Russian John Warm Spring

Checked October 2026 · Sources

Water, up to

100 F

Walk, one way

0.06 mi

Russian John Warm Spring is a wild soak in the Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, about 26 minutes' drive from Ketchum: 100 F water at the source (1980 survey), a 0.06-mile walk from Russian John Hot Springs Trail, snow likely October to May.

Wild
Walk 0.06 mi

Directions

Drive timecomputed

about 26 min
17.6 mi from Ketchum, no traffic

From your town or ZIP

Drive times computed with GraphHopper; map data OpenStreetMap contributors.

The facts

Water: 100 F at the source, not the pool
Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry RUSSIAN JOHN HOT SPRING
Walk: 0.06 miles one way from Russian John Hot Springs Trail
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route · start 43.80740, -114.58782
Fee: Not paying a recreation fee is prohibited, and the fine for a first offense of nonpayment may not exceed $100. Forest Service general rule
No fee posted for this spring that we found (checked Oct 13, 2026)
What the Forest Service says
Exact wording: Forest Service rules page.
Permit or reservation: None posted by the agency
Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026
Clothing: Being publicly nude is prohibited on a national forest only when an order says so; the regulation lists it among the things a forest order can prohibit. Forest Service general rule
What the Forest Service says
Exact wording: Forest Service rules page.
Dogs: At Forest Service developed recreation sites, an animal other than a service animal must be crated, caged, on a leash of 6 feet or less, or otherwise under physical restrictive control, and may not be brought into a swimming area. Forest Service general rule
What the Forest Service says
Exact wording: Forest Service rules page.
Snow: Likely October to May
Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons
Managed by: USDA Forest Service, Sawtooth National Forest
Closures: Forest Service alerts, Sawtooth National Forest
Last checked: October 2026

Trail and trailhead

Russian John Hot Springs Trail

Distance: 0.06 mile one way
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route
Climb: About 10 ft up and 0 ft down, one way
Computed from USGS 3DEP elevations at 14 points on our route, Oct 14, 2026 (rough)
Start: Russian John Hot Springs Trail
43.80740, -114.58782

Water temperature

100 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 RUSSIAN JOHN HOT SPRING

Fees and rules

Do you have to pay to go to Russian John Warm Spring?

No fee posted for this spring that we found (checked Oct 13, 2026). Forest Service general rule

Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

Do you need a permit or reservation for Russian John Warm Spring?

None is posted. not posted

Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Clothing and dogs

Clothing

Forest Service general rule Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

Dogs

Forest Service general rule Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

Seasons and winter access

Snow likely October to May at the spring.

Snow likelySnow not likely

Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons

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

Before you go

No permit or reservation is posted.
Snow likely October to May.
Check Forest Service alerts, Sawtooth National Forest before you drive.

Getting there

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

Ketchum, IdahoHot springs near Ketchumabout 26 min17.6 mi Sun Valley, IdahoHot springs near Sun Valleyabout 28 min17.8 mi Stanley, IdahoHot springs near Stanleyabout 65 min43.9 mi

Google Maps Apple Maps

Both open at the start, Russian John Hot Springs Trail, not at the pool.

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

Nearby hot springs (6)

Sunbeam Hot SpringsNear Stanley · Idahoabout 81 mindrive Sacajawea Hot SpringsNear Stanley · Idahoabout 2 h 1 mindrive Kirkham Hot SpringsNear Stanley · Idahoabout 2 h 4 mindrive Miracle Hot SpringsNear Twin Falls · Idahoabout 2 h 36 mindrive Goldbug Hot SpringsNear Stanley · Idahoabout 3 h 6 mindrive Baumgartner Hot SpringsNear Boise · Idahoabout 3 h 23 mindrive

All 20 hot springs in Idaho Pacific Northwest hot springs (36)

Questions

Is Russian John Warm Spring free?

Forest Service general rule Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

How long is the hike to Russian John Warm Spring?

0.06 miles one way from Russian John Hot Springs Trail, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route.

Is Russian John Warm Spring clothing optional?

Forest Service general rule Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

Can I bring my dog?

Forest Service general rule Forest Service general rule: see The facts.

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
Walk: 0.06 mi, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route (FOSSGIS routing, foot profile) from 43.80740, -114.58782Map data OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Drive times from Ketchum, Sun Valley, Stanley: computed with GraphHopper 11.1, car profile, no trafficOpenStreetMap extract of Oct 12, 2026
Snow months (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May): 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

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