Sacajawea Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Sacajawea Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Lowman, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 115°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Free primitive riverside pools on the South Fork Payette River ~5 mi up Grandjean Road (FR 524) off Hwy 21 in Boise NF — roadside pullouts serve visitor-built rock pools fed by 125-160°F hillside sources; pools submerge during spring runoff, the gravel road closes in winter, and the surrounding Grandjean area burned in the 125,000-acre 2024 Wapiti Fire (reopened Oct 2024).
Checked October 2024 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
For the Banks–Lowman and ID-21 springs.
Lowman is about 23 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 InciWeb — Wapiti Fire updates (Grandjean Rd repair, closures).
- 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: Reported soak temperature 115°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: None — Boise NF (Lowman Ranger District) public land, free.
- Best time to go: July-October after runoff drops; weekday mornings to beat the roadside crowd. Winter access only by snowmobile/ski.
- Clothing reality: No official rule — roadside site in plain view of Grandjean Road, so swimwear is the norm and recommended; nudity impractical given visibility.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Short but rough scramble down the riverbank from roadside pullouts — not wheelchair friendly.
- Pools are submerged during spring runoff — soakable season is roughly July-October at lower river levels; visitors divert cold river water through rock channels to cool pools
- WAPITI FIRE (Jul 24-Oct 2024, ~125,000+ ac, lightning): the entire Grandjean corridor burned; area closed all summer 2024 and REOPENED ~Oct 2024 with restrictions — burned trees, flash-flood debris, and landslides reported on trails; check Boise NF alerts before visiting
- FR 524 (Grandjean Rd) is seasonal — closed to wheeled vehicles in winter (snowmobile/ski only); maintained gravel in season, any vehicle OK
- Source water emerges at 125-160°F uphill — never touch the inflow; test pools before entering
- No camping AT the springs — Grandjean Campground ~2 mi and Sawtooth Lodge (cabins/RV) adjacent; dispersed sites along FR 524
- No facilities, no fee; pack out all waste; springs are popular — roadside pullouts fill on summer weekends
- Hazard: 125-160°F scalding source water
- Hazard: Pools fully submerged/dangerous during spring runoff — fast river current
- Hazard: Post-fire hazards: falling snags, flash floods, debris slides (posted warnings in Grandjean area)
- Hazard: Winter closure of FR 524; remote — no cell service
About this spring
Primitive visitor-built rock pools along the South Fork Payette riverbank beside Grandjean Rd (FR-524), ~5 mi from Hwy 21 near the Grandjean trailhead — sources of 125-160°F cool toward the river; mix with river water. Source scalding; soak quality depends on river level.
Sacajawea Hot Springs is a free, undeveloped geothermal site in the Boise National Forest on the north bank of the South Fork Payette River along Grandjean Road (Forest Road 524), about five miles off Highway 21 — roughly 27 miles northeast of Lowman and 40 miles west of Stanley, at about 5,600 feet elevation. Visitors have built a scatter of rock-and-sand pools over a 0.2-mile stretch of riverbank below hillside vents of 125–160°F; water cools as it flows toward the river, and soakers fine-tune each pool by diverting cold river water through the rock channels. Steam rising above the road marks the spot, and pullouts offer parking a short walk away. The springs sit half a mile from the Sawtooth Lodge and about a mile from the Grandjean trailhead into the Sawtooth Wilderness, with Grandjean Campground 1.8 miles down the road. April–June runoff can submerge the pools entirely; water clarity is noted as crystal clear with a slight sulfur odor.
Directions & trailhead access
Hwy 21 to Grandjean Rd (FR-524), ~5 mi east on gravel; watch for steam above the road.
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 | 115°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 115°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | InciWeb — Wapiti Fire updates (Grandjean Rd repair, closures) |
Sacajawea Hot Springs FAQ
Is Sacajawea Hot Springs open right now?
Free primitive riverside pools on the South Fork Payette River ~5 mi up Grandjean Road (FR 524) off Hwy 21 in Boise NF — roadside pullouts serve visitor-built rock pools fed by 125-160°F hillside sources; pools submerge during spring runoff, the gravel road closes in winter, and the surrounding Grandjean area burned in the 125,000-acre 2024 Wapiti Fire (reopened Oct 2024). (Status verified against an official source, last checked October 2024.)
Is Sacajawea Hot Springs free?
Sacajawea Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Boise County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Sacajawea Hot Springs?
Sacajawea Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 115°F and a historical source temperature of 115°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Sacajawea Hot Springs clothing optional?
Sacajawea Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Sacajawea Hot Springs?
Sacajawea 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 23 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- InciWeb — Wapiti Fire updates (Grandjean Rd repair, closures) — official · 2024-09
- KMVT — 'Wapiti fire areas to reopen, with restrictions' — news · 2024-10
- KIVI/Idaho News 6 — Grandjean after the Wapiti Fire — news · 2024-10
- Hot Springs Guides — Sacajawea Hot Springs — community · 2026-09
- Idaho Hot Springs — Sacajawea destination guide — community · 2026-09
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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