Hot water gushes out from the bottom of huge pools.
Living up to its world-famous name, I visited the spa facility that can be enjoyed by everyone from hot spring enthusiasts to families.
Sunken Garden
Lava Hot Springs is one of Idaho's leading spa towns.
World Famous Hot Pools is a walk-in spa facility that is synonymous with Lava Hot Springs.
It is located along the Portneuf River, which is famous for tubing.
Before entering, take a look at the small park in the back called Sunken Garden.
In this park, which was valley-shaped toward the hot springs, I found minerals of volcanic origin, true to its name, Lava Hot Springs.
It is estimated that lava flowed in this area until about 27,000 years ago.
It is not far from Yellowstone National Park, which still shows active volcanic activity, and the heat source of the thermal springs is thought to come from a magma pool in the same system.
The huge pool was already filled with hot water.
This is no time to be playing in a park like this. Let's take a soak soon.
Straight out of the ground
It began in recorded history in the late 1890s, when the U.S. government purchased the land from the Shoshone-Bannock tribe of Native Americans.
Despite being wrecked in the 1962 flood, it has always been popular to this day.
The facility has been continuously renovated and looked brand new.
Separate changing rooms for men and women.
Clothing is required, so this is where you change and leave your luggage.
Just outside the changing rooms was an unusual swimsuit dehydrator.
It was great that I can tell how to use it just by looking at it.
The second-largest pool was the one closest to the entrance.
A gently curving section with a staircase of benches was ideal for soaking while lounging.
The water temp was an appropriate 108 degrees F.
Although it looked very man-made, this pool was one of the oldest and, surprisingly, was gushing straight out of the ground.
In other words, the thermal water gushed out of the gravel spread on the bottom under natural pressure.
To its west were two small pools with different temperature settings.
The Jacuzzi was working and somewhat lukewarm.
The pool at the west end was even more lukewarm.
It felt even more artificially created.
Still, none of the pools had the unpleasant smell of chlorine.
A large roof was provided, which was good for sunny days.
Returning to the area where the changing rooms were located, I observed a slope with exposed lava and found a cave.
Although I could not enter the hole, I could see the source flowing at the far end.
Across the cave, at the east end, was the largest pool that was visible from the park earlier.
There was by far the largest amount of hot water.
This rectangular pool, the oldest of its kind, was gushing at the bottom of the pool and was set at a hot 111 degrees F.
The hot water, which gushed out with occasional bubbles, was hot enough to make one jump up in some places.
Tasteless, odorless, and pure thermal water was gushing from the bottom.
It was, without question, a world-famous place!
Summary
World Famous Hot Pools, Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, U.S.
My rating
Type: Walk-in
Rule: Clothing required
Chemical use: Not detected
Water temp: Up to 111 degrees F
