Vulcan Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Vulcan Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Cascade, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Boise National Forest backcountry spring ~32 mi NE of Cascade — a ~0.75-mi hike on trail #072 from the Tyndall/Vulcan trailhead off Stolle Meadows Rd; the 190F source once fed Idaho's largest wild pool, but it collapsed after the 2010 wildfire and over-digging, and today only small user-built pools intermittently exist — many recent visitors find it too hot to soak.
Checked September 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 7 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay on the ID-55 leg for Cascade-area trips.
Cascade is about 17 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 USFS Boise NF — Tyndall/Vulcan Trailhead (serves Vulcan Hot Springs trail #072; updated June 3, 2025).
- 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 104°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; 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 — Boise National Forest, free.
- Best time to go: July-September when roads are dry; essentially uncrowded since the big pool died — expect solitude.
- Clothing reality: No official policy — National Forest backcountry; clothing-optional was customary at the old pool, though current crowds are minimal.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Short flat-ish hike but uneven, muddy, bridged crossings — not wheelchair accessible.
- Expectations check: the famous giant emerald pool is GONE — caved-in/silted after the 2010 wildfire plus damage from soakers enlarging it; small dug pools get rebuilt sporadically and may be too hot or silted to use (Sept 2023 visit: nobody soaked; a rock-spelled 'NO' sat under the pool)
- Source is ~190F (USGS 88.5C) — near-boiling at this elevation; usable soaking requires mixing with cold creek water in downstream pools; test aggressively and watch for surging hot flow
- Red spider mites/chiggers documented here and at nearby Atlanta-area springs — apply repellent AFTER soaking and keep towels/clothes off the ground near the water
- Trail is ~0.75-1 mi, flat but can be muddy/overgrown; crosses three rustic log footbridges along Warm Springs Creek
- Road access via Warm Lake Rd (NF-22) ~25 mi east of Cascade, then Stolle Meadows Rd (NF-474) ~7 mi — seasonally open roughly June-Oct; winter access is ski/snowmobile only (16+ ft average snowfall)
- Tyndall/Vulcan trailhead has a restroom and ~5 dispersed campsites (no potable water); the old tent sites by the trailhead are now RV/toy-hauler parking — nearest primitive camping is 1-2 mi south on NF-474
- Confirm road/trail status with Boise NF Cascade Ranger District before the drive
- Hazard: 190F near-boiling source — severe burn risk; unstable ground in the thermal area
- Hazard: Burned/snag forest surroundings post-2010 fire
- Hazard: Red spider mites
- Hazard: Remote — no cell; seasonal road; heavy winter snow
About this spring
Very high-flow undeveloped hot spring in Boise National Forest (Warm Lake area) — near-boiling water (~190°F source) emerges above a large log-and-rock dammed pool; soak in the cooler downstream mix zones. ~1 mi hike from the Tyndall/Vulcan trailhead. Source near-boiling — test pools carefully. Road seasonal (~Jun-Oct). Crowded in summer.
Vulcan Hot Springs is one of the hottest thermal features in Idaho: a USGS crew measured 191.3°F at the source in June 1980, and the alkaline water (pH 9.1) carries about 95 mg/L of sodium. The exceptionally high flow emerges near Vulcan Creek in the Boise National Forest's Warm Lake area at about 5,550 feet, and its volume has periodically drawn U.S. Department of Energy interest in the site's geothermal potential.
For decades the spring fed a huge log-and-rock dammed pool described by Idaho hot springs guides as the largest in the state; wildfire damage and overuse caved in that pool around 2010, and later visitors report a single small soaking pool with room for rebuilding. The site lies roughly a mile up trail #072 from the Tyndall/Vulcan trailhead off Stolle Meadows Road (FR 474). Usage is heavy in summer; the dirt access road is unplowed in winter, when the trip requires snowshoes or horseback.
Directions & trailhead access
From Cascade: Warm Lake Hwy (NF-22) east ~25 mi to Stolle Meadows Rd (FR 474); south ~5 mi to Tyndall/Vulcan Trailhead; hike trail #072 ~1 mi up Vulcan Creek.
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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 191°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | USFS Boise NF — Tyndall/Vulcan Trailhead (serves Vulcan Hot Springs trail #072; updated June 3, 2025) |
Vulcan Hot Springs FAQ
Is Vulcan Hot Springs open right now?
Boise National Forest backcountry spring ~32 mi NE of Cascade — a ~0.75-mi hike on trail #072 from the Tyndall/Vulcan trailhead off Stolle Meadows Rd; the 190F source once fed Idaho's largest wild pool, but it collapsed after the 2010 wildfire and over-digging, and today only small user-built pools intermittently exist — many recent visitors find it too hot to soak. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked September 2026.)
Is Vulcan Hot Springs free?
Vulcan 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 Vulcan Hot Springs?
Vulcan Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 191°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Vulcan Hot Springs clothing optional?
Vulcan Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Vulcan Hot Springs?
Vulcan 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 17 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- USFS Boise NF — Tyndall/Vulcan Trailhead (serves Vulcan Hot Springs trail #072; updated June 3, 2025) — official · 2025-06
- Idaho Hot Springs — Vulcan Hot Springs (pool-collapse history, 2016 one-small-pool update, mites) — community · 2016
- Hot Springs Locator — Vulcan Hot Springs (pool gone post-fire; can't recommend dug pools) — community · 2026-09
- Salmon Tolman Fam blog — Sept 2023 visit (too hot to soak, 'NO' rock sign) — community · 2023-09
- AllTrails — Vulcan Hot Springs trail (3.7 km RT, Apr-Oct) — community · 2026-09
- Soaking Springs — Vulcan Hot Springs (190F USGS, seasonal road) — community · 2026-03
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
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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