Public Hot Springs
Public Hot Springs
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Kirkham Hot Springs

Checked October 2026 · Sources

Kirkham Hot Springs
Photo by j.a.woodhouse from United States, Wikimedia Commons (free to reuse with credit)

Kirkham Hot Springs is a $5 wild soak in the Boise National Forest, Idaho, about 60 minutes' drive from Stanley: 149 F water at the source (1980 survey), a 0.24-mile walk from Kirkham Road, snow likely November to April.

  • $5 day fee
  • Wild
  • Walk 0.24 mi
  • No pets
Directions
Drive timecomputed

about 60 min
53.4 mi from Stanley, no traffic

Drive times computed with GraphHopper; map data OpenStreetMap contributors.

The facts

Water
149 F at the source, not the pool
Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry KIRKHAM HOT SPRINGS
Walk
0.24 miles one way from Kirkham Road
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route · start 44.07214, -115.54134
Fee
"Day Use Fee of $5 per vehicle is required, even if parking along Highway 21."
Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026
Permit or reservation
None posted by the agency
Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026
Clothing
Not posted by the agency
Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026
Dogs
"Dogs are not allowed on trails, in or near the hot springs."
Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026
Snow
Likely November to April
Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons
Managed by
USDA Forest Service, Boise National Forest
Closures
Forest Service alerts, Boise National Forest
Last checked
October 2026

Trail and trailhead

Kirkham Road

The Forest Service says:

"A trail leads down to the soaking pools and small steaming waterfalls."

Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Distance
0.24 mile one way
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route
Climb
About 50 ft up and 30 ft down, one way
Computed from USGS 3DEP elevations at 14 points on our route, Oct 14, 2026 (rough)
Start
Kirkham Road
44.07214, -115.54134

Water temperature

149 F at the source, from NOAA's Thermal Springs List (1980 survey). That is where the water leaves the ground; the pool you sit in is cooler.

Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry KIRKHAM HOT SPRINGS

Fees and rules

Do you have to pay to go to Kirkham Hot Springs?

Yes.

"Day Use Fee of $5 per vehicle is required, even if parking along Highway 21."

Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026

Do you need a permit or reservation for Kirkham Hot Springs?

None is posted. not posted

Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Clothing and dogs

Clothing

Not posted by the agency.

Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026

Dogs
"Dogs are not allowed on trails, in or near the hot springs."

Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026

Seasons and winter access

Snow likely November to April at the spring.

Snow likelySnow not likely

Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons

Road and gate closures: check Forest Service alerts, Boise National Forest.

Before you go

  • Fee: Day Use Fee of $5 per vehicle is required, even if parking along Highway 21.
  • No permit or reservation is posted.
  • Snow likely November to April.
  • Dogs: Dogs are not allowed on trails, in or near the hot springs.
  • Check Forest Service alerts, Boise National Forest before you drive.

Getting there

Drive times from each town's center, no traffic (computed).

Stanley, IdahoHot springs near Stanleyabout 60 min53.4 miBoise, IdahoHot springs near Boiseabout 1 h 55 min79 miMcCall, IdahoHot springs near McCallabout 2 h 20 min102.6 mi
Google Maps Apple Maps

Both open at the start, Kirkham Road, not at the pool.

Kirkham

Idaho. Tap the map for directions. Outline: US Census, public domain.

Camping near Kirkham Hot Springs

"This is a DAY USE ONLY site, open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING."

Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Nearby hot springs (6)

Sacajawea Hot SpringsNear Stanley · Idahoabout 37 mindriveSunbeam Hot SpringsNear Stanley · Idahoabout 78 mindriveRocky Canyon Hot SpringsNear Boise · Idahoabout 89 mindriveRoystone Hot SpringsNear Boise · Idahoabout 1 h 32 mindriveRussian John Warm SpringNear Ketchum · Idahoabout 2 h 4 mindriveGold Fork Hot SpringsNear McCall · Idahoabout 2 h 20 mindrive

All 20 hot springs in IdahoPacific Northwest hot springs (36)

Questions

Is Kirkham Hot Springs free?

No.
"Day Use Fee of $5 per vehicle is required, even if parking along Highway 21."
Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026

How long is the hike to Kirkham Hot Springs?

0.24 miles one way from Kirkham Road, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route.

Is Kirkham Hot Springs clothing optional?

Not posted by the agency.

Can I bring my dog?

"Dogs are not allowed on trails, in or near the hot springs."
Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026

Can you camp at Kirkham Hot Springs?

"This is a DAY USE ONLY site, open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING."
Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Sources and last checked

Page last checked October 2026 (the oldest date below).

  • ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/iso: water temperatureChecked Oct 11, 2026
  • fs.usda.gov/r04/boise/recreation/kirkham-hot-springs: fee, clothing (not posted), dogs, trail, campingChecked Oct 11, 2026 and Oct 14, 2026
  • Walk: 0.24 mi, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route (FOSSGIS routing, foot profile) from 44.07214, -115.54134Map data OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
  • Drive times from Stanley, Boise, McCall: computed with GraphHopper 11.1, car profile, no trafficOpenStreetMap extract of Oct 12, 2026
  • Snow months (Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr): computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasonsMethod page explains the rule
  • Climb: computed from USGS 3DEP elevations along our OpenStreetMap foot routeComputed Oct 14, 2026
  • Photo: j.a.woodhouse from United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0Checked by eye Oct 12, 2026

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