Kirkham Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Kirkham Hot Springs is a developed 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 and managed by Boise NF as a day-use-only site (7am-9pm, gate locks at 9pm, no overnight); $5/vehicle fee or interagency pass; park outside the gate and walk across the bridge to the pools.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
For the Banks–Lowman and ID-21 springs.
Lowman is about 4 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 — Kirkham Hot Springs (USFS).
- Cost: Reported $5/vehicle — 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; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: No permit; $5/vehicle day-use fee box or Recreation.gov Kirkham Day Use Area Pass; interagency passes accepted
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings right at 7am; summer weekends are extremely crowded
- Clothing reality: Officially a developed family day-use site where swimwear is expected/customary; community sources describe occasional nudity but the site is heavily patrolled and posted rules apply. Idaho indecent-exposure law applies; treat as clothing-required.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Parking lot is outside a locked gate; visitors cross a bridge then descend a paved path with staircases to the riverside pools — not wheelchair accessible to the water
- Gate locks at 9pm — vehicles left inside can be trapped overnight
- $5 day-use fee applies even if you park along Highway 21 outside the gate
- Day-use pass for a specific date/vehicle can be bought on Recreation.gov; America the Beautiful passes accepted
- No overnight camping anywhere at the site; no entry after hours
- Parking outside designated areas can be ticketed/towed
- No potable water on site
- Hazard: Riverside pools can be submerged/degraded during spring runoff
- Hazard: History of vandalism/overuse — site was closed in 2021 and converted from campground to day-use on reopening in 2022
- Hazard: Temporary closures for construction (e.g. Nov 11-15, 2024 bridge resurfacing); $1.4M upgrade program (bridge, parking, trails, pool access) was slated for completion by summer 2025
About this spring
Boise National Forest day-use site on the South Fork Payette River just east of Lowman. Geothermal water (~110°F+ at source) pours over travertine ledges into user-built rock pools at the river's edge, next to Kirkham Campground. Vault toilets and changing rooms on site. Fee: $5/vehicle day-use fee. DAY USE ONLY 7am-9pm; gate locks at 9pm. Rocks slick when wet. Hwy 21 often closes in winter.
Kirkham is the Boise National Forest's signature roadside hot spring and one of Idaho's most-photographed wild soaks: geothermal water pours over exposed ledges as small steaming waterfalls — the site's defining feature — before collecting in rock-walled pools at the edge of the South Fork Payette River at 4,000 feet elevation. The Forest Service manages it as a day-use geothermal interpretive site, with a path winding among the seeps and source vents and interpretive signs explaining the geology; a staircase drops from the fee parking area across the river to the pools.
The spring anchors the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway stretch of Highway 21 at milepost 77, roughly an hour and three-quarters from Boise, and the lot often fills by mid-morning on summer weekends. Adjacent Kirkham Campground provides vault toilets and drinking water, and the 35-mile Kirkham Ridge Trail — one of the Lowman Ranger District's premier routes — begins less than a quarter-mile away.
Directions & trailhead access
On Hwy 21 at milepost 77, ~5 miles east of Lowman. Park at the fee area, cross the bridge, and take the staircase trail down to the 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 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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 120°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $5/vehicle — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Boise National Forest — Kirkham Hot Springs (USFS) |
Kirkham Hot Springs FAQ
Is Kirkham Hot Springs open right now?
Open and managed by Boise NF as a day-use-only site (7am-9pm, gate locks at 9pm, no overnight); $5/vehicle fee or interagency pass; park outside the gate and walk across the bridge to the pools. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Is Kirkham Hot Springs free?
Kirkham 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 Kirkham Hot Springs?
Kirkham Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°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 Kirkham Hot Springs clothing optional?
Kirkham Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Kirkham Hot Springs?
Kirkham 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 4 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 — Kirkham Hot Springs (USFS) — official · 2026-09
- Recreation.gov — Kirkham Day Use Area Pass — official · 2026
- KTVB — Kirkham temporarily closed for bridge repair — news · 2024-11
- KIVI Idaho News 6 — Kirkham $1.4M upgrades / 2021 closure history — news · 2024-11
- Hot Springs Guides — Kirkham — community · 2026
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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