Basin Creek Hot Springs

What to expect

Basin Creek Hot Springs is about as simple as a hot spring gets. Hot water seeps from several vents in the bank near where Basin Creek comes down to the Salmon River, and visitors have stacked river rocks into a few small, shallow pools to catch it. There are no tubs, no pipes and no buildings. You sit in a pool the size of a bathtub or two, with the creek and the Salmon a few steps away and the highway close enough to hear.

The water comes out very hot. One hot springs directory puts the source at about 145°F63°C, and Redfish Lake Lodge warns visitors about water as hot as 170°F77°C flowing into the pools. The pools only become soakable once cold creek water is mixed in, which you do by moving stones to open or close the inflow. When it is balanced, the pools usually sit somewhere around 95-104°F35-40°C. A visitor who logged temperatures in 2005 found the top pool over 115°F46°C and the lowest one about 96°F36°C. On other days, one pool is too cool and the next too hot. Expect to fiddle.

The water is fairly clear with a light sulfur smell that fades quickly. The pool bottoms are silty, so stepping in stirs things up. Because the pools are small, two or three people fill one.

This is the quick roadside stop on a Highway 75 hot springs run, not a place to spend a whole day.

Getting there

From Stanley, drive northeast and then east on Highway 75, the Salmon River Scenic Byway, toward Sunbeam and Clayton. The road follows the Salmon River the whole way and is paved.

• After about 8 miles, look for the bridge over Basin Creek, between mileposts 197 and 198.
• Cross the bridge, then turn off onto the unpaved Basin Creek Road and park in the small pullout. Do not block the road.
• Walk about 150 feet up Basin Creek Road, then take the narrow path down toward the creek. Aim for the large rock outcrop.
• The last 400 feet or so is narrow and slick. The whole walk is only around 0.1 mile.

Wear proper shoes. Sandals and wet rock do not mix here. The drive from Stanley takes about 15 minutes.

When to go

Late summer and fall are the best time. The Salmon and Basin Creek have dropped, the pools are above the water, and the mix of hot and cold is easier to control. September and October mornings, with frost on the grass and steam off the pools, are the best of the year.

Spring runoff, roughly April to June, can raise the creek and river enough to swamp the pools. Older reports say the pools go under at high water. If you visit then, expect to find little or nothing to soak in.

Winter is possible, since Highway 75 is plowed, but the area around Stanley is one of the coldest in the lower 48. Pullouts may be snowed in, and the path is icy.

Weekends in July and August bring a lot of traffic along the byway. With pools this small, a few cars are enough to fill the place. Go early on a weekday.

Rules and etiquette

The springs sit on public land in the Sawtooth National Forest. There is no fee and no posted hours.

• No soap, shampoo or biodegradable products in the pools. A notice posted at the springs says so.
• Keep it small and shared. If people are waiting, take a shorter turn.
• Leave the rock walls alone beyond small adjustments to the inflow. Do not dig new pools.
• Pack out everything, including bottles and toilet paper. There are no toilets or trash cans.
• Swimsuits required. A Sawtooth National Forest order bans public nudity on all forest land and roads through September 2031, and the pools are in sight of the highway.
• No camping at the springs.

Where to stay nearby

The old Basin Creek Campground beside the springs no longer exists. It was badly damaged by flooding years ago and was never reopened. Some camping apps still list a small site on Basin Creek Road, so check the current status with the Sawtooth National Forest rather than relying on an app.

Better options:

• Salmon River Campground (USFS): About 5 miles northeast of Stanley on Highway 75, with 30 first-come, first-served sites. It closes for the season on September 30.
• Mormon Bend Campground (USFS): Also on Highway 75 between Stanley and the springs, with about 15 sites.
• Stanley: Motels, cabins and lodges, about 15 minutes away. Mountain Village Resort in Stanley has its own geothermal soaking for guests.

Safety notes

• Scalding water: This is the main hazard. Source water of 145°F63°C or more runs right next to the pools. Test with your hand before every entry, and keep children well away from the vents.
• Footing: The path down is short but narrow and slippery, and the rocks around the pools are wet and uneven.
• The Salmon River: It runs fast and cold, especially in early summer. Do not wade out from the springs.
• Water quality: The pools are warm, shallow and silty. Keep your head out of the water and do not drink it.
• Cold: Stanley regularly drops below freezing at night, even in summer. Bring warm, dry layers for after your soak.

Nearby stops worth adding

Highway 75 east of Stanley has several more springs within a short drive. Kem, also called Cove Creek Hot Springs, is close to Basin Creek and has a vault toilet. Sunbeam Hot Springs, about 12 miles from Stanley, has pools at the river’s edge plus restrooms and changing rooms. Many people soak at two or three of them in one afternoon.