Boat Box Hot Spring
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Boat Box Hot Spring is a primitive hot spring listed near Stanley, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 110°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Idaho Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free roadside soaking spot on the Salmon River bank beside Hwy 75, 3.3 mi north of Stanley — the famous metal cauldron is GONE (washed away in 2023 flooding; reportedly salvaged/relocated to Sunbeam Hot Springs 13 mi east), but the 136F spring still feeds 4-5 small rock-lined riverside pools via PVC pipe; temper with river water or snow.
Checked January 2025 · based on recent visitor reports · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A base for the Sawtooth and upper Salmon River leg, including Sunbeam.
Stanley is about 3 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Kate Crossing blog — Stanley hot springs guide (Jan 2025 visit: cauldron gone after spring flood, 4-5 rock pools remain, blind-corner parking warning).
- 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 110°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — free, unregulated roadside site in Sawtooth National Forest/SNRA corridor.
- Best time to go: Summer through winter (Jan 2025 visit found pools soaking-warm); avoid Apr-early Jun runoff; weekdays quieter.
- Clothing reality: Official: none posted (Sawtooth NRA roadside). Customary: swimsuits — pools sit in plain view of Highway 75; Wikipedia notes visitors do not usually skinny-dip due to highway proximity. Legal: public land, nudity legal in Idaho backcountry but not advisable roadside.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Short 20-ft dirt path from highway shoulder — no ADA anything; slippery riverbank rocks.
- The iconic metal 'boat box' cauldron is no longer at this site — swept away by spring flooding in 2023; multiple sources say the salvaged tub now sits at Sunbeam Hot Springs ~13 mi east of Stanley
- What remains: 4-5 small rock pools built by locals + a PVC pipe delivering ~136F water — the upper pool the pipe hits first WILL scald; test every pool
- Parking is 1-2 shoulder spots on a blind sharp corner — major hazard; larger turnouts 1/2 mi either direction
- Spring runoff (~Apr-early Jun) raises the Salmon River and can submerge the pools entirely; stay out at flood stage
- Bucket for river-water cooling often missing — bring water shoes and something to ladle cold water
- Algae in the water is normal; no facilities, no fee
- Hazard: 136F source water — scald risk at pipe outlet
- Hazard: Blind-corner shoulder parking on Hwy 75
- Hazard: Spring flood submersion/sweep risk
- Hazard: Cold river shock, slippery rocks
About this spring
Famous roadside soak 3.3 mi north of Stanley — a single metal cauldron tub on the Salmon River bank beside Hwy 75 fed by a 136°F source; cool it with bucketed river water (bucket on site). Fits 2 comfortably. Often submerged during spring runoff (~Apr-early Jun). Source water scalding — always temper before entering; tiny tub, expect waits.
Boat Box Hot Spring, also known as Elkhorn Hot Spring, is a hot spring located along the Salmon River in the Sawtooth National Forest on Idaho State Highway 75, about 3 miles away from the town of Stanley, Idaho. The hot spring is composed of a single metal tub that is fed through a plastic tube built into the riverbank. The spring is named for the historical wooden tub that was used before it was destroyed by annual spring flooding. The average temperature of Boat Box Hot Spring is usually around 110 °F (43.33 °C). The water is usually not clear, as algae inhabit its waters.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Boat Box Hot Spring”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
Hwy 75 to milepost ~192.7, 3.3 mi NE of Stanley; small turnout on the river side.
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 | 110°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 110°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Kate Crossing blog — Stanley hot springs guide (Jan 2025 visit: cauldron gone after spring flood, 4-5 rock pools remain, blind-corner parking warning) |
Boat Box Hot Spring FAQ
Is Boat Box Hot Spring open right now?
Free roadside soaking spot on the Salmon River bank beside Hwy 75, 3.3 mi north of Stanley — the famous metal cauldron is GONE (washed away in 2023 flooding; reportedly salvaged/relocated to Sunbeam Hot Springs 13 mi east), but the 136F spring still feeds 4-5 small rock-lined riverside pools via PVC pipe; temper with river water or snow. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked January 2025.)
Is Boat Box Hot Spring free?
Boat Box Hot Spring is listed as free to access in Custer County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Boat Box Hot Spring?
Boat Box Hot Spring has a reported soak temperature of 110°F and a historical source temperature of 110°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Boat Box Hot Spring clothing optional?
Boat Box Hot Spring is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Boat Box Hot Spring?
Boat Box Hot Spring is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Stanley
A base for the Sawtooth and upper Salmon River leg, including Sunbeam. Some lodging is seasonal.
Stanley is about 3 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Kate Crossing blog — Stanley hot springs guide (Jan 2025 visit: cauldron gone after spring flood, 4-5 rock pools remain, blind-corner parking warning) — community · 2025-01
- dani-the-explorer — Sunbeam Hot Springs guide (Boat Box cauldron MOVED to Sunbeam as of 2023) — community · 2024
- lorjorexplore — Sunbeam guide ('Boat Box... washed away by the river in 2023') — community · 2024
- Hot Springs Guides — Boat Box Hot Spring (original-site description, seasonal submersion guidance) — community · 2025
- Wikipedia — Boat Box Hot Spring (coords match, source 136F, pool ~110F, Elkhorn alternate name) — community · 2025
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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