Challis Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Challis Hot Springs is a developed hot spring listed near Challis, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 100°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Idaho Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Open year-round under Idaho State Parks (unit of Land of the Yankee Fork SP since May 2023): two untreated outdoor mineral pools on the Salmon River 9 mi east of Challis, Tue-Sun 8:30am-8:30pm & Mon 8:30am-4:30pm; day use $10/person (under 5 free) plus the $7/vehicle Idaho State Parks entrance fee unless a State Passport or annual MVEF sticker is displayed. Riverside campground open seasonally.
verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A town base on US-93.
Challis 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 Idaho Dept. of Parks & Recreation - Land of the Yankee Fork page.
- Cost: Fees reported — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 100°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 - day use paid at entrance; campground reservable via Idaho State Parks
- Best time to go: weekday mornings; summer weekends fill up
- Clothing reality: Swimsuits required at this family state-park facility; no clothing-optional use.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: developed site with changing rooms, showers, restrooms; pool-entry accessibility not published
- Day-use hours change with season/day - Mon closes early (4:30pm)
- Possible $7 Idaho Motor Vehicle Entrance Fee on top of $10 pool fee unless holding State Passport
- Campground is seasonal; winter pool hours historically reduced (old operator closed Mon-Tue in winter)
- Pools are untreated mineral water - no chemical sanitation
- No lifeguards - soak at own risk
- Hazard: Source emerges ~127F and is flow-cooled; hot spots possible near inlets
- Hazard: Untreated water
- Hazard: Remote - services in Challis 9 mi
About this spring
Historic hot-springs resort on the Salmon River in Round Valley — since May 2023 a unit of Land of the Yankee Fork State Park (purchased by Idaho Parks & Rec for $2.5M). Two untreated outdoor mineral pools (~96-100°F large pool, ~105-107°F small pool), 54-site campground, showers. Fee: State park day-use/camping fees apply. Pools untreated; check IDPR for current hours. Pets in campground only, not pools.
Challis Hot Springs is one of Idaho's newest state park units: the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation purchased the property from the Hammond family and took over management in May 2023, folding it into Land of the Yankee Fork State Park after roughly 130 years of operation. The Hammond ancestors homesteaded the property and developed the springs in the late 1800s, when it sheltered miners during the Yankee Fork gold rush of the 1880s-1910s.
The geothermal source emerges around 127°F and feeds two outdoor pools through a continuous, completely untreated flow-through system — a large 100-by-30-foot pool held near 96-100°F and a smaller soaking pool around 105°F. The site fronts the Salmon River in Round Valley roughly eight to nine miles from Challis and includes a 54-site tent-and-RV campground, changing rooms, showers, and restrooms; day-use visitors are admitted for a fee without camping. The park operates year-round except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with reduced winter hours, and IDPR has signaled plans to upgrade the pools and campground capacity over time.
Directions & trailhead access
From Challis: US-93 south ~2 mi, left on Hot Springs Rd ~6 mi to 5025 Hot Springs Rd.
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 developed site means here
A developed site sits between primitive and resort: improved soaking infrastructure — built tubs, decks, stairs, sometimes changing rooms or vault toilets — often run by a land trust, nonprofit, or small operator. Expect modest fees or donation requests, posted etiquette rules, and more predictable conditions than a wild pool.
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 | 100°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 127°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Fees reported |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Idaho Dept. of Parks & Recreation - Land of the Yankee Fork page |
Challis Hot Springs FAQ
Is Challis Hot Springs open right now?
Open year-round under Idaho State Parks (unit of Land of the Yankee Fork SP since May 2023): two untreated outdoor mineral pools on the Salmon River 9 mi east of Challis, Tue-Sun 8:30am-8:30pm & Mon 8:30am-4:30pm; day use $10/person (under 5 free) plus the $7/vehicle Idaho State Parks entrance fee unless a State Passport or annual MVEF sticker is displayed. Riverside campground open seasonally. (Status verified against an official source.)
Is Challis Hot Springs free?
Challis Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Challis. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Challis Hot Springs?
Challis Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 100°F and a historical source temperature of 127°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Challis Hot Springs clothing optional?
Challis Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Challis Hot Springs?
Challis Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Challis
A town base on US-93. Remote Middle Fork springs are not ordinary day trips from a town hotel.
Challis 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
- Idaho Dept. of Parks & Recreation - Land of the Yankee Fork page — official · 2025
- IDPR Board agenda - Challis acquisition/fee item — official · 2023-04
- Challis Hot Springs legacy operator site — operator · 2023
- Hot Springs Guides summary — 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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