Pine Flats Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Pine Flats Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Lowman, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 102°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Idaho Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Open again — the May 12–June 30, 2026 closure of the campground/hot-springs area for hazard-tree logging has expired and August 2026 reports describe the springs as fully open; $5/vehicle day-use fee in season, ~0.25-mi walk in summer.
Checked August 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
For the Banks–Lowman and ID-21 springs.
Lowman is about 3 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 NF — Pine Flats Campground Area and Road Closure order 0402-06-82.
- Cost: Fees reported — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 102°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; 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: No permit; day-use fee in season. Campground reservable via Recreation.gov (~$15-20/night, 24 sites)
- Best time to go: Fall and winter weekdays; pools are limited so arrive early
- Clothing reality: No posted code found; customarily mixed — swimwear common on busy days, some nudity reported off-hours.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Short trail in season but riverside/big-waterfall pool requires a steep slick descent; not wheelchair accessible
- $5/vehicle day-use fee when campground is operating (mid-May–Sept 30); interagency pass accepted
- Campground gate closed Sept–May: park at the highway pullout and walk ~0.5-0.75 mi to the springs
- Source water is ~115-138°F — dangerously hot; check pools before entering and keep kids/pets back from the outlet
- Distinct cliffside 'hot waterfall' pool is down a steep, icy-in-winter side trail to the river
- Area (incl. hot springs) was closed May 12–June 30, 2026 for hazard-tree removal — verify no repeat orders before visiting
- Hazard: Scalding source (one survey lists 138°F at the source)
- Hazard: Hazard-tree history — 2026 logging closure
- Hazard: Icy/frozen trail sections in winter; steep slick side trail to lower river pool
About this spring
Boise National Forest hot springs on the South Fork Payette River within Pine Flats Campground, a few miles west of Lowman. Several rock pools (~95-110°F) sit on a cliff face above the river, and a natural hot waterfall pours into the main pool — the site's signature feature. Fee: Day-use parking fee at Pine Flats Campground. Riverside pools submerge during spring runoff. Nudity/soap/pets/glass prohibited per district rules.
Pine Flats Hot Springs occupies a cliff face above the South Fork Payette River within Pine Flats Campground on the Banks-Lowman Highway — the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway — about six miles west of Lowman at 3,680 feet. Several rock-walled pools step down the cliff from a ~115°F source: upper pools run roughly 103-110°F while riverside pools sit closer to 95°F and shift with river level. The site's signature is a natural hot waterfall that pours down the rock into the main pool, keeping a fresh cycle of water and making it one of the most photographed undeveloped springs on the Payette.
A quarter-mile trail from the campground's west end reaches the pools; the final approach to the waterfall pool is a steep, narrow descent over mineral-slicked rock that demands footwear with grip. A day-use parking fee or interagency pass is required. The 24-site campground operates May through September; when the gate is locked (roughly September-May) visitors park roadside and walk an extra half mile. Spring runoff can cut off the riverside and waterfall pools, so late summer and fall are most reliable.
Directions & trailhead access
Banks-Lowman Highway (Hwy 17) ~28 mi east from Banks to signed Pine Flats Campground; pay day-use fee and walk ~0.25 mi trail from the campground's west end. Final approach to cliff pools is steep and rocky.
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 | 102°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Fees reported |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Boise NF — Pine Flats Campground Area and Road Closure order 0402-06-82 |
Pine Flats Hot Springs FAQ
Is Pine Flats Hot Springs open right now?
Open again — the May 12–June 30, 2026 closure of the campground/hot-springs area for hazard-tree logging has expired and August 2026 reports describe the springs as fully open; $5/vehicle day-use fee in season, ~0.25-mi walk in summer. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked August 2026.)
Is Pine Flats Hot Springs free?
Pine Flats 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 Pine Flats Hot Springs?
Pine Flats Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 102°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Pine Flats Hot Springs clothing optional?
Pine Flats Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Pine Flats Hot Springs?
Pine Flats 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 3 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 NF — Pine Flats Campground Area and Road Closure order 0402-06-82 — official · 2026-05
- Boise NF — Pine Flats Campground page — official · 2026-05
- Soak Destinations — Pine Flats (reports fully open) — community · 2026-08
- AllTrails — Pine Flats Hot Spring reviews — community · 2026-06
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/pine-flats-hot-springs-idaho-united-states
- www.themandagies.com/pine-flats-hot-springs-idaho
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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