Bear Creek Hot Spring
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Bear Creek Hot Spring is a primitive hot spring listed near Irwin, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 102°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
A legitimate backcountry soak in Caribou-Targhee National Forest south of Palisades Reservoir near Irwin: a natural rock pool reached by ~13 mi round-trip up the Bear Creek canyon trail (six+ creek fords, steep final climb) — public USFS land, no permit needed, dogs OK, best March-October.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 4 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via AllTrails — Bear Creek Hot Springs, Caribou-Targhee NF (13.1 mi RT, hard, 193 reviews, dogs welcome, best Mar-Oct).
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 102°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None for day use; standard Caribou-Targhee NF rules (Palisades Ranger District).
- Best time to go: March-October (AllTrails); weekday mornings for solitude — popular on summer weekends.
- Clothing reality: No official policy; locals sometimes soak nude ('European style' per trail reports) — legal on federal land absent county ordinance, but be respectful of others present.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — 13 mi RT backcountry hike with repeated creek crossings and a steep finish.
- EARN IT: ~6.5 mi each way (13.1 mi RT, rated hard) from the Bear Creek trailhead off Forest Rd 058 / Snake River Rd south of Palisades Reservoir
- The trail fords Bear Creek ~6 times in the first 4 miles — dangerous in spring runoff; the last mile is steep
- Snow blocks the trail roughly Oct-Jun; creek fords are highest Apr-Jun
- Grizzly country — carry bear spray; food storage rules apply for overnights
- Trail open to hikers, horses, and mountain bikes
- A shorter approach exists via Warm Springs Trail #148 (~1 mi up #148, then 0.5 mi on the Bear Creek Hot Springs Trail) per onX/MTB Project
- Hazard: Multiple unbridged creek fords — high/fast water in spring
- Hazard: Steep final mile; remote canyon with no cell service
- Hazard: Grizzly and black bears
- Hazard: Winter snow closure; avalanche terrain in season
About this spring
Backcountry soaking spring at ~7,000 ft on upper Bear Creek in the Snake River Range (Caribou-Targhee NF) — a ~10x10 ft pool at trail's end with a campsite nearby. ~13-15 mi round-trip unmaintained trail with multiple creek crossings, or a shorter spur off Warm Springs Trail #148. Strenuous unmaintained trail; cold creek crossings hazardous at high water; bear country; snowbound Oct-Jun.
Bear Creek Hot Spring is a high-elevation backcountry soak near 7,000 feet in the Snake River Range, deep in Caribou-Targhee National Forest south of Palisades Reservoir near Irwin. Reaching it requires roughly a 13-mile round trip up the Bear Creek canyon — mostly gentle, forested walking under lodgepole and aspen, with newer bridges and bench paths bypassing the old creek fords — before a steep final climb of close to 1,000 feet in the last mile. The reward is a clear natural rock pool, reported at roughly 10 by 20 feet, at about ideal soaking temperature; a campsite sits nearby and many visitors backpack in overnight. The soak is frequently clothing-optional, and the canyon is active bear country where bear spray is advised. No temperature has been formally recorded for the spring in USGS-derived data, and snow typically closes the route from late fall into June. Best access is roughly March through October.
Directions & trailhead access
From Irwin: Bear Creek trailhead via Forest Rd 058; trail follows Bear Creek upstream ~6.5-7.5 mi with ~6 creek crossings.
Idaho geothermal context
Idaho's thermal water rides the old track of the Yellowstone hotspot across the Snake River Plain and surfaces along faults in the surrounding mountains. Many of the best soaks are roadside or river-access pools inside national forests — including springs that only emerge when river levels drop. Backcountry sites demand real navigation skills and long dirt-road drives.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Best time to visit
Year-Round (Best: May – October)Pool temperatures and access can change with weather and season. Outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly across Idaho. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 102°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | AllTrails — Bear Creek Hot Springs, Caribou-Targhee NF (13.1 mi RT, hard, 193 reviews, dogs welcome, best Mar-Oct) |
Bear Creek Hot Spring FAQ
Is Bear Creek Hot Spring open right now?
A legitimate backcountry soak in Caribou-Targhee National Forest south of Palisades Reservoir near Irwin: a natural rock pool reached by ~13 mi round-trip up the Bear Creek canyon trail (six+ creek fords, steep final climb) — public USFS land, no permit needed, dogs OK, best March-October. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Is Bear Creek Hot Spring free?
Bear Creek Hot Spring is listed as free to access in Bonneville County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Bear Creek Hot Spring?
Bear Creek Hot Spring has a reported soak temperature of 102°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Bear Creek Hot Spring clothing optional?
Bear Creek Hot Spring is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Bear Creek Hot Spring?
Bear Creek Hot Spring is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- AllTrails — Bear Creek Hot Springs, Caribou-Targhee NF (13.1 mi RT, hard, 193 reviews, dogs welcome, best Mar-Oct) — community · 2026-09
- Free Arenas — Bear Creek Hot Springs near Irwin (trailhead on Forest Rd 058; ~6.6-6.8 mi route; six creek crossings in first 4 miles) — community · 2024
- onX Backcountry / MTB Project — Bear Creek Hot Springs Trail (leaves Warm Springs Trail #148 ~1 mi up, 0.5 mi SE to the soak; land manager USFS; nudity note) — community · 2023
- SoakingSprings — Bear Creek Hot Spring entry (USFS Caribou NF land, open access, ~3.4 mi from FR 063; NB: labels county Teton) — community · 2026-03
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
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