Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge) is a primitive hot spring listed near Cascade, Idaho. No soak temperature is on record. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Idaho Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Wild riverside springs on the South Fork Salmon River in Boise National Forest ~28 mi NE of Cascade; the Forest Service removed the namesake bathtubs in 2009, but visitors keep rebuilding rock pools and at least one piped tub — the ~131F source needs mixing with river water, pools are submerged during spring runoff, and a wildfire burn scar surrounds the site.
Checked July 2024 · based on recent visitor reports · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay on the ID-55 leg for Cascade-area trips.
Cascade is about 19 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 HotSpringers.net — Molly's Tubs trip report with photos (131F source, Jacuzzi tub + rock pools, burn scar).
- 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: No soak temperature on record — 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 public land, no fee.
- Best time to go: Summer and fall after runoff drops; weekday mornings to beat the historically 'jam-packed' crowds at the tubs. Winter access requires skis/snowshoes (210+ in annual snow, unplowed forest roads).
- Clothing reality: No official policy (undeveloped National Forest site); customarily clothing-optional per multiple guidebooks/trip reports; public nudity is not formally sanctioned — standard Boise NF rules apply.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Steep ~200 ft informal trail from roadside pullout — not accessible.
- Source water ~129-131F (54-55C) — too hot to enter directly; only soakable where mixed with cold river water or piped into a tub; test every pool
- Seasonal submersion: riverside rock pools are submerged during spring runoff — best in summer/fall low water
- Tubs come and go: USFS removed the original bathtubs in 2009; visitors have since installed/replaced a Jacuzzi tub and built a mortared rock pool — what you find varies visit to visit
- Short but steep ~200 ft trail down from the FR 474 pullout; original road access from the highway was lost to a wildfire-era change — approach is now via Stolle Meadow Rd/FR 427 then FR 474
- Visible wildfire burn scar around the site (burned several years ago); watch for snags/ash
- GPS unreliable in the area per trip reports — follow written directions: ID-55 in Cascade, east on NF-22/Warm Lake Rd ~23.7 mi, right on FR 427/Stolle Meadow Rd 3.2 mi, right on NF-474 ~1.5 mi to pullout
- Historic 'No Camping' signage posted at the springs
- Nearby related features: 'Molly's Trolley' and 'the Folley' springs across the river require a ford — dangerous at high water
- Hazard: Scalding 131F source water; near-boiling sticky mud around seeps
- Hazard: River ford required to reach outlying springs (Trolley/Folley) — hazardous in high water
- Hazard: Burned-area hazards: falling snags, unstable slopes
- Hazard: Seasonal pool submersion during runoff
- Hazard: No cell service; ~40 min from Cascade on forest roads
About this spring
Primitive roadside soaking site on the bank of the South Fork Salmon River in Boise National Forest ~28 mi NE of Cascade — a travertine mound with rock pools (~129-131°F source). NOTE: the namesake bathtubs were removed by the Forest Service in 2009; two shallow seasonal pools remain. Pools submerged during spring runoff; road unplowed in winter. No camping at springs.
Molly's Tubs — catalogued by the USGS as South Fork Plunge and mapped as Molly's Tub on OpenStreetMap — is a roadside thermal site on the bank of the South Fork Salmon River in the Boise National Forest's Warm Lake area. Water near 130°F (129-131°F reported) gushes from a travertine mound above the river and has historically been routed through hoses into soaking vessels.
The site took its name from a set of salvaged metal bathtubs that became so popular — and so abused — that the Forest Service dismantled and removed them in 2009; rusted cast-off tubs had littered the site beforehand. Two shallow, silty seasonal pools have since formed naturally near the river, though spring runoff submerges them entirely. A steep path of only a few hundred feet drops from the FR 474 pullout to the riverbank. No camping is allowed at the springs, and the access road is unplowed in winter.
Directions & trailhead access
From Cascade: Warm Lake Rd (NF-22) ~23.7 mi to FR 427/Stolle Meadow Rd; right 3.2 mi to fork, right onto NF-474 ~1.5 mi to the pullout; short walk to the river.
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 | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 129–131°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 | HotSpringers.net — Molly's Tubs trip report with photos (131F source, Jacuzzi tub + rock pools, burn scar) |
Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge) FAQ
Is Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge) open right now?
Wild riverside springs on the South Fork Salmon River in Boise National Forest ~28 mi NE of Cascade; the Forest Service removed the namesake bathtubs in 2009, but visitors keep rebuilding rock pools and at least one piped tub — the ~131F source needs mixing with river water, pools are submerged during spring runoff, and a wildfire burn scar surrounds the site. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked July 2024.)
Is Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge) free?
Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge) is listed as free to access in Valley County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge)?
No soak temperature is on record for Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge); the geothermal source is reported around 129–131°F. Always test water temperature before entering.
Is Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge) clothing optional?
Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge) is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge)?
Molly's Tubs (South Fork Plunge) is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Cascade
Stay on the ID-55 leg for Cascade-area trips. Check the separate forest-road approach to each spring.
Cascade is about 19 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- HotSpringers.net — Molly's Tubs trip report with photos (131F source, Jacuzzi tub + rock pools, burn scar) — community · 2024-07
- Salmon Tolman Fam blog — Warm Lake Weekend (soaked rock pool; spa tub dirty; Trolley spring ford) — community · 2023-09
- alongthewaywithjacque — Molly's Tubs 2021 (rebuilt tubs, mortared pool, too-hot pools) — community · 2021-07
- IdahoHotSprings.com — Molly's Tubs page (USFS removed tubs 2009, seasonal pools, high usage) — community · 2012-09
- Hot Springs Locator — Molly's Tubs (directions, 140F source, steep 200-ft trail) — community · 2024
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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