A Native American woman, Sacajawea, was chosen as the model for the portrait on the $1 coin.
This undeveloped hot spring is attributed to her honorable name.
Sawtooth Lodge
On Idaho State Route 21, approximately halfway between Lohman and Stanley, turn onto the Grandjean Road.
Its name comes from Emile Grandjean, a Danish forester who settled in the area in 1883.
The dirt road was in good condition.
The road leads to the Sawtooth Lodge.
It consists of cabins and campsites with a hot spring pool.
Once the road starts to parallel the South Fork Payette River on your right, Sacajawea Hot Springs is there.
You can park the car on the road where the shoulder is wider.
As going down the bank, I found a large amount of hot water running out from under the road surface.
The water temp was 149 degrees F, hot enough to burn you.
The water was clear and colorless, but I could easily see the bright discoloration on the ground where springs were located.
The amazing thing about Sacajawea is that the springs are continuous for about 0.1 miles east of this point.
As I walked along the riverbank, I found an endless supply of hot springs.
Incidentally, Sacajawea is the name of the Native American woman who led the Lewis and Clark expedition, the first white Americans to return from an overland expedition to the Pacific.
She was born in Salmon, Idaho, not too far from here, but there seems to be no historical connection to this hot spring.
Seemingly it was named in honor of her prestige.
Because of the high temperature, soaking was not possible without adding water from the river.
As a hot spring enthusiast, I would normally be tempted to deduct points.
However, the flow was so clear and clean that I felt foolish for trying to make such an assessment.
Too much beauty
The area around the right angle bend in the river in front of Sawtooth Lodge is the eastern edge of the geothermal area.
There was a working hot well.
I assumed that it was set up to draw water to the Lodge.
Still, it was a breathtakingly beautiful stream.
It was the sight that made me think about what was really valuable to me, as I had visited so many hot springs in the United States.
Summary
Sacajawea Hot Springs, Boise National Forest, Idaho, U.S.
My rating
Type: Undeveloped
Rule: Clothing optional
Chemical use: No
Water temp: Up to 149 degrees F
