Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools is a primitive hot spring listed near Lowell, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 100°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open and free — but the whole site is closed to occupancy 8pm-6am daily (enforced since Dec 2022, citations issued); lower pools sit near creek level, run cooler, and vary with creek flow.
Checked April 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Nez Perce-Clearwater NF via Lewiston Tribune — Weir Creek overnight closure.
- 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 100°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: Weekday early mornings; summer weekends draw loud crowds from Missoula
- Clothing reality: No posted code; customarily clothing-optional — expect nudity.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Steep uneven 0.5-mi trail gaining ~200 ft; not mobility-friendly
- No entry 8pm-6am — the closure covers the springs AND the trailhead parking; LE can ticket
- Free; no fee or permit; vault toilet at site
- ~0.5-0.7 mi trail from a US-12 pullout at ~MP 142-143; steep and rocky in sections
- Posted signage: emergency services will NOT provide backcountry aid at the site
- Lower pools' temperature/size swing with creek level — can run cool in high water
- Hazard: Slick steep trail especially in rain/snow/ice
- Hazard: No EMS backcountry response — self-rescue only
- Hazard: History of overcrowding, alcohol/drug incidents that triggered the overnight closure
About this spring
Primitive volunteer-built soaking pools among cedar forest and volcanic rock cliffs above Weir Creek in the Clearwater National Forest, off US-12 along the Lochsa River corridor. The lower pools near the creek are smaller and cooler (~100°F or less) than the cliffside upper pool. Trail steep and slick — hazardous when icy. No overnight use 8pm-6am. Dogs leashed and out of pools.
The lower pools are the smaller, cooler tier of the Weir Creek Hot Springs complex in the Clearwater National Forest's Lochsa Ranger District, scattered along Weir Creek below the cliff-ledge main pool. Where the ~118°F geothermal source is tamed by creek mixing, these creek-side soakers run warm rather than hot — around 100°F or less, varying with season and creek level — with gravel and sand bottoms and split-log and rock edges; volunteers enlarged one creek-side pool in 2006.
The site sits about a half-mile and 200 feet of gain up a steep, rocky trail from the US-12 pullout at milepost 142.1, roughly 68 miles east of Kooskia, and a vault toilet is provided. Lower portions of the trail submerge during spring runoff — the upper route stays passable. Overnight use is prohibited from 8pm to 6am, and dogs must be leashed and kept out of the pools.
Directions & trailhead access
Pullout near milepost 142 on US-12 (~68 mi east of Kooskia); steep, rocky ~0.5-mi trail (~200 ft gain) up along Weir 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 | 100°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 118°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 | Nez Perce-Clearwater NF via Lewiston Tribune — Weir Creek overnight closure |
Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools FAQ
Is Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools open right now?
Open and free — but the whole site is closed to occupancy 8pm-6am daily (enforced since Dec 2022, citations issued); lower pools sit near creek level, run cooler, and vary with creek flow. (Status verified against an official source, last checked April 2026.)
Is Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools free?
Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools is listed as free to access in Idaho County, Idaho. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools?
Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools has a reported soak temperature of 100°F and a historical source temperature of 118°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools clothing optional?
Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools?
Weir Creek Hot Springs — Lower Pools is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Nez Perce-Clearwater NF via Lewiston Tribune — Weir Creek overnight closure — news · 2022-11
- Montana Free Press — overnight closure implemented (enforced Dec 2022) — news · 2022-12
- Hot Springs Guides — Weir Creek (verified Apr 2026) — community · 2026-04
- AllTrails — Weir Creek Hot Springs — community · 2026
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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