This is a hot spring to warm up your body after rafting.
Of course, you can also visit just for soaking.
Hot Springs Campground
It is about an hour's drive north from Boise, the state capital, via Idaho State Route 55.
Unusually for a large city, Boise is conveniently located as a base for hot spring trips.
Turn right onto Banks-Lowman Road.
This road, also known as the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway, is a highway surrounded by lush nature and dotted with many hot springs.
Hot Springs Campground is managed by the Boise National Forest.
The name of the campground sounded like it might have hot springs, so I stopped by.
It was an 11-section campsite with minimal facilities such as vault toilets and drinking water; reservations could be made online.
After further investigation, I found that the hot springs were located across the road on the other side of the campground.
Rafters appear one after another
When I reached a parking space on the side of the highway facing South Fork Payette River, I got the full view.
I found out that there were pools just down the steps from the bank, and that I did not need to go through the campground.
In other words, it's free.
This place seemed to be a landing point for rafters who enjoy rafting in the rapids.
After warming up in the hot springs, it could be the perfect plan pull rafts or canoes up to the road.
There was a concrete structure beside the pool; and it seemed to be the remains of something that was originally there that was destroyed or removed.
As a result, it had a wild aspect that was not an exaggeration to call it a wild hot spring.
The hot water of 113 degrees F was gushing out of the rocks on the bank.
Clear, colorless, tasteless, and odorless water.
The pools were kept clean and free of mud, as long as they were not stirred up by rafters.
I found another pool in the back.
This one was piped from a different spring.
The hot water from these two pools in the middle of the slope had spilled out.
And reached the pool surrounded with rocks along the river.
The foundation of an old building remained in the riverbed.
It seemed to have something to do with the remains at the pool, but I could not figure it out in the end.
The hot spring was a little bit busy as rafters appear one after another and pass by to warm up; but it seemed a great spot to stop by if there were no visitors ahead of you.
Summary
Hot Springs Campground, Garden Valley, Idaho, U.S.
My rating
Type: Walk-in, Lodging (campground)
Rule: Clothing recommended
Chemical use: No
Water temp: Up to 113 degrees F
