maps on the Adventure Cycling web site.        

If you decide to stay overnight on the singletrack trails, Casey recommends going light and using the new bike-packing set up. Check out the images here. You will be doing some hike-a-bike on the singletrack trails, and if you have panniers or a Bob trailer, your equipment will get hung up on trees, brush, rocks or roots.

This is what it's all about. Daryl Gradhandt photo.

Casey said they've heard from some flatlanders who have tried the route and didn't expect to encounter the challenges you'd find on rugged mountain singletracks. But many Idaho riders know what to expect cuz they've been riding these trails for years.

One of the silver linings of the hot springs bike route is that small communities like Atlanta, Featherville, Stanley, Cascade and McCall are noticing how many cyclists are discovering Idaho via the hot springs route. The small cafes and restaurants appreciate the business! "I can't believe how many riders came through McCall this summer specifically because they were doing the hot springs tour," says Gregg Lawley, owner of a bike shop in McCall next to Paul's Market.

Lawley decided to venture out on his own bike-packing adventure in the White Clouds last week. "It was one of the coolest trips I've ever done," he says.

Just casual checking indicates that a few Idaho people have tackled the entire hot springs route already, including Gradhandt and his brother in law, and more cyclists are making plans to ride it next year. I'd recommend buying the maps, downloading the GPS tracks and dreaming big about a unforgettable bike ride next year with your friends.

Thanks to Casey Greene for showing us the way!
- SS

Skiing looks iffy this weekend; avalanche danger is high; Go soak in an Idaho hot springs

Pine Flats Hot Springs 

Kirkham Hot Springs 

Skinny Dipper Hot Springs 

Bonneville Hot Springs 

Gold Fork is senior friendly ... Wendy's mom, Dorothy, enjoyed a soak at age 92! 

Hi all,

With the Pineapple Express moving through SW Idaho and Central Idaho this week, and a big douse of more rain and snow coming this weekend, it's challenging to come up with a promising outdoor activity.

It's great to receive all of this new snow in high elevations, but as the temperatures warm up, we've had rain-on-snow situations and slides, as the avalanche danger goes sky-high. It's pretty scary to hear about all of the slides that have been occurring, and the deaths and injuries that have resulted. Here's a report about the tragedy in Eastern Oregon in the southern portion of the Wallowa Mountains near Cornucopia.

I also heard that a skier had been caught in an avalanche on Bald Mountain in Sun Valley today.

It's tempting to ski this weekend, but the forecast calls for rain at Bogus Basin, and the quality of snow in the backcountry is going to depend on the snow-level. Officials with the Sawtooth Avalanche Center said the snow level could be 7,500-8,000 feet with the storm on Friday and Saturday. Damn! That would be bad ...

The forecast is slightly more promising in McCall and Stanley by Sunday. The forecast for Boise calls for mostly rain all weekend, but less continuous on Saturday and Sunday.

I zipped up to Stargaze Yurt today (Thursday) to take my puppy Huck for an outing, and I hoped to do a little fresh powder skiing from the top of the mountain, above Beaver Creek Summit. But alas, there was a thick crust on top of bottomless snow. Plus, there were high winds and wind slabs in the high ridges.

So at times like this, I say, "punt" and head for a hot springs or maybe watch for a window between the rain and go for a road bike ride in the Boise Valley. Head for the gym. Go see a movie. Watch the Olympics.

Some of my favorite hot springs close to home include:

• Kirkham Hot Springs - About six miles east of Lowman on Idaho 21. Suits recommended in daylight hours since it's located next to the highway and frequented by families. Free. 
• Bonneville Hot Springs - Located about 20 miles east of Lowman. Watch for the Forest Service sign for the campground and hot springs. You'll have to hike about a mile to the spring in the winter. Free.
• Skinny Dipper - I heard the BLM had closed it, but I saw people in the parking area today. Trailhead located about 4 miles east of Banks on the Banks to Lowman Road. Free.
• Pine Flats - Located west of Lowman on the Banks to Lowman Road. Forest Service site. Snowed in during the winter, so it's a longer hike to the hot springs pools ... maybe a mile walk. Bring your snow boots. Free.
• The Springs in Idaho City - This is the newly refurbished commercial facility. Call ahead for reservations. 208-392-9500. Rates are $16 for adults, $10 for children and infants. 
• Gold Fork Hot Springs - The signed turnoff is south of Donnelly. Great commercial hot springs with natural hot water and many different pools for soaking. $8 for adults; $6 for children. 
• There are more primitive hot springs in the Cascade, Idaho, area. See the Idaho Hot Springs web site for more information.   

Have fun! Relax! Turn into a prune!

Steve talks about his outdoor tips with Ken Bass and Misty Taylor on The River 94.9 FM Friday mornings at approximately 7:30 a.m. This week, the segment will air at 8:30 a.m. Go to stevestuebner.com to find information about Steve's outdoor guidebooks and other resources.