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 

New hot springs pool opens in Idaho City; explore new section of the Greenbelt "out west"

The Springs pool (courtesy The Springs)

The Trey McIntyre Project paid a visit (courtesy The Springs)

Looks wonderful! 

Hi all,

There is still some decent cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing at the Idaho City Park and Ski Areas, Pilot Peak, Freeman Peak and Sunset Mountain northeast of Idaho City, but you will have to hunt much harder than usual for fresh powder.

We haven't had any significant new snow in several weeks. But it's still going to be kind of warm and sunny this weekend, particularly on Saturday, so it'd be fun to head out for a little snow adventure, and then come back to Idaho City and hit the new hot springs pool called "The Springs" on the way home.

The Springs just opened on Thursday. Pool hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and closed on Tuesdays. Pool fees are $16 for adults, $8 for children under 12. Be sure to make reservations before you head out for your recreation outing. A lot of people are stoked to try out the pool; there will be a lot of competition to get in (they're going to control the numbers). The main pool is 80 feet by 40 feet, and it's kept in a range of 98 to 100 degrees F. And the hot tub adjacent to the pool is kept at about 104 degrees F. Sounds fun!

Big heron rookery near the Boise Wastewater Plant ... the birds are starting to move in! 

Something else you might enjoy doing this weekend is heading out on a brand new "secret" section of the Boise River Greenbelt on the south side of the river, downstream of Glenwood. You could start at Veterans Park, Willow Lane, or at the parking area next to the Glenwood Bridge near the Fairgrounds. Be sure you're on the south side of the river when you head west of Glenwood.

Thanks to Don Stockton and everyone who worked on the pathway project 

The paved pathway on the south side used to go about 1.5 miles west of Glenwood and fizzle out. Last fall, the Foundation for Ada/Canyon Trail Systems (FACTS) paved a long extension on the south side that goes for several more miles. I rode it Thursday afternoon on my mountain bike. I continued when the pavement ended, and rode a two-track and singletrack dirt path that took me all the way to Eagle Road!

Dirt pathway goes by some nice wildlife ponds 

Go check it out, you won't believe how nice it is. You'll get a scenic tour of the old gravel pits, the Boise Wastewater Treatment Plant, a big heron rookery, lots of ponds and wildlife habitat areas, and more!

Boise River splits below here into the North and South channels ... 

The trails in the Boise Foothills are really muddy right now in the afternoons. Please stay off those trails and go for a Greenbelt adventure. You won't be disappointed.

Steve talks about his outdoor tips every week on Friday mornings about 7:10 a.m. on 94.9 FM The River with Ken and Tim. Here's the audio from this week's program. 
- SS