Vaughn Hot Spring
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Vaughn Hot Spring is a primitive hot spring listed near Idaho City, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 95°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Wild USFS (Boise National Forest) hot spring at the mouth of Pete Creek on the Middle Fork Boise River, ~116 m off FS-268 (Middle Fork Boise River Rd) about 38 mi past the Arrowrock Dam turnoff east of Boise — source vents around 154F (far too hot to enter) with soaking only possible where river water mixes in; a community report says the spring sits across the river from the road and is only fordable on foot at low water (~late Aug-early Oct).
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 4 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in Idaho City for its managed soaking venue.
Idaho City 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 Recreation.gov — Ninemeyer Campground, Boise National Forest (FS-268 access/season).
- 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 95°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Clothing policy unknown — verify locally; 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 — public national-forest land, no fee.
- Best time to go: Late August through early October when the Middle Fork is low enough to ford safely; otherwise view from the road side only.
- Clothing reality: No posted policy on national-forest land; clothing-optional is customary at remote Idaho wild springs but this one sees little traffic.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — rough riverbank terrain and a likely river ford on slippery cobble.
- RIVER FORD LIKELY REQUIRED — the spring sits at the Pete Creek mouth on the Middle Fork Boise River; per a Japanese trip-report site (hotspringers.net) the spot is 'right before your eyes' but hard to reach — foot crossing is only realistic at low water roughly late Aug-early Oct; do NOT attempt during spring runoff
- Source water measured ~154F — severe burn hazard; soak only in river-mixed pools and test carefully
- FS-268 is ~38 mi of narrow, sometimes-rough dirt/gravel road past Arrowrock Dam; best mid-May through late September — call Mountain Home Ranger District 208-587-7961 for current road conditions
- Ninemeyer Campground ~1.4 mi away is open but has NO amenities (wildfire damage) — no fire rings; no fires during Stage 1 restrictions
- Also mapped as 'Pete Creek Hot Springs' — coordinates place it right at the Pete Creek/Vaughn Creek confluence with the Middle Fork
- No cell service in the canyon; nearest supplies/fuel Idaho City (~20 mi back) or Boise ~55 min+ from the Arrowrock turnoff
- Hazard: Scalding ~154F source water
- Hazard: Middle Fork Boise River ford — dangerous/impossible at moderate-to-high flows
- Hazard: Rough narrow mountain road (FS-268)
- Hazard: No cell service
About this spring
GNIS-catalogued hot spring on USFS land along the Middle Fork Boise River corridor in a steep granite canyon — source ~154°F (one of the hottest in Boise NF); soaking possible only where thermal water mixes with the river (~90°F pools reported). 154°F source causes severe burns — test carefully. Road rough in wet weather.
Vaughn Hot Spring is a GNIS- and USGS-catalogued thermal source on Boise National Forest land along the Middle Fork Boise River corridor in Boise County, roughly 380 feet off Middle Fork Road (FS 268) in a steep, timbered granite canyon at about 3,680 feet. The source surfaces near 154°F — among the hottest recorded springs in the Boise National Forest — making direct contact a serious burn hazard; soaking is possible only where the thermal flow mixes with cold river water, and pools around 90°F have been reported at the river's edge.
The USGS tracks the site but no chemistry sample is on file. Ninemeyer Campground lies about a mile and a half up the road, and neighboring sources along the corridor include Loftus (129°F), Smith Cabin and Ninemeyer (169°F). Snow closes the approach for a good part of the cold season, and the road deteriorates in wet weather.
Directions & trailhead access
Middle Fork Boise River Rd (FS 268) northeast of Arrowrock between Sheep Creek Bridge and Ninemeyer; spring ~120 m from 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 | 95°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 154°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Unknown — verify locally |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Recreation.gov — Ninemeyer Campground, Boise National Forest (FS-268 access/season) |
Vaughn Hot Spring FAQ
Is Vaughn Hot Spring open right now?
Wild USFS (Boise National Forest) hot spring at the mouth of Pete Creek on the Middle Fork Boise River, ~116 m off FS-268 (Middle Fork Boise River Rd) about 38 mi past the Arrowrock Dam turnoff east of Boise — source vents around 154F (far too hot to enter) with soaking only possible where river water mixes in; a community report says the spring sits across the river from the road and is only fordable on foot at low water (~late Aug-early Oct). (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Is Vaughn Hot Spring free?
Vaughn Hot Spring is listed as free to access in Elmore County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Vaughn Hot Spring?
Vaughn Hot Spring has a reported soak temperature of 95°F and a historical source temperature of 154°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Vaughn Hot Spring clothing optional?
Directory records do not confirm the clothing policy at Vaughn Hot Spring — verify current rules before visiting.
How do you access Vaughn Hot Spring?
Vaughn Hot Spring is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager 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 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
- Recreation.gov — Ninemeyer Campground, Boise National Forest (FS-268 access/season) — official · 2026
- USGS GNIS / TopoQuest — Vaughn Hot Spring & Pete Creek location — official · 2026
- Hotspringers.net — Loftus/Pete Creek (Vaughn) trip report (river-crossing detail) — community · 2024
- SoakingSprings.com — Vaughn Hot Spring (154F source, road-side distance) — community · 2026-03
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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