Chattanooga Hot Spring
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Chattanooga Hot Spring is a primitive hot spring listed near Atlanta, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 103°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Free primitive waterfall-fed pool on the Middle Fork Boise River ~1.5 mi past the mining town of Atlanta, Idaho (Elmore County, Boise NF) — hot water (~105-120F at the vents) cascades ~100 ft down a cliff into a volunteer-built rock-and-sand pool running ~100-110F; the pool is SUBMERGED during spring runoff and the washboarded 4WD forest roads to Atlanta are effectively closed by snow ~Nov-May, so the real window is roughly July-October.
Checked September 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 5 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Hot Springs Guides — Chattanooga Hot Springs (access, seasonal windows).
- 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 103°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; 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: None — Boise National Forest land, free.
- Best time to go: August through early October — after runoff drops the river below the pool and before snow closes the roads; this is exactly the 'late season' window regulars recommend (i.e., RIGHT NOW as of late Sept).
- Clothing reality: No posted rules; clothing-optional is customary ('screw swimwear' per one guide) — remote site but seasonally popular, so expect company.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — steep 100-ft cliff descent on an informal trail.
- POOL SUBMERGED AT HIGH WATER — during/after spring runoff the Middle Fork covers the pool; the soakable window is late season (roughly Aug-Oct) — 'the rest of the time it's under water'
- ROAD SEASON — nearly all routes into Atlanta are impassable in winter (Nov-May/Jun); FS-268 Middle Fork Boise River Rd is infamous for washboards and washouts — high-clearance 4WD strongly recommended, ~56 mi SW of Lowman, ~3 hr from Boise; summer shortcut via FSRs off Hwy 21
- PARKING/LAND MIX — the flat parking area above the springs is PRIVATE land and has been signed 'No Trespassing'; park near the access road, not on the flat
- Short but steep ~100-ft trail drops down the cliff from the end-of-road pullout to the pool
- Rumors of red spider mites at the site per idahohotsprings.com
- Waterfall enters at scalding temps and cools in the pool — test before committing; shallow knee-deep pool takes ~45 min to refill after draining
- No services anywhere near — nearest gas Lowman or Idaho City (1+ hr); Power Plant Campground ~0.7 mi east; no cell service
- Hazard: River submersion of pool during high water
- Hazard: Scalding waterfall inflow (~105-120F at source)
- Hazard: Notoriously rough washboarded 4WD road; winter road closures and avalanche risk
- Hazard: Steep loose descent trail
- Hazard: Private-land parking trap above the springs (No Trespassing)
- Hazard: No cell service or nearby emergency services
About this spring
Signature waterfall-fed pool at the base of a steep rock cliff beside the Middle Fork Boise River near the historic mining town of Atlanta — a ~105-110°F thermal cascade pours into a large shallow rock/sand pool (~102-103°F) with river views. Seasonal — underwater during spring runoff. Submerged during spring runoff — visit late season. Scalding waterfall inlet; private-land parking conflicts.
Chattanooga Hot Springs is a primitive, waterfall-fed soak at the base of a steep cliff beside the Middle Fork of the Boise River, about a mile and a half from the mining town of Atlanta at ~5,300 feet. Hot mineral water emerges from the cliff face at roughly 120°F and pours about 100 feet down the rock into a single large, shallow, volunteer-built rock-and-sand pool, cooling to a soakable ~100-110°F with open views of the river. Because the pool sits at river level it is submerged during spring runoff — the standard advice is to come late season.
A short but steep ~100-foot trail drops to the pool from the end of the road; the flat above is private land that has been posted against trespassing, so parking is limited to near the access road. Clothing is optional, there are no facilities on site, and red spider mites have been rumored here. Access requires long, rough forest roads and high-clearance 4WD, and the route is snowbound from roughly November through May.
Directions & trailhead access
From Atlanta, FS Rd 268 ~1.5 mi; park near the access road (flat above is private/posted) and take the short steep trail down to the river-edge pool.
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 | 103°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 120°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Hot Springs Guides — Chattanooga Hot Springs (access, seasonal windows) |
Chattanooga Hot Spring FAQ
Is Chattanooga Hot Spring open right now?
Free primitive waterfall-fed pool on the Middle Fork Boise River ~1.5 mi past the mining town of Atlanta, Idaho (Elmore County, Boise NF) — hot water (~105-120F at the vents) cascades ~100 ft down a cliff into a volunteer-built rock-and-sand pool running ~100-110F; the pool is SUBMERGED during spring runoff and the washboarded 4WD forest roads to Atlanta are effectively closed by snow ~Nov-May, so the real window is roughly July-October. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked September 2026.)
Is Chattanooga Hot Spring free?
Chattanooga Hot Spring is listed as free to access in Elmore County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Chattanooga Hot Spring?
Chattanooga Hot Spring has a reported soak temperature of 103°F and a historical source temperature of 120°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Chattanooga Hot Spring clothing optional?
Chattanooga Hot Spring is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Chattanooga Hot Spring?
Chattanooga Hot Spring is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Hot Springs Guides — Chattanooga Hot Springs (access, seasonal windows) — community · 2026-09
- IdahoHotSprings.com — Chattanooga (pool description, private-land parking warning) — community · 2006-09
- HotWaterSlaughter — Chattanooga Hot Springs (105-110F falls, drain/fill detail) — community · 2010
- Hot Springs Locator — Chattanooga Hot Springs (winter road closure detail) — 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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