Take a soothing soak in a local hot spring.
A misty cloud of steam hovers over the azure pool at Gold Fork Hot Springs. Our group is shivering from a lengthy cross-country ski outing — you know, the clammy skin thing — and we’re anxious to hop into the hot water. A woman tips her toe to check the temperature, and a big smile creases her face. “Oh, that feels great!” We all hop into the pool, and in seconds, our bodies are melting.
There’s nothing like a dip in a natural hot spring after a fun day of recreation in the Payette River Mountains region of Idaho — especially in the winter. Gold Fork Hot Springs, located about 10 miles southeast of Donnelly, was refurbished and reopened after a 10-year hiatus in 2003, and it has become one of the most popular hot springs to visit in the area.
Six different hot pools are available for soaking, ranging from 86 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. All of the pools are fed by a mineral- rich natural hot spring that flows out of fissures in granite rocks adjoining the main pool. The public can change into bathing suits (required) in a yurt next to the pools. Food and drink are available for sale, and people can bring their own refreshments.
Burgdorf Hot Springs, located about 25 miles north of McCall, is another favorite destination in the winter-time, particularly for snowmobile riders. The road to Burgdorf is not plowed in the winter, so the only access is by snowmobile or cross-country skis. Burgdorf has one large rectangular pool that ranges from 102 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Two other hotter pools are located next to the main pool for those who really like to fry.
Burgdorf has a rustic charm because of old log cabins that ring the resort. The public can rent the cabins in the winter and summer for a modest fee. Numerous hiking and mountain biking trails are located nearby Burgdorf in the summer time, making it a nice place to stop and soak your sore muscles after a recreation outing. In the spring, it’s possible to see many elk and deer grazing in a nearby meadow while you soak.
Zims Hot Springs, located about five miles north of New Meadows in Adams County, is another popular place to soak for families and children. Zims has a large pool kept in the range of 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit, and smaller pools that are hotter. Changing rooms and rest rooms are available next to the pools.
Beyond these commercial hot springs establishments, multiple natural hot springs dot the Payette River Mountains Region. Idaho hot springs guides provide information on where to find natural springs in the Boise and Payette national forests.
INFORMATION ON HOT SPRINGS
