The Springs (Idaho City)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
The Springs (Idaho City) is a resort hot spring listed near Idaho City, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Idaho Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Open Thursday–Monday 10:30 AM–10 PM (closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays) — visits are BY RESERVATION ONLY in capped 2.5-hour sessions, $30 adult / $27 child 12 & under including locker and towel; Mon/Thu/Fri are adults-only 18+ all day, weekends all-ages until 7 PM then adults-only 7:30–10 PM; clothing-optional private tubs $70/hr/couple (18+, up to 4 adults); ~45 min from Boise on Highway 21 near Idaho City.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 7 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in Idaho City for its managed soaking venue.
Idaho City 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: Reservation or permission required — confirm via The Springs — official Rates page ($30/$27 per 2.5-hr soak, private tubs $70/hr Sept 3+ 2026, limited-hours table, 12-hr cancel policy).
- Cost: Reported $30 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- 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 — online reservation at thespringsid.com or (208) 392-9500.
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: Weekday sessions (Mon/Thu/Fri are adults-only) are calmest and easiest to book; reserve weekend slots a week ahead.
- Clothing reality: Official: swimsuits required in the general pool/hot tub; the private tubs are explicitly clothing-optional. Customary reality matches.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Modern purpose-built facility (rebuilt 2013) — single-level main pool area with lockers; sister Inn the Pines has one ADA room; call for pool-entry specifics.
- Reservations required for ALL visits — walk-ins turned away; weekends book out up to a week ahead
- Closed every Tuesday and Wednesday — do not drive up midweek
- 2.5-hour timed sessions — arrive 15 min early; late arrival cuts your soak
- No-show / late-cancel (<12 hrs notice) = full-price charge on your card
- Monday, Thursday, Friday are adults-only 18+ ALL DAY; kids only welcome Sat–Sun before 7 PM
- Private tubs are 18+ only, clothing-optional, $70/hr for a couple +$5 each extra adult up to 4; book online but add only 1 adult — party updated at check-in
- Private tub bookings for general-pool access need a SEPARATE reservation
- Price increased to $70/hr for private tubs on bookings Sept 3, 2026+
- Sister property Inn the Pines (1/3 mi away) guarantees sold-out-day entry at a discount for its overnight guests
- Live music Thu & Mon 4:30–7 PM
- Hazard: Highway 21 (Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway) is winding mountain road — winter ice/snow Oct–Apr; elk/deer at night
- Hazard: 2.5-hour limit + hot water — hydrate
About this spring
Upscale geothermal retreat ~4 mi NE of Idaho City on Hwy 21 — communal soaking pool, hot tub and steam room (~100-104°F) plus clothing-optional private tubs (18+), spa and food service. Open Thu-Mon; adults-only most days, all ages Sat-Sun daytime. Fee: $30 adult per 2.5-hr session; private tubs $70/hr; reservation required. Reservation-only timed sessions; adults-only Mon/Thu/Fri.
The Springs is an upscale geothermal retreat on 80 wooded acres in Boise National Forest about four miles northeast of Idaho City — a town that was the Northwest's largest during the 1860s Boise Basin gold rush. The property is the former Warm Springs Resort, in use since the late 1800s variously as a stage stop, saloon, post office, hospital and brothel; Native American arrowheads still turn up on the grounds. After years of overuse and rehabilitation, it reopened February 14, 2013 following $2.7 million in upgrades, including a low-impact lodge built of faswall (recycled pallets). The water is marketed as 'fossil water' — managers say it first sees daylight after some 10,000 years underground — and is among Idaho's most alkaline at pH ~9.6, soft and low in calcium and magnesium, kept flowing with no added chemicals. Facilities include a 40-by-80-foot main pool, a 104°F hot tub, steam room, clothing-optional private tubs, spa services and a café, with timed reservations required.
Directions & trailhead access
Hwy 21 (Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway) ~4 mi NE of Idaho City; ~45 min from 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 resort site means here
A resort spring is a commercial operation: developed pools or tubs with controlled temperatures, changing facilities, and usually day-use fees or lodging packages. Expect posted rules (swimsuits, quiet hours, age limits), staff on site, and in many cases required reservations — especially on weekends and holidays.
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 $30 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | The Springs — official Rates page ($30/$27 per 2.5-hr soak, private tubs $70/hr Sept 3+ 2026, limited-hours table, 12-hr cancel policy) |
The Springs (Idaho City) FAQ
Is The Springs (Idaho City) open right now?
Open Thursday–Monday 10:30 AM–10 PM (closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays) — visits are BY RESERVATION ONLY in capped 2.5-hour sessions, $30 adult / $27 child 12 & under including locker and towel; Mon/Thu/Fri are adults-only 18+ all day, weekends all-ages until 7 PM then adults-only 7:30–10 PM; clothing-optional private tubs $70/hr/couple (18+, up to 4 adults); ~45 min from Boise on Highway 21 near Idaho City. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is The Springs (Idaho City) free?
The Springs (Idaho City) is listed with reported fees near Idaho City. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is The Springs (Idaho City)?
The Springs (Idaho City) 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 The Springs (Idaho City) clothing optional?
The Springs (Idaho City) is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access The Springs (Idaho City)?
The Springs (Idaho City) is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Idaho City
Stay in Idaho City for its managed soaking venue. Remote Middle Fork Boise River springs require a separate road plan.
Idaho City 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
- The Springs — official Rates page ($30/$27 per 2.5-hr soak, private tubs $70/hr Sept 3+ 2026, limited-hours table, 12-hr cancel policy) — operator · 2026-09
- The Springs — official homepage (Thu–Mon 10:30–10, closed Tue/Wed, adults-only days, reservation-only) — operator · 2026-09
- Inn the Pines — sister property page (guaranteed Springs entry for guests, $25/$22 legacy pricing shown) — operator · 2026
- Hot Springs Guides — The Springs Idaho City profile (history: 1880s Warm Springs Resort, $2.7M rebuild reopened 2013; locker/towel included) — community · 2026-04
- Hot Springs Atlas — The Springs Idaho City profile (session caps, booking lead times) — community · 2026
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.idahohotsprings.com/destinations/the-springs-resort-idaho-city
- territory-mag.com/articles/what-water-could-be
Official website: thespringsid.com
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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