Skinnydipper Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
CLOSED to all entry — the famous steep-hillside pools above the South Fork Payette ~4 mi east of Banks have been under a BLM closure order since June 2016 (unauthorized pools/pipes removed, then a rockslide buried the pools); the closure was extended for five years from Feb 14, 2022 — i.e., through Feb 14, 2027 — and entering the posted ~41.6-acre closure area is citable trespass.
Field notes — checked February 2022
- Hazard: Closed area — trespass citation risk
- Hazard: Unstable steep slope; 2016-era rockslide filled the pools
- Hazard: ~160F source water historically
- CLOSED AREA — Federal Register closure order in effect through Feb 14, 2027 (or until rescinded); all public land north of Hwy 17 in Lot 3, Sec 25 T9N R3E (~41.58 ac) is off-limits and entry is citable
- The improved pools and piping were removed by BLM and a natural rockslide filled the pools — nothing left to soak in anyway
- Parking pullout on the Banks-Lowman Hwy (Hwy 17) is posted with closure signs
- Pre-closure the site logged 125+ law-enforcement incidents in 5 years including a homicide, break-ins and falls — the reasons it has stayed closed
- BLM has said it would consider reopening proposals that fix safety/resource issues; none viable as of the latest update
- Legal nearby alternative often suggested: Deer Creek (Bronco Billy) hot spring across the road — verify its status separately
Current status
CLOSED to all entry — the famous steep-hillside pools above the South Fork Payette ~4 mi east of Banks have been under a BLM closure order since June 2016 (unauthorized pools/pipes removed, then a rockslide buried the pools); the closure was extended for five years from Feb 14, 2022 — i.e., through Feb 14, 2027 — and entering the posted ~41.6-acre closure area is citable trespass.
Checked February 2022 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
About this spring
Formerly one of Idaho's most-visited natural hot springs — volunteer-built rock-and-mortar pools on a steep BLM hillside above the South Fork Payette River near Banks. CLOSED: BLM closed the site in 2016 over safety hazards and resource damage, removed the pools, and a closure order runs through at least February 2027. BLM closure order in effect through at least Feb 2027 — entering is prohibited and may result in citation.
Directions & trailhead access
Access is restricted; do not use historical directions to plan a visit.
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.
Fact sheet
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Unknown — verify locally |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Federal Register — Notice of Closure on Public Lands in Boise County, Idaho (5-yr extension effective Feb 14, 2022) |
Skinnydipper Hot Springs FAQ
Is Skinnydipper Hot Springs open right now?
CLOSED to all entry — the famous steep-hillside pools above the South Fork Payette ~4 mi east of Banks have been under a BLM closure order since June 2016 (unauthorized pools/pipes removed, then a rockslide buried the pools); the closure was extended for five years from Feb 14, 2022 — i.e., through Feb 14, 2027 — and entering the posted ~41.6-acre closure area is citable trespass. (Status verified against an official source, last checked February 2022.)
Can I soak at Skinnydipper Hot Springs?
CLOSED to all entry — the famous steep-hillside pools above the South Fork Payette ~4 mi east of Banks have been under a BLM closure order since June 2016 (unauthorized pools/pipes removed, then a rockslide buried the pools); the closure was extended for five years from Feb 14, 2022 — i.e., through Feb 14, 2027 — and entering the posted ~41.6-acre closure area is citable trespass.
Where can I check access to Skinnydipper Hot Springs?
Check Federal Register — Notice of Closure on Public Lands in Boise County, Idaho (5-yr extension effective Feb 14, 2022): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/01/14/2022-00403/notice-of-closure-on-public-lands-in-boise-county-idaho
Sources & references
- Federal Register — Notice of Closure on Public Lands in Boise County, Idaho (5-yr extension effective Feb 14, 2022) — official · 2022-02
- BLM press release — 'BLM to extend closure of Skinny Dipper Hot Springs to protect public health and safety' — official · 2022-01
- BLM press release — 'BLM seeks public input on Skinny Dipper Hot Springs closure extension' (scoping) — official · 2021-06
- Federal Register — original 5-year closure notice (June 2016) — official · 2016-06
- Hot Springs Guides — Skinny Dipper Hot Springs (closure summary, no viable reopening proposal) — community · 2024
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