You can easily find the three sources from the road along the Middle Fork of the Boise River.
The slope down to the river was slippery and steep.
Water Sources Directly Below the Road
It is only 10 minutes by car northeast on the Middle Fork Boise River Road from the Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Springs.
I found water that clearly looked like geothermal water flowing down the cliff on the opposite bank.
I stopped the car on the shoulder and looked around, and I found other two sources in front of the river.
After doing some research, I found out that the name Smith Cabin Hot Springs was given to these three sources as a collective name.
I didn't have the energy to walk across the river, so I decided to just check out the sources along the road.
The descent from the road to the Middle Fork Boise River was a steep slope with no footholds, and it was harder than I expected.
The riverbed was very narrow, and if the water level rose, it would be washed away immediately.
There was one shallow rock pool that someone had made, which jutted out into the river.
The hot water, which was gushing out from directly beneath the road, was pouring into the rock pool along the slope.
The water was colorless, transparent, odorless and tasteless, while the channel had turned reddish brown.
Because of the high temperature of 138 degrees F, it was not possible to soak in the water without mixing it with river water.
The water temp inside the rock pool was kept at a comfortable level.
Although I was concerned about the cars that occasionally passed by, kicking up clouds of dust, it was not a bad hot spring experience.
Summary
Smith Cabin Hot Springs, Mountain Home, Idaho, U.S.
My rating
Type: Undeveloped
Rule: Clothing recommended
Chemical use: No
Water temp: Up to 138 degrees F
Ninemeyer Hot Sprinrgs
In reality, if you're driving through the mountains of Idaho and stopping every time you find a hot spring or something that looks like one, you won't get very far.
When you include small ones and those that are difficult to reach because they are on the opposite side of a river, there are so many natural hot springs in Idaho.
