Roystone Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Roystone Hot Springs is a private hot spring listed near Sweet, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Family-run geothermal resort on Hwy 52 in Sweet Valley (~35 mi NE of Boise, 13 mi NE of Emmett) operating year-round entirely by private reservation — your group gets exclusive use of the covered 50-ft pool (~95-99F) or the 104F jetted hot tub per session; pools are closed on Sundays and walk-ins are not accepted.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Sweet is a local base for the Roystone pool visit.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via Visit Idaho — Roystone Hot Springs listing.
- Cost: Reported $53 — 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; 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 — private reservation only
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: Weekday sessions; weekends and summer slots fill fast — book well ahead
- Clothing reality: Clothing/swimsuits required — family facility; alcohol-free property.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Pool has roomy stairs with handrails and a shallow 3-ft end; vaulted roof with open sides; hot tub and pool sessions are private so pace is your own
- Reservation-only — NO walk-ins; book online via FareHarbor or call 208-584-3371
- Pools closed on Sundays (grounds/splash pad still open)
- Check-in = call the office at 208-584-3371 on arrival BEFORE entering pool gates
- Hot tub off-limits to children 8 & under and pregnant women
- 48-hour cancellation notice required or full base fee is non-refundable
- Alcohol-free facility; no food, glass, smoking, or pets inside pool gates
- Untrained kids need a swim diaper ($1 at office); no regular diapers in pool
- Groups of 35+ swimmers must hire a licensed lifeguard themselves
- Non-camping guests must leave 10:30pm-8am (quiet hours 10pm-8am)
- GPS unreliable for final approach — look for milepost 44 on Hwy 52
- Hazard: Source emerges ~140-160F but pool water is cooled and chlorinated
- Hazard: No diving (3-6 ft depth)
- Hazard: Rural location ~35 mi from Boise — nearest hospitals in Emmett/Boise
- Hazard: Agricultural traffic on Hwy 52
About this spring
Family-owned resort in Sweet on Hwy 52 (~13 mi NE of Emmett) — a covered 50-ft pool at 95-99°F reserved EXCLUSIVELY for your group per session, plus a 104°F jetted hot tub; source ~143°F. RV park and event center. Reservation mandatory. Fee: Private group sessions only: pool $53-85/1.5hr (10 ppl incl), tub $25-43/hr — no walk-ins. No walk-ins — pre-booked sessions only.
Roystone Hot Springs occupies a Sweet Valley property on Highway 52 — at milepost 44, roughly halfway between Emmett and Horseshoe Bend — whose geothermal water has been used since the 1800s. The source emerges at roughly 140–143°F and is cooled and chlorinated for two soaking options: a 50-foot covered concrete pool held at 95–99°F beneath a vaulted roof with open sides and depths of 3–6 feet, and a jetted hot tub kept near 104°F that seats up to 12 and is off-limits to children under 8. What distinguishes Roystone from most Idaho springs is its exclusive-session model: every reservation gives the booking group the entire pool or tub to itself, and walk-ins are not accepted. The family-owned grounds add an RV park with full hookups, tent camping, a guest house, a splash pad, pickleball and basketball courts, and a 3,500-square-foot event center seating 150, making it a regular venue for reunions and weddings.
Directions & trailhead access
Hwy 52 in Sweet Valley, ~13 mi NE of Emmett / ~35 mi NE of Boise.
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 private-access site means here
This spring is on private property. Listing it documents the location's existence — it is not an invitation. Visiting requires explicit owner permission, and some sites are accessible only through memberships, hosted events, or arrangements with the land manager. Do not arrive unannounced.
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) | 104°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $53 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Private land — contact the owner/manager for permission |
Roystone Hot Springs FAQ
Is Roystone Hot Springs open right now?
Family-run geothermal resort on Hwy 52 in Sweet Valley (~35 mi NE of Boise, 13 mi NE of Emmett) operating year-round entirely by private reservation — your group gets exclusive use of the covered 50-ft pool (~95-99F) or the 104F jetted hot tub per session; pools are closed on Sundays and walk-ins are not accepted. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Roystone Hot Springs free?
Roystone Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Sweet. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Roystone Hot Springs?
Roystone Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 104°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Roystone Hot Springs clothing optional?
Roystone Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Roystone Hot Springs?
Roystone Hot Springs is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Sweet
Sweet is a local base for the Roystone pool visit. Reserve the private pool session with Roystone separately.
Check the road and access notes above before you book.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Roystone Hot Springs — official site (pool page, rules) — operator · 2026
- Roystone Hot Springs — rules page — operator · 2026
- Visit Idaho — Roystone Hot Springs listing — official · 2025
- Hot Springs Guides — Roystone Hot Springs — community · 2025
- HotSpringers.net — Roystone visit report — community · 2025-06
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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