Cove Creek Hot Springs (Kem Hot Springs)

What to expect

Cove Creek Hot Springs, better known locally as Kem Hot Springs, is a riverbed spring. Hot water seeps up through the gravel along the bank of the Salmon River, and visitors scoop out sand and stack rocks to make a few shallow pools right at the water line. Each pool is a balance between the hot seep and the cold river, and the balance changes with the river level and with whoever moved the rocks last.

That makes it a spring of moods. One directory puts the source water at about 133°F56°C, and a visitor in early September measured a pool at 107°F42°C. Other reports, across several summers, describe pools semi-submerged and too cool to do more than soak your feet, even in mid-August. Go expecting to tinker, and be pleased if it is hot.

The setting is pleasant. You sit at the edge of a wide, clear stretch of the Salmon, with the river canyon and forested slopes rising around you and Highway 75 close by. The water has a mild mineral smell. The pools are small, so a handful of people fill them.

Compared with most roadside springs on this stretch, Kem has some basics. The parking area has a vault toilet, and there are picnic tables down by the river. Otherwise it is undeveloped.

Getting there

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

• At about 8 miles you cross the Basin Creek bridge, between mileposts 197 and 198. The pools under the bank there are Basin Creek Hot Springs, a different spring.
• Continue a short way east to the Cove Hot Springs parking area, a highway lot with a vault toilet. Coming from Stanley it is on the right.
• From the lot, a short, easy trail leads down to the river and the pools.

The drive from Stanley takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Any car can make it. If the lot is full, do not park on the shoulder of the highway, which is narrow with fast traffic.

Mileages vary between sources, from about 6 to 9 miles from Stanley, so watch for the Basin Creek bridge as your landmark.

When to go

Late summer and fall are the only dependable seasons. The Salmon drops through July and August, the pools emerge, and the river is low enough that you can keep the cold water from flooding in. September and October mornings are usually the best soaks.

Spring and early summer bring high water. The pools are typically flooded or gone, and the river is dangerously fast.

Winter access is possible because Highway 75 is plowed, but the lot may not be cleared, the path will be icy, and the pools may be under ice or too cool. The Stanley basin is one of the coldest spots in the lower 48.

Summer weekends bring heavy traffic along the byway and a lot of competition for small pools. Go early or on a weekday.

Rules and etiquette

The springs are on Sawtooth National Forest land in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. There is no fee.

• Day use only. No camping at the springs or overnight in the parking area.
• No soap or shampoo in the pools, including biodegradable products.
• Swimsuits required. A Sawtooth National Forest order bans public nudity on all forest land and roads through September 2031, and the pools are close to the highway.
• Rebuild gently. It is normal to move a few rocks to adjust the mix of hot and cold. Leave the pools usable for the next person.
• Pack out everything. Use the vault toilet in the lot, and take your trash with you.
• Share. If people are waiting, keep your soak short.

Where to stay nearby

There is no camping at Kem. Nearby options on Highway 75:

• Mormon Bend Campground (USFS): Under 2 miles from the springs, with about 15 first come, first served sites. It is seasonal.
• Salmon River Campground (USFS): About 5 miles northeast of Stanley on Highway 75, between town and the springs, with 30 first come, first served sites.
• Basin Creek Campground: Some apps still list a campground up Basin Creek Road. It was badly damaged by flooding, so check its status with the Sawtooth National Forest before planning around it.
• Stanley: Motels, cabins and lodges about 15 minutes away. Mountain Village Resort in Stanley has its own geothermal soaking for guests.

Safety notes

• Hot seeps: The water rising through the gravel can be well over 130°F54°C at the source. Test the pool with your hand, and move rocks with care so you do not open a hot vent under your feet.
• The Salmon River: The pools sit at the river’s edge. The current is fast and cold, especially in early summer. Do not wade out, and keep kids close.
• Water quality: The pools are shallow and stir up silt easily. Keep your head out of the water.
• Highway traffic: Highway 75 is busy in summer. Use the lot, not the shoulder, and watch for traffic when you pull out.
• Cold: Nights near Stanley can freeze in any month. Bring dry, warm layers.

Nearby stops worth adding

Highway 75 east of Stanley has several springs within a short drive, and Kem works best as one stop of a few. Basin Creek Hot Springs is just west, with small rock pools under the bank by the bridge. Sunbeam Hot Springs, about 12 miles from Stanley, has pools at the river’s edge plus restrooms and changing rooms. Farther east, Challis Hot Springs has developed pools and a campground at the end of the byway.