Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch

What to expect

Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch is a historic guest ranch, not a public hot spring. That is the first thing to know. The ranch has a natural hot spring pool, but you can only use it if you are staying there. If you want a soak on a drive through the Sawtooths, skip ahead to the nearby options at the end of this page.

If you are staying, the pool is one of the best parts of the trip. The spring rises on the bank of the upper Salmon River, and the water is fed by gravity through a pipe that crosses the river to the pool. Staff regulate the inflow to hold the water between 99 and 104°F37 and 40°C. The pool is a proper size for swimming, 20 by 40 feet and 3 to 9 feet deep, with decking and lounge chairs around it and a cold shower added recently for cooling off between soaks. The ranch pressure-washes it weekly. Views run up to the Sawtooth Range by day, and on clear nights there is very little light pollution in the Stanley Basin.

The pool is at the lower ranch, near the river. The guest lodging is at the upper ranch, about a mile away. The lower ranch also has the horse barn, pickleball, massage and a yoga studio.

The ranch has history behind it. New York businessman Winston Paul bought the land in 1929, and the hot spring was one of his main reasons. Architect Ellis Bjorling designed what was first called the Idaho Rocky Mountain Club, and a crew of 50 to 60 men built it from local timber hauled in by horse and wagon. It opened on June 25, 1930 with a main lodge, nine cabins, a small hydroelectric plant, a fishpond and the hot spring pool. The ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It has changed hands a few times since and is now run by the Kapp family and partners, who took over in 2005.

Getting there

The ranch is on Idaho Highway 75, between mileposts 180 and 181, about 9 miles south of Stanley. This stretch is part of the Sawtooth and Salmon River scenic byways. In summer, look for the large entrance sign on the east side of the highway. The off-season office is across the road on the west side.

• From Boise: about three hours. The usual routes are ID-21 through Idaho City and Lowman to Stanley, or I-84 and US-20 to Ketchum and north over Galena Summit on ID-75.
• From Ketchum and Sun Valley: drive north on ID-75 over Galena Summit and down into the Sawtooth Valley.
• By air: Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey is about an hour and a half away. Boise Airport is about three hours. The ranch does not run a shuttle, so rent a car.

When to go

The guest season is summer only. For 2027 it runs from June 11 to September 9.

July and August are peak months, with the highest rates and the most activities running. Days are warm and dry. Nights at this elevation can still drop close to freezing, which is when the pool feels best.

June and September cost less. Early June can bring late snow on the peaks and high water on the river. September has cooler nights, fewer people in the Stanley Basin and fall color starting.

Wildfire smoke is a recurring summer issue across central Idaho. The ranch keeps an air quality page on its website, and it is worth checking before you travel.

Prices and booking

Everything here is booked as an overnight stay. For summer 2027, nightly rates for two people are:

• Lodge room (queen bed, private bath, adults and children 10 and over only): $750 in June and September, $850 in July and August.
• Cabin (king or two twins, private bath, fireplace): $1,050 or $1,175.
• Deluxe cabin (standalone, king bed): $1,150 or $1,300.
• Family cabin (duplex, base of four, up to six): $1,750 or $1,950.
• Extra person in a cabin: $400 or $450.

Rates include breakfast, a packed lunch, appetizers and dinner. On top of that, a 15% ranch fee covers the hot spring pool, guided hikes, mountain bikes, paddle boards, fly casting clinics, yoga, pickleball and the recreation center. Taxes and gratuity are extra, and the ranch lists some activities separately as add-ons.

Minimum stays apply in peak season and are relaxed closer to the date, so call the office if you only want a night or two. A 50% deposit confirms a booking, and the balance is charged 14 days before arrival. Cancel more than 30 days out and you lose 10%. Inside 30 days there is no refund.

Not staying? Up to 10 outside guests a night can reserve dinner at $115 a person plus tax, by email or on (208) 725-3000. That gets you a look at the lodge, but not the pool.

Where to stay nearby

If the ranch is booked or out of budget, Stanley, 9 miles north, has motels, cabins and lodges, and is the main base for the Sawtooths. The Sawtooth National Recreation Area has many Forest Service campgrounds along ID-75 and around Redfish Lake, though summer sites go fast.

Safety notes

• Hot water: At up to 104°F40°C, keep soaks short, especially after a long hike at altitude. Use the cold shower between rounds.
• Deep end: The pool reaches 9 feet. Watch children closely.
• The river: The Salmon is cold and fast here, particularly in June. Keep kids off the banks near the lower ranch.
• Wildlife and remoteness: This is open country with elk, deer and the occasional moose. Drive Highway 75 slowly at dawn and dusk, and expect limited services between Stanley and Ketchum.

Nearby stops worth adding

The ranch is well placed for soaking on public land. Basin Creek Hot Springs is just east of Stanley along the Salmon River, and the stretch of ID-75 toward Sunbeam has several more riverside springs, including Sunbeam Hot Springs. In Stanley itself, Mountain Village Resort has its own hot spring soaking pool.