Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool is a primitive hot spring listed near Lowell, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 105°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open and free — day-use only 6am-8pm (enforced with citations) via a ~1-1.5 mi hike from Warm Springs Trailhead at MP 152 on US-12; the Big Pool is the large upper pool farthest along the trail.
Checked July 2026 · verified against an official source · 7 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Nez Perce-Clearwater NF — Warm Springs Trailhead (hours/enforcement).
- 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 105°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
- Best time to go: Late summer–fall for fullest pools and warm temps; weekday mornings to avoid the crowds
- Clothing reality: Customarily clothing-optional (idahohotsprings.com lists 'Clothing-Optional: Yes'); one aggregator claims 'swimsuit-required by Forest Service rule' but no such posted rule was verified — expect mixed nudity.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Mostly flat ~1-1.5 mi forest trail but the cliffside pools require a steep dirt side-trail descent
- Strictly day-use 6am-8pm — LE patrols and cites after-hours visitors; no camping at the springs
- Free; no permits; pit toilet/restrooms at the US-12 trailhead parking
- Lower/cliffside 'waterfall' pools submerge or run cold during spring runoff (roughly May-early June); the Big Pool sits higher but a 2017 runoff event buried pools in silt
- Cross Hwy 12 and the pack bridge over the Lochsa River to reach the trail
- Jerry Johnson Campground across the highway is open ~May 5-Oct 31 but currently has no water and is collecting no fee
- Hazard: Spring runoff can submerge lower pools or drop temperatures
- Hazard: 2017 high-water event filled pools with silt/debris
- Hazard: Icy trail and dangerous US-12 driving in winter
- Hazard: Temporary closure July 2023 (Little Bear Fire) shows fire-season closures are possible
About this spring
Group of three terraced soaking pools (Big Pool plus upper/lower pools, ~104-108°F upper, cooler below) above the Lochsa River in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, along the US-12 Lewis & Clark corridor. Old-growth cedar setting — among Idaho's most visited backcountry soaks. Annual winter trail closure for elk winter range (~late Nov-mid May). No overnight use. Spring runoff can submerge lower pools.
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs is among Idaho's most visited backcountry soaks, terraced above the Lochsa River in the Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests along the US-12 Lewis and Clark corridor. Three separate thermal sources feed the complex — the first supplies the waterfall pools nearest the trail, which stay submerged until late-August low water — and the Big Pool is the largest of the group, holding roughly 104-108°F where the ~114°F source mixes with creek water. The pools sit about a mile to a mile and a half in from the Warm Springs Pack Bridge trailhead between mile markers 152 and 153.
Once a favorite of Selway-Bitterroot backpackers, the springs were badly abused in the 1990s; the Forest Service responded with a nighttime closure and camping ban that remain in effect, plus an annual winter trail closure protecting elk winter range from roughly late November to mid-May. Swimsuits are officially required, though clothing-optional use persists in practice.
Directions & trailhead access
On US-12 between mile markers 152-153 (~25 mi west of Lolo Pass), park at the Warm Springs Pack Bridge pullout, cross the bridge over the Lochsa, and follow the main trail ~1-1.5 mi to the terraced pools.
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 | 105°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 114–118°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 | Nez Perce-Clearwater NF — Warm Springs Trailhead (hours/enforcement) |
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool FAQ
Is Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool open right now?
Open and free — day-use only 6am-8pm (enforced with citations) via a ~1-1.5 mi hike from Warm Springs Trailhead at MP 152 on US-12; the Big Pool is the large upper pool farthest along the trail. (Status verified against an official source, last checked July 2026.)
Is Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool free?
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool is listed as free to access in Idaho County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool?
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool has a reported soak temperature of 105°F and a historical source temperature of 114–118°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool clothing optional?
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool?
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs — Big Pool is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Nez Perce-Clearwater NF — Warm Springs Trailhead (hours/enforcement) — official · 2026
- Nez Perce-Clearwater NF — Jerry Johnson Campground (open 5/5-10/31) — official · 2026-07
- Spokesman-Review — spring runoff fills pools with silt — news · 2017-03
- The Mandagies — Jerry Johnson pool guide — community · 2024
- 10Adventures — 2026 update — community · 2026
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.idahohotsprings.com/destinations/jerry_johnson/index.htm
- hot-springs-atlas.com/springs/idaho/jerry-johnson-hot-springs
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
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.