Loftus Hot Spring
Mountain Home, Idaho · on Middle Fork Boise River · Boise National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- hot spring
- FALLS
- Waterfall on site
- ACCESS
- Local spot, unofficial
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- May
About Loftus Hot Spring
Loftus Hot Spring is an undeveloped geothermal spring beside the Middle Fork Boise River in Boise National Forest, Idaho, reached via the unpaved Middle Fork Boise River Road northeast of Idaho City. Hot mineral water emerges from the hillside and cascades in a small waterfall into user-built rock soaking pools at the river's edge.
The spring sits in a narrowing forested canyon of the Middle Fork Boise River at roughly 3,600 feet elevation, surrounded by ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, with the river running alongside. Hot water rises along fractures in granite of the Idaho Batholith and flows a short distance over a rocky slope before reaching the pools, producing visible steam on cool mornings.
Swimming at Loftus Hot Spring
This is a soaking spot rather than a swimming hole in the classic sense: two small rock-lined pools with sandy bottoms mix scalding spring water (source temperature around 129°F) with cooler river water to reach roughly 100-105°F, deep enough to sit chest-deep. It suits hot-spring soakers rather than swimmers, though the adjacent Middle Fork Boise River is available for cooling off.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Idaho City, drive northeast on Highway 21 and then onto the unpaved Middle Fork Boise River Road (Forest Road 268), following the river upstream past Ninemeyer Campground; the spring sits close beside the road, with only a short walk down to the pools.
Parking: Free roadside pullout parking near the spring, with limited space.
The hike in
- To the water
- roughly 75-100 feet from the roadside pullout
- Time on foot
- 1-2 minutes
Difficulty: easy
No maintained trail exists to this spot; it is a short informal scramble/walk down from a pullout on Middle Fork Boise River Road to the riverside pools. No named or mapped trail was found for it, consistent with it being an undeveloped drive-up soaking spot rather than a hike-in destination.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Not ideal for young kids
Trip-report sources describe the site as a favorite party spot for young hunters/ATV riders, with reports of kegs, heavy drinking, broken glass in the pools, and poison ivy growing around them. Source water is roughly 129F and must be hand-mixed with cooler river water, adding a scald hazard. Combined with no restrooms, no supervision, and rough/washboarded road access, this is not set up for families with small kids.
Parking
Free
Free undesignated roadside pullout directly along Middle Fork Boise River Road (Forest Road 268); space is limited and the road itself is rough/washboarded with potholes.
Restrooms
None on site
No developed facilities at the spring itself. The nearest camping area, Ninemeyer Campground (~5.3 mi away per RIDB), currently has no amenities after wildfire damage, per its Recreation.gov listing.
Water clarity
Mostly clear
Visitors describe the water as "clear to semi-clear" with high visibility in the soaking pools; the adjacent Middle Fork Boise River runs clear outside of spring runoff. This rating rests on a small number of trip reports rather than a broad base of visitor comments.
Hours
No posted hours (dispersed, undeveloped forest site, open access). Best physically reachable roughly mid-May/June through late September, per land-manager and trip-report sources; Middle Fork Boise River Road is difficult or dangerous in winter/spring and typically needs high-clearance/4WD, with the Mountain Home Ranger District as the contact for current road conditions.
On the water
No source found describing kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, or motorized boating at the Loftus soaking pools themselves; the pools are small user-built rock basins at the river's edge, not a navigable stretch. The adjacent Middle Fork Boise River in this canyon is generally too shallow/rocky for casual paddling at this location, and no source confirmed any permitted watercraft use here.
What regulars say
Visitors report "extreme" usage with continuous visitor traffic, multiple kegs and groups of 20+ partying (one visit noted at least 2 kegs present by 10 AM and "trash everywhere"), broken glass in the pools, and poison ivy around the site. Regulars characterize this as a favorite party spot for young hunters and ATV riders rather than a quiet family soak. A separate first-hand account corroborates the chest-deep pool, the lack of facilities and cell service, and dispersed camping nearby.
Backstory
The spring emerges along fractures in granite of the Cretaceous-age Idaho Batholith, producing alkaline, sodium-rich water. Nearby Ninemeyer Campground has reportedly lost its amenities due to past wildfire damage in the drainage.
Loftus Hot Spring: FAQ
Does Loftus Hot Spring charge a fee?
Free, no permit required.
Is Loftus Hot Spring kid friendly?
Trip-report sources describe the site as a favorite party spot for young hunters/ATV riders, with reports of kegs, heavy drinking, broken glass in the pools, and poison ivy growing around them. Source water is roughly 129F and must be hand-mixed with cooler river water, adding a scald hazard. Combined with no restrooms, no supervision, and rough/washboarded road access, this is not set up for families with small kids.
Do I need to hike to reach Loftus Hot Spring?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Loftus Hot Spring?
Free undesignated roadside pullout directly along Middle Fork Boise River Road (Forest Road 268); space is limited and the road itself is rough/washboarded with potholes.
When is the best time to visit Loftus Hot Spring?
Best accessed from roughly mid-May/June through late September/early October when Middle Fork Boise River Road is passable by vehicle; winter and spring access is difficult or dangerous and typically requires 4WD/high-clearance and snow travel.
What are the rules at Loftus Hot Spring?
No soap or shampoo (including biodegradable products) allowed in the pools; seasonal Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibit campfires when in effect; visitors are asked to pack out trash.
What water body is Loftus Hot Spring on?
Loftus Hot Spring is on Middle Fork Boise River, a natural hot spring verified in USGS hydrography data.
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