Bonneville Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Bonneville Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Lowman, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Idaho Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Open — the primitive Boise NF spring 19 mi east of Lowman (NOT the Washington resort); 1/4-mi trail from Bonneville Campground day-use lot, $5/vehicle self-pay fee box or interagency pass; reachable on foot year-round but ~1 mi longer walk when the campground gate is closed.
Checked August 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
For the Banks–Lowman and ID-21 springs.
Lowman is about 16 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 Boise National Forest — Bonneville Campground (USFS).
- Cost: Reported $5 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 104°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: No permit; day-use fee only. Campground (22 sites, ~$15-30/night) reservable on Recreation.gov
- Best time to go: June–October; weekday mornings for solitude — most secluded of the Lowman-corridor springs
- Clothing reality: No posted code found on FS pages; customarily clothing-optional (hotspringers.net lists 'clothing optional'); swimwear advisable on busy weekends.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Short (1/4 mi) but natural/muddy trail; not wheelchair accessible
- $5/vehicle self-pay fee envelope at the day-use lot during campground season; America the Beautiful pass accepted
- Campground gate closed in winter — adds ~1 mi round-trip walk on the access road; road unplowed
- Pools can wash out or run cold during spring runoff/high water
- Features a rustic 'soak shack' with a cast-iron tub plus volunteer-built creek pools
- NOT the same as Bonneville Hot Springs Resort in North Bonneville, WA
- Hazard: Spring runoff can submerge/cool pools
- Hazard: Winter access means snow walking on a closed road
- Hazard: Campground open to 'dispersed' camping after Sept 30 with no water/trash/toilet service until snow
About this spring
Undeveloped Boise National Forest hot springs along Warm Springs Creek above Bonneville Campground, ~19 miles northeast of Lowman. User-built rock-walled pools plus a private wooden soak shack with a cast-iron bathtub of piped hot water. Source up to ~180°F — pools tempered by creek mixing. Fee: $5 day-use fee during campground season. Nudity, soap, pets, and glass prohibited (Lowman Ranger District rules). Source water is scalding. Hwy 21 closes in winter.
Bonneville Hot Springs sits along Warm Springs Creek in the Boise National Forest, a quarter-mile walk from the northwest end of Bonneville Campground, 19 miles east of Lowman off Highway 21 at milepost 91.5 (4,700 ft elevation). The site combines user-built, rock-walled soaking pools with sand and silt bottoms and a private wooden 'soak shack' housing a cast-iron bathtub fed by piped hot water with a wooden stopper. The South Fork Payette River runs across the highway, and the campground occupies a ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir bluff above the creek.
A $5 day-use fee applies to non-campers during the campground season — roughly mid-to-late April through October or November depending on snow. When the campground gate is closed, visitors park at the Warm Springs Trailhead and walk about a mile farther in; snowshoes or skis are recommended in winter. Lowman Ranger District rules prohibit nudity, soap, pets, and glass at the springs, and the site is heavily used from May through September.
Directions & trailhead access
From Lowman, Hwy 21 northeast ~19 miles to Bonneville Campground turnoff (milepost 91.5); gravel road ~0.8-1 mi to trailhead, then ~0.4 mi trail to the springs. In winter park at Warm Springs Trailhead and walk ~1 mi farther.
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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $5 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Boise National Forest — Bonneville Campground (USFS) |
Bonneville Hot Springs FAQ
Is Bonneville Hot Springs open right now?
Open — the primitive Boise NF spring 19 mi east of Lowman (NOT the Washington resort); 1/4-mi trail from Bonneville Campground day-use lot, $5/vehicle self-pay fee box or interagency pass; reachable on foot year-round but ~1 mi longer walk when the campground gate is closed. (Status verified against an official source, last checked August 2026.)
Is Bonneville Hot Springs free?
Bonneville Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Lowman. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Bonneville Hot Springs?
Bonneville Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Bonneville Hot Springs clothing optional?
Bonneville Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Bonneville Hot Springs?
Bonneville Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Lowman
For the Banks–Lowman and ID-21 springs. Lodging is limited, and each forest-road approach needs its own seasonal check.
Lowman is about 16 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Boise National Forest — Bonneville Campground (USFS) — official · 2026
- Recreation.gov — Bonneville Campground — official · 2026
- Hot Springs Guides — Bonneville Hot Springs — community · 2026
- Lorjor Explore — Bonneville Hot Springs trip report — community · 2025
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
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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