Trail Creek Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Trail Creek Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Cascade, 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
Open and free year-round — primitive pools on Trail Creek off Warm Lake Road (~19 mi east of Cascade); tiny highway pullout near MP 60.6, then a steep ~0.1-mi path down to the pools.
Checked September 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 4 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay on the ID-55 leg for Cascade-area trips.
Cascade is about 14 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/BAER — assessment of Trail Creek Hot Springs in Snag Fire perimeter.
- 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-optional; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None
- Best time to go: Winter for steam-and-snow soaking (road is plowed most winters); weekdays quieter
- Clothing reality: No official code; customarily clothing-optional at this primitive site.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Steep short path; not suitable for limited mobility
- Free — no fee or permit
- Springs are NOT visible from the road; small dirt pullout near milepost ~60.6 on Warm Lake Road is the only marker
- Source ~122-125°F with a PVC pipe to mix in cold creek water — test before entering
- Steep, icy descent in winter — microspikes strongly recommended
- Site was inside the 2024 Snag Fire perimeter; BAER assessed hazard trees and post-fire flood/debris-flow risk in Oct 2024
- Hazard: Scalding source water
- Hazard: Post-fire hazard trees and flash-flood/debris-flow potential (Snag Fire burn area)
- Hazard: Icy steep path in winter
About this spring
Popular primitive site with two volunteer-built pools along Trail Creek in pine forest ~20 mi east of Cascade — upper rock-and-cement pool adjustable ~100-110°F via a cold-water mixing pipe; lower pool cooler. Roadside pullout then a steep ~0.1 mi scramble down. Access path ices over in winter — microspikes recommended. No camping or fires at the springs.
Trail Creek — also known locally as Samuel's Hot Springs — is one of the Cascade area's most reachable primitive soaks: a pair of volunteer-built pools tucked below an unmarked pullout on paved Warm Lake Road in the Boise National Forest. The upper pool measures roughly 8 by 12 feet and two feet deep, walled in rock and cement; a ~125°F source feeds it, and a PVC pipe valves in cold creek water so soakers can tune the pool anywhere from about 100 to 110°F. The lower rock-and-sand pool runs cooler with the creek level.
The springs cannot be seen from the road — a steep packed-earth path drops about a tenth of a mile from the pullout near milepost 60.6, icing into a slide in winter when microspikes become near-mandatory. There are no facilities, no fee, and no camping at the site; the steam-against-snow canyon makes it a popular cold-season stop.
Directions & trailhead access
From Cascade, east on NF-22/Warm Lake Road ~19.4 mi to a dirt pullout near milepost 60.6; steep path descends from the west edge to the pools.
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) | 125°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | InciWeb/BAER — assessment of Trail Creek Hot Springs in Snag Fire perimeter |
Trail Creek Hot Springs FAQ
Is Trail Creek Hot Springs open right now?
Open and free year-round — primitive pools on Trail Creek off Warm Lake Road (~19 mi east of Cascade); tiny highway pullout near MP 60.6, then a steep ~0.1-mi path down to the pools. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked September 2026.)
Is Trail Creek Hot Springs free?
Trail Creek Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Valley County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Trail Creek Hot Springs?
Trail Creek Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 105°F and a historical source temperature of 125°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Trail Creek Hot Springs clothing optional?
Trail Creek Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Trail Creek Hot Springs?
Trail Creek Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Cascade
Stay on the ID-55 leg for Cascade-area trips. Check the separate forest-road approach to each spring.
Cascade is about 14 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/BAER — assessment of Trail Creek Hot Springs in Snag Fire perimeter — official · 2024-10
- Boise NF Alerts list (no Trail Creek closure posted) — official · 2026-09
- Hot Springs Guides — Trail Creek — community · 2026-04
- SoakingSprings.com — Trail Creek Hot Spring ('open') — 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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