Hot Springs Campground boise
Garden Valley, Idaho · Boise National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- hot spring
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $106.48
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Hot Springs Campground boise
Hot Springs Campground is a U.S. Forest Service group campground in the Boise National Forest along the Banks-Lowman Highway (Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway), about 17 miles east of Banks, Idaho and roughly 3 miles from Garden Valley. Its defining feature, per Recreation.gov's official listing, is a natural hot springs soaking pool on the South Fork Payette River, reached by a staircase directly across the road from the campground.
The campground sits at about 3,169 feet elevation along the South Fork Payette River canyon, shaded in part by Ponderosa pines with summer wildflowers along the highway corridor. Recreation.gov notes the site experiences highway noise from the adjacent Banks-Lowman Highway.
Swimming at Hot Springs Campground boise
This is a soaking spot rather than a swimming hole: a natural hot springs pool forms at the river's edge, across the road from the campground and down a staircase, where hot spring water meets the cold South Fork Payette River. Recreation.gov lists 'soaking in the hot springs at the river's edge' alongside rafting, kayaking, and fishing as the on-site recreation activities.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Boise, take State Highway 55 north about 35 miles to Banks, then turn east onto the Banks-Lowman Highway and continue about 17 miles; the campground is on the left (north) side of the highway.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- Under 5 minutes down the staircase to the water.
Difficulty: easy
Trailhead: No formal trailhead; the soaking pool is reached by a short staircase leading down from the Banks-Lowman Highway shoulder, directly across the road from Hot Springs Campground.
Not a hike - a short flight of stairs from roadside pullout/campground down to the river's edge; exact stair count/distance not published in sources found.
Idaho hot springs gazetteer data places the named spring essentially at the same coordinates as the campground (within ~0.05 mi), consistent with a direct roadside/staircase access rather than a hiking approach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Access is via a staircase straight down to the river's edge where hot-spring water mixes with the cold, moving South Fork Payette River, so footing on the stairs/rocks and sudden temperature/current changes near the confluence are real concerns; there are no lifeguards, and the same stretch of river is run as Class III-IV whitewater by local outfitters, so current can be strong nearby. Fine for kids who stay in the shallow soaking pockets under close supervision, not a spot to let children swim unsupervised.
Parking
Lot
Hot Springs Campground is booked as a reserved group site (three sites, capacities up to 200/200/50 people) with vehicle caps of 25 vehicles on Sites 1-2 and 10 on Site 3; no separate day-use parking fee for the hot spring/soaking pool itself was found, but casual drop-in parking may be limited when the group sites are reserved.
Restrooms
Yes
Vault toilets at Hot Springs Campground itself, directly across the road from the soaking pool staircase; no restroom facility noted at the pool/river side.
Hours
No public day-use hours found for the hot spring itself; the adjacent group campground has a 2:00 PM check-in / 12:00 PM check-out cycle for reserved stays (Recreation.gov).
On the water
Restrictions: This stretch of the South Fork Payette is run commercially as Class III-IV whitewater, not calm flatwater - suited to guided/experienced rafting and kayaking rather than casual paddleboard or motorboat use; Recreation.gov lists kayaking, whitewater rafting, and fishing among on-site activities alongside soaking.
No mention of motorboats, jet skis, or paddleboards for this specific reach; it is a whitewater run, so calm-water craft are not applicable here.
Rentals nearby
Guided whitewater rafting trips (half-day and full-day) and kayak instruction on the South Fork Payette River
Prices: Half-day rafting from $67/adult; full-day rafting from $119/adult (includes guide-prepared lunch)
7864 Idaho 55, Banks, ID 83602 - roughly 17 miles downstream/west of Hot Springs Campground along the Banks-Lowman Highway corridor
Guided Class III-IV rafting trips on the South Fork Payette ("THRILL" trip), plus kayak classes/private lessons and kids' kayak camps
7050 Highway 55, Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629 - about an hour from Boise, further downstream from Hot Springs Campground · Office 8am-5pm daily year-round; Welcome Center 8am-6pm daily, May-September
Hot Springs Campground boise: FAQ
Does Hot Springs Campground boise charge a fee?
Listed as a group-reservation campground on Recreation.gov: Sites 1 and 2 cost $106.48 (up to 100 people) or $212.96 (101-200 people); Site 3 costs $106.48. No separate fee for the hot springs soaking pool itself was found.
Is Hot Springs Campground boise kid friendly?
Access is via a staircase straight down to the river's edge where hot-spring water mixes with the cold, moving South Fork Payette River, so footing on the stairs/rocks and sudden temperature/current changes near the confluence are real concerns; there are no lifeguards, and the same stretch of river is run as Class III-IV whitewater by local outfitters, so current can be strong nearby. Fine for kids who stay in the shallow soaking pockets under close supervision, not a spot to let children swim unsupervised.
Do I need to hike to reach Hot Springs Campground boise?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Hot Springs Campground boise?
Hot Springs Campground is booked as a reserved group site (three sites, capacities up to 200/200/50 people) with vehicle caps of 25 vehicles on Sites 1-2 and 10 on Site 3; no separate day-use parking fee for the hot spring/soaking pool itself was found, but casual drop-in parking may be limited when the group sites are reserved.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Hot Springs Campground boise?
No mention of motorboats, jet skis, or paddleboards for this specific reach; it is a whitewater run, so calm-water craft are not applicable here.
What are the rules at Hot Springs Campground boise?
Recreation.gov lists check-in at 2:00 PM and check-out at 12:00 PM, with a maximum of 25 vehicles allowed on Sites 1-2 and 10 vehicles on Site 3.
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