BLM LAND · NEAR BOISE, IDAHO

Skinny Dipper Hot Springs Is Closed — Status, History & the 2027 Question

Skinny Dipper Hot Springs — once one of the most famous soaking spots near Boise, Idaho — has been closed by the Bureau of Land Management since 2016, and a rockslide has since buried the pools themselves.

Closed Through Feb 14, 2027

No — Skinny Dipper Hot Springs is closed through February 14, 2027 under a Bureau of Land Management closure order published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2022. The site itself was largely obliterated by a 2017 rockslide and fire, so even the physical pools no longer exist.

Current Status at a Glance

Skinny Dipper sits on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, which closed the site in 2016 and has extended the closure ever since — most recently through a Federal Register notice (Vol. 87, No. 10) and BLM press releases. Here is exactly where things stand:

Enforcing agency	Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Closure in effect	Since June 2016 — extended multiple times
Current order	Federal Register notice published January 14, 2022 (Vol. 87, No. 10) — closed through February 14, 2027
Site condition	Unauthorized pools and piping removed; a 2017 rockslide buried the pools; the BLM says fire and the slide "obliterated" the site
Reopening path	BLM is open to proposals for natural pools under a special-use permit — none viable yet
After Feb 14, 2027	Order expiry is NOT automatic reopening — the BLM can renew, modify, or replace it

For coordinates and historical site notes, see our directory record for Skinny Dipper Hot Springs. This closure also appears on our closed & off-limits hot springs list.

Why Skinny Dipper Closed: The Full Timeline

Skinny Dipper didn't close because of a single incident — it was loved to death. Years of escalating problems on an unmanned public hillside forced the BLM's hand, and nature finished the job afterward.

2007–2015: The site generates more than 120 calls to the county sheriff — rescues, disputes, and emergencies — and at least three deaths are tied to the springs. Visitors build unauthorized pools and piping that the BLM calls a health hazard, and trash accumulates across the site.
June 2016: Citing public health and safety, the BLM closes Skinny Dipper Hot Springs to all public entry.
Post-closure: The unauthorized piping and constructed pools are removed.
2017: A rockslide buries the pools. Between the slide and fire, the BLM describes the site as “obliterated.”
January 14, 2022: A Federal Register notice (Vol. 87, No. 10) extends the closure through February 14, 2027.
February 14, 2027: The current order expires — a date to watch, not a reopening date. The BLM says it is open to proposals for restoring natural pools under a special-use permit, but no viable proposal has emerged.

Can You Visit Skinny Dipper Anyway?

No — and there are two separate reasons. First, it's illegal: the BLM closure covers the springs site and its access route, and entering a posted federal closure area is a violation that can bring fines. Second, it's pointless: the 2017 rockslide buried the pools, so the Skinny Dipper people remember from old photos no longer exists on the ground.

The site was closed partly because it was deadlyAt least three deaths and 120+ sheriff calls were part of why the BLM acted. The steep, unmaintained terrain that made rescues necessary hasn't gotten safer — and now the destination at the bottom is gone. Review our hot spring safety guide before visiting any undeveloped Idaho spring.

What about Deer Creek (Bronco Billy) Hot Springs?

Deer Creek Hot Springs — also known as Bronco Billy — sits near the same trailhead area and is still accessible. It's a separate site and not covered by the Skinny Dipper closure, but it is unmaintained backcountry soaking: verify current conditions before you go, and don't treat it as a route into the closed area.

Will Skinny Dipper ever reopen?Maybe — but not soon, and not automatically. The BLM has said it would consider proposals to rebuild natural pools (no unauthorized plumbing) operated under a special-use permit. As of this writing no viable proposal exists, and the February 14, 2027 order expiry simply ends the current order's clock — the agency can extend it again.

Open Hot Springs Near Boise — the Real Alternatives

Idaho is still one of the best hot springs states in the country. These verified, indexable listings are open and deliver the soak Skinny Dipper used to promise:

Kirkham Hot Springs The famous riverside springs near Boise — steaming cascades and riverside pools that are actually open.

Pine Flats Hot Springs Riverside pools near Boise reached by a short trail — the closest match to Skinny Dipper’s old hike-in vibe.

The Springs, Idaho City The developed option: a paid resort with managed pools, reservations, and zero legal ambiguity.

Bonneville Hot Springs Primitive Idaho soaking pools — a natural alternative while Skinny Dipper stays closed.

Trail Creek Hot Springs Another undeveloped Idaho soak for the adventurous — check conditions before the drive.

Browse every verified soaking spot in the state on our Idaho hot springs directory.

Where to Stay Near Skinny Dipper Hot Springs

Boise is the basecamp. It's the nearest city to the old Skinny Dipper trailhead and the jumping-off point for the open alternatives above — Kirkham, Pine Flats, and Idaho City are all day trips from town.

Search Boise, ID Lodging

Get Status Alerts for Skinny Dipper Hot Springs

The February 2027 order expiry, a BLM reopening proposal, or a new closure extension — we'll email you when the status of Skinny Dipper changes.

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Skinny Dipper Hot Springs FAQ

Is Skinny Dipper Hot Springs open?

No. Skinny Dipper Hot Springs has been closed since June 2016 under a Bureau of Land Management order, and the current closure — published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2022 — runs through February 14, 2027. The pools themselves were also buried by a 2017 rockslide, so there is effectively nothing left to soak in.

Why did Skinny Dipper Hot Springs close?

The BLM closed it for public health and safety. Between 2007 and 2015 the site generated more than 120 calls to the county sheriff and at least three deaths, while visitors had built unauthorized pools and piping that created a health hazard and left trash accumulating at the site.

When does the Skinny Dipper Hot Springs closure end?

The current BLM order expires February 14, 2027 — but expiration is not the same as reopening. The BLM can extend the order again, and it says fire and a rockslide "obliterated" the site. The agency has said it is open to proposals for natural pools under a special-use permit; none has proven viable so far.

Can you visit the Skinny Dipper trail anyway?

No — the BLM closure covers the springs site and its access route, and entering a posted closure area is a federal violation. Nearby Deer Creek (Bronco Billy) Hot Springs, close to the same trailhead, is still accessible — but it is a different site, not a back door to Skinny Dipper.

What hot springs near Boise are still open?

Several Idaho springs within driving distance of Boise remain open: Kirkham Hot Springs and Pine Flats Hot Springs along the South Fork Payette River, Bonneville Hot Springs, Trail Creek Hot Springs, and the developed resort The Springs in Idaho City. Our Idaho directory lists each one.

Last verified: September 20, 2026

Sources

Bureau of Land Management — press releases (Skinny Dipper closure announcements and extensions)
Federal Register, Vol. 87 No. 10 via GovInfo (January 14, 2022 — closure extended through February 14, 2027)
Idaho Statesman (local reporting on the closure and site damage)

Closure status can change with new BLM orders — especially around the February 14, 2027 expiry. Confirm with the BLM before planning a trip.