Dash Creek Hot Springs (Moondipper and Pine Burl)

What to expect

“Dash Creek Hot Springs” is the name on maps and in government spring records. On the trail, people know the place by its two soaking pools, Moondipper and Pine Burl, which local hot springs guides also call Dash #1 and Dash #2. Both sit near where Dash Creek tumbles into the Middle Fork Payette River, deep in the Boise National Forest north of Crouch. This listing covers both pools.

The water comes out of the ground very hot. A US Geological Survey crew measured the source at about 152°F67°C in July 1979. That water runs down toward the creek, and visitors have built rock walls to catch it and blend it with cold creek water. The result is two simple pools with sandy, sometimes silty bottoms. There are no pipes, decks or buildings beyond a bit of mortar holding the walls together.

Moondipper is the first pool you reach and is the more variable of the two. Its temperature has been logged anywhere from about 100°F to 118°F38°C to 48°C, depending on how much cold runoff the creek is carrying. In a dry late summer it can be too hot to use at all.

Pine Burl sits a short way farther up a faint path along Dash Creek, less than a quarter mile from Moondipper. Most visitors rate it the better soak. On a normal day it holds around 101-103°F38-39°C, but one June visit found pockets of 96°F and 118°F36°C and 48°C in the same pool, so stir the water before you settle in. It can also get uncomfortably warm in full afternoon sun, because there is little shade.

The water is clear but visibility is low once the silt is stirred, and there is no noticeable sulfur smell. Expect to see deer or elk in the meadows, and moose have been spotted along this stretch of river.

Getting there

The springs are a hike from Boiling Springs Campground, at the end of the road up the Middle Fork Payette.

• From Boise: Take Highway 55 north to Banks, then turn east on the Banks-Lowman Road (Highway 17) to Crouch.
• From Crouch or Garden Valley: Go about 2.5 miles west of Garden Valley on Highway 17 and turn north on Forest Road 698, the Middle Fork Payette road. Follow it roughly 23 to 24 miles north to Boiling Springs Campground and the Boiling Springs Guard Station. Recreation signs mark the way.

FR 698 is a long forest road that sees heavy off-road vehicle traffic in summer, so expect dust and slow going on the upper stretch. In winter it is snow covered and generally only reachable by snowmobile.

The Middle Fork Payette River Trail starts at the north end of FR 698 near the campground and heads upriver. About 2 miles up, near Dash Creek, you reach the pools. The trail itself is long (it continues more than 16 miles upriver) and the Forest Service only clears fallen trees every few years, so expect some deadfall. There are unmarked junctions and a lower route that fords the river repeatedly. Hikers who have done it recommend keeping to the higher trail to stay dry. In spring the fords are not safe.

Give yourself plenty of daylight for the walk, especially if you plan to stop at the springs around the guard station first.

When to go

Late July to early October is the sweet spot. The river has dropped, the crossings are manageable, and Dash Creek usually carries enough cold water to keep the pools usable. The Hiking Project trail notes list July through October as the best time for this trail.

Early summer is a gamble. In a big snow year the river is high and the fords are dangerous. In a low snow year the creek can be too weak to cool the pools, and a June 2007 visitor found the soaking window had already closed.

Late summer and fall bring the opposite problem at Moondipper, which can run too hot once the creek dries down. Pine Burl tends to hold up better.

Winter access means snowmobiling up FR 698, which is snowbound until about late May. That is a serious trip and not something to try without local knowledge.

Summer weekends bring off-road traffic to the campground and the guard station is often rented, so go midweek if you can.

Rules and etiquette

These are undeveloped springs on Boise National Forest land, with no fee and no posted hours.

• No soap or shampoo of any kind, including biodegradable products. Using them in public hot springs is prohibited and can bring a fine.
• Swimsuits are required. A Boise National Forest order prohibits public nudity on all national forest land in the forest from August 27, 2025, through August 27, 2030, and both pools are covered.
• Share the pools. Each holds only a few people. If others are waiting, keep your soak short.
• Leave the walls alone. Small adjustments to the inflow are fine. Do not dismantle or dig new pools.
• Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. There are no toilets or trash cans at the springs.
• Campfires: Check current fire restrictions with the Boise National Forest before you build one.

Where to stay nearby

• Boiling Springs Campground (USFS): At the trailhead, about 4,000 feet up beside the Middle Fork. It has 7 sites with tables, grills and fire pits, one vault toilet, and an artesian hand pump for drinking water. It is a fee campground with envelopes at the entrance and usually runs from about April 20 to October 20, depending on snow. Trailers and RVs up to about 30 feet fit.
• Boiling Springs Guard Station: A historic Forest Service cabin next to the springs at the campground, rented by reservation only on Recreation.gov. Winter access is by snowmobile.
• Dispersed camping: There is a flat, roomy site just past Pine Burl and another along the main trail before the path turns up Dash Creek. Many other primitive sites line FR 698.
• Garden Valley and Crouch: The nearest towns, 23 to 24 miles back down FR 698. Stock up on fuel, food and water there before heading up the road.

Safety notes

• Scalding water: The source is far hotter than any pool should be. Test with your hand every time and stir before you sit, because hot and cold layers form.
• River crossings: The Middle Fork is cold and fast in spring and early summer. Turn back if a ford looks deeper than your knees.
• Water quality: The pools are warm, shallow and silty. Keep your head above water and do not drink it.
• Remoteness: There is no cell service up FR 698. Tell someone your plan and carry a map, water and a light.
• Wildlife: Give moose plenty of room, especially cows with calves. Store food properly at camp.

Nearby stops worth adding

The springs at the Boiling Springs Guard Station are right at the trailhead and make an easy first stop. On the drive in, the Middle Fork corridor north of Crouch has several more soaks, including Rocky Canyon Hot Springs and Ground Hog Hot Springs. For a developed pool after the hike, Silver Creek Plunge is in the same part of the forest.