Panther Creek Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Directory data reviewed September 2026
Current status
Checked October 2024 · verified against an official sourcePrimitive, undeveloped Salmon-Challis NF hot springs up Hot Springs Creek off Panther Creek Road near North Fork, ID — source is ~180-185F with small dug-out sand/gravel pools and a crude rock sauna; reached via a steep single-lane switchback road (FR 060); Forest Service warned in 2019 after a man was severely burned and dogs died.
Sources: Idaho Statesman — 'Forest Service warns of danger after man burned in Idaho hot springs, dogs die' (news · 2019-07) · InciWeb / Salmon-Challis NF — Black Eagle & Red Rock fire closure orders 04-13-24-019/020 and Red Rock termination 10/27/2024 (official · 2024-10) · KMVT — Salmon River/Pine Creek roads repair & closures (lower 7 mi of Panther Creek Rd graded spring 2024) (news · 2024-04) · idahohotsprings.com — Panther (Big Creek) Hot Springs (pool conditions, blowout history) (community · 2010) · montanahotsprings.net — Panther Creek Hot Springs (directions via FR 060) (community · 2023) · HotWaterSlaughter — Panther (Big Creek) Hot springs (temps, sauna, pool condition) (community · 2015) · River's Fork Lodge — area hot springs notes (pools muddy, 4WD recommended) (operator · 2024)
Primitive, undeveloped Salmon-Challis NF hot springs up Hot Springs Creek off Panther Creek Road near North Fork, ID — source is ~180-185F with small dug-out sand/gravel pools and a crude rock sauna; reached via a steep single-lane switchback road (FR 060); Forest Service warned in 2019 after a man was severely burned and dogs died.
Panther Creek Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Salmon, Idaho. No soak temperature is on record. See the visit fact sheet.
Before you go — visit checklist
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via InciWeb / Salmon-Challis NF — Black Eagle & Red Rock fire closure orders 04-13-24-019/020 and Red Rock termination 10/27/2024.
- 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 — Salmon-Challis National Forest, no fee.
- Best time to go: Late spring-fall; road may be icy/snowy in winter (park low, walk up). Quiet weekdays.
- Clothing reality: No posted policy; remote national forest — clothing-optional custom.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — rough mountain roads then a short but rough trail.
- DANGER: source water ~180-185F. A 2019 incident burned a man and killed his dogs; Salmon-Challis NF issued a scalding warning — ALWAYS test water and keep dogs out/secured
- Pools are marginal: the old huge pool blew out with debris in 2001 and is now cool/muddy (tadpoles); remaining soakable spots are small dug-out pools that need periodic re-digging and creek-water mixing
- Access road FR 060 (Hot Springs Creek Rd) is a steep single-lane switchback — high-clearance/4WD recommended; in winter park at the base and hike up (ice, cliff edge)
- Black widow spiders reported in the pool rocks/sauna
- 2024 Black Eagle/Red Rock fires (~50,000 acres combined) burned the broader Panther Creek corridor; closure orders terminated Oct 2024 but expect hazard trees, flash-flood/debris risk, and possible intermittent road work — check Salmon-Challis NF alerts
- Salmon River Road (FR 030) has a history of landslides/flood damage (Aug 2023) and intermittent closures
- No facilities; nearest official campground at Panther Creek
- Hazard: Scalding source water ~185F (documented burn incident)
- Hazard: Steep narrow switchback road with drop-offs
- Hazard: Black widow spiders at pools
- Hazard: Post-fire hazard trees and flash flooding in the 2024 burn area
- Hazard: Landslide-prone Salmon River Road approach
Fact Sheet & Geothermal Specifications
| Reported Soak Temp | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Source Temp (Historical) | Not reported |
| 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 | InciWeb / Salmon-Challis NF — Black Eagle & Red Rock fire closure orders 04-13-24-019/020 and Red Rock termination 10/27/2024 |
Detailed Description
Famous wild backcountry spring in the Salmon River mountains — currently OUT OF USE due to mudslides that buried the pools. A 2015 USFS warning followed a hiker being severely burned and two dogs scalded to death when temperatures spiked near boiling. Listed for reference only. OUT OF USE — mudslides; dangerously hot, has caused severe burns and dog deaths.
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.
Directions & Trailhead Access
Formerly reached via trail from Panther Creek Rd north of Salmon — do not attempt.
Seasonal Soaking & Best Time to Visit
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.
Sources & References
- Idaho Statesman — 'Forest Service warns of danger after man burned in Idaho hot springs, dogs die' — news · 2019-07
- InciWeb / Salmon-Challis NF — Black Eagle & Red Rock fire closure orders 04-13-24-019/020 and Red Rock termination 10/27/2024 — official · 2024-10
- KMVT — Salmon River/Pine Creek roads repair & closures (lower 7 mi of Panther Creek Rd graded spring 2024) — news · 2024-04
- idahohotsprings.com — Panther (Big Creek) Hot Springs (pool conditions, blowout history) — community · 2010
- montanahotsprings.net — Panther Creek Hot Springs (directions via FR 060) — community · 2023
- HotWaterSlaughter — Panther (Big Creek) Hot springs (temps, sauna, pool condition) — community · 2015
- River's Fork Lodge — area hot springs notes (pools muddy, 4WD recommended) — operator · 2024
Current access has not been independently confirmed for this visit. Check the linked sources before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
Frequently Asked Questions: Panther Creek Hot Springs
Is Panther Creek Hot Springs open right now?+
Primitive, undeveloped Salmon-Challis NF hot springs up Hot Springs Creek off Panther Creek Road near North Fork, ID — source is ~180-185F with small dug-out sand/gravel pools and a crude rock sauna; reached via a steep single-lane switchback road (FR 060); Forest Service warned in 2019 after a man was severely burned and dogs died. (Status verified against an official source, last checked October 2024.)
Is Panther Creek Hot Springs free?+
Panther Creek Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Lemhi County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Panther Creek Hot Springs?+
No soak temperature is on record for Panther Creek Hot Springs. Always test water temperature before entering.
Is Panther Creek Hot Springs clothing optional?+
Panther Creek Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Panther Creek Hot Springs?+
Panther Creek Hot Springs is a recorded location in Lemhi County. Exact access, parking, and land status are not verified — check with the local land manager (BLM/USFS/NPS) before visiting.
Where to Stay Near Panther Creek Hot Springs
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