Sunbeam Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Sunbeam Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Stanley, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 105°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Idaho Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free roadside primitive pools on the Salmon River beside Hwy 75 ~12 mi NE of Stanley in the Sawtooth corridor; 160-180F source mixes with river water to 100-110F in user-built rock pools plus metal soaking tubs; historic 1937 CCC bathhouse (viewing only), restroom/changing room at the paved pullout; open 24/7 year-round but pools flood during spring runoff.
Checked April 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A base for the Sawtooth and upper Salmon River leg, including Sunbeam.
Stanley is about 10 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 Hot Springs Guides — Sunbeam Hot Springs profile (USFS-managed, free, 160-180F source, updated 2026-04).
- 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 105°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 — free, no fee, no reservation; standard Leave No Trace rules on USFS land.
- Best time to go: Summer through early fall when river flow is moderate; arrive early on summer weekends — this is the busiest roadside soak in the Sawtooth corridor.
- Clothing reality: Official: no posted policy; nudity on public land is technically citable. Customary: swimsuits expected — this is a busy roadside family stop ('don't forget your suit'). Legal: suit up.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Paved roadside pullout with restroom/changing room, but pools are down rough riverbank paths — not wheelchair accessible.
- Source vents run 160-180F — test every pool before entering; hot/cold swirl zones shift
- Pools submerge and become unusable during spring runoff (roughly May-June) — check river levels
- Metal pipes/valves feeding the tubs get scalding hot — use wooden paddles/ladles left on-site, not bare hands
- Bucket at the metal tubs is for adding cold river water to temper the soak
- No lifeguard, no staff — user-built pools change seasonally
- Highway pullout is paved; winter visits need snow tires/4WD and caution on icy Hwy 75
- Pack out everything — no trash service
- Hazard: Scalding 160-180F source water at hillside vents
- Hazard: Spring runoff flood stage — pools submerge; do not enter river at flood stage
- Hazard: Hot metal pipes/valves at tubs
- Hazard: Icy highway pullout in winter
About this spring
Free roadside hot springs on the bank of the Salmon River in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, ~12-13 miles northeast of Stanley near the historic Sunbeam Dam site. Rock-walled user-built pools plus two metal tubs (~100-110°F after mixing); a 1937 CCC-era bathhouse stands nearby. One of the few public Idaho springs with a restroom/changing room. Pools submerge during spring runoff. Source vent water is scalding. Pullout on a fast blind-corner highway.
Sunbeam Hot Springs is a free, undeveloped geothermal site in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, on the bank of the Salmon River beside Highway 75 about 12 miles northeast of Stanley at ~6,100 feet. Geothermal water emerges on the hillside at a scalding 160-180°F and is piped or channeled down to user-built rock-walled riverside pools and two metal soaking tubs, mixing with river water to roughly 100-110°F; a bucket is typically left at the tubs for tempering.
The site's landmark is the stone bathhouse built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937, which originally used a pump system to circulate hot spring water through the cold river for controlled soaking. It fell into disrepair during World War II and is now preserved as a historic site with interpretive boards; a restroom and changing room stand at the parking pullout — rare amenities for a primitive Idaho spring. Spring runoff submerges the riverside pools, making summer through fall the most reliable season. Usage is heavy to extreme in summer, and the pullout sits on a fast, blind-corner stretch of highway.
Directions & trailhead access
Hwy 75 northeast from Stanley ~12-13 mi toward Challis; signed pullout on the right just past visible steam. Short path down to the tubs.
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 | 105°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 160–180°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 | Hot Springs Guides — Sunbeam Hot Springs profile (USFS-managed, free, 160-180F source, updated 2026-04) |
Sunbeam Hot Springs FAQ
Is Sunbeam Hot Springs open right now?
Free roadside primitive pools on the Salmon River beside Hwy 75 ~12 mi NE of Stanley in the Sawtooth corridor; 160-180F source mixes with river water to 100-110F in user-built rock pools plus metal soaking tubs; historic 1937 CCC bathhouse (viewing only), restroom/changing room at the paved pullout; open 24/7 year-round but pools flood during spring runoff. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked April 2026.)
Is Sunbeam Hot Springs free?
Sunbeam Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Custer County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Sunbeam Hot Springs?
Sunbeam Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 105°F and a historical source temperature of 160–180°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Sunbeam Hot Springs clothing optional?
Sunbeam Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Sunbeam Hot Springs?
Sunbeam Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Stanley
A base for the Sawtooth and upper Salmon River leg, including Sunbeam. Some lodging is seasonal.
Stanley is about 10 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Hot Springs Guides — Sunbeam Hot Springs profile (USFS-managed, free, 160-180F source, updated 2026-04) — community · 2026-04
- Soaking Springs — Sunbeam (169F measured source, pH 9.0, TDS 291 mg/L, updated 2026-03) — community · 2026-03
- Idaho Soak — Sunbeam Hot Springs (24/7 access, milepost ~169.5, runoff submersion) — community · 2025
- IdahoHotSprings.com — Sunbeam field reports (pool variability, heavy usage, restroom/changing room) — community · 2006
- Hot Springs Atlas — Sunbeam & Boat Box (140F pipes, runoff hazards) — community · 2026
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
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.