This consists of three major sources.
It is one of the most popular wild hot springs in northern Idaho.
Caution
There is information that the area is closed due to damage from wildfires. Please consider visiting based on the latest local information.
The First Pool
The largest nearby city to Jerry Johnson Hot Springs is Missoula, Montana.
Over an hour from the Missoula area, I found a parking lot with a vault toilet along the highway west on Route 12 into Idaho.
No fee was required.
It is a 2.6-mile round trip hike from the parking lot to the hot springs.
Due to the popularity of hiking trails in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, I recommend starting early to avoid crowds.
On the other side of the highway is the Warm Springs Creek Pack Suspension Bridge
It is a spectacular suspension bridge over the wide Lochsa River.
The trail was basically low in difficulty, with the stream to the right.
Of the three main sources, the first one was cascading and could be seen from the mountain path.
The pool juts out into the river and is submerged for much of the year due to melting snow.
The Second Pool
Near the second source, there were some pools with high temperatures, which made for a pleasant soaking experience.
At the bottom of the slope, a short distance from the stream was the main pool.
It was marked by a central rock formation with a characteristic concave shape.
The sources themselves were two a short distance up the slope.
The hot water spilled from there was being drawn into the pool mentioned earlier.
The water was clear and colorless, tasteless and odorless, and 109 degrees F.
Although the depth was somewhat lacking, the hot pool was comfortable with little algae or mud.
It would be great if we could camp on this riverbank, but in reality it is limited to day use from 6 to 8 PM.
If you want to camp, the summer-only Jerry Johnson Campground is available just a 3-minute drive west of the parking lot.
There are 20 campsites for $14.00 per night.
Incidentally, Jerry Johnson, the name of the hot springs, is the name of a prospector active in the area during the 1880s and 1890s.
The cabin he used as his base of operations was present at the campground.
Now, the hot water overflowed from the sources and the main pool flowed over the ground and into several rock pools along the river.
The water was lukewarm, mixing with the river water.
The Third Pool
The third pool, located at the far end, was in a meadow quite far from the stream and was marked by a fallen tree.
The water temp was lower, and I felt that the mud on the bottom tended to float.
Ross M. Perkins - Jerry Johnson Hot Springs (2015)
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Summary
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Idaho, U.S.
My rating
Type: Undeveloped
Rule: Clothing optional
Chemical use: No
Water temp: Up to 109 degrees F
