Terrace Lakes Resort Hot Springs Pool

What to expect

Terrace Lakes is a golf and residential resort in the hills above the Middle Fork Payette River, a few miles north of Crouch in the Garden Valley area. Its hot springs pool is the reason most non-golfers come. It is a single large outdoor pool filled with geothermal water, and it is open every day of the year.

This is a swimming pool, not a natural soak. The resort lists the depth as 2 to 5 feet. A hot springs directory describes the water arriving from the source at about 157°F69°C and cooling on the way to the pool, and says the pool is divided into a quiet soaking area for adults, a deeper swimming section and a shallow area for children. The same directory says the water is chlorinated. The resort itself does not publish a water temperature, so think warm pool rather than hot tub.

The setting is a mix of pine-covered hillsides, fairways and resort buildings. In winter, steam rises off the pool and the surrounding slopes are often white. In summer it is a busy family swimming spot.

There is a restaurant and lounge on site, and a Pavilion bar near the pool.

Prices and booking

Pool rates listed by the resort in 2026:

• Under 2: free
• Ages 2 to 11: $12
• Ages 12 to 59: $15
• Seniors 60 and over: $10
• Monthly pass: $200, covering up to six people
• Swimsuit rental: $2
• Towel rental: $2

You do not need a reservation. Turn up, check in with the pool staff and pay. Members and resort guests can get different rates. Renting a camping spot gives you guest pool rates, and some lodging bookings do too. Ask when you book whether pool use is included or discounted.

The resort also runs water aerobics on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8am to 9am, free for pool members and $10 for non-members (an all-day pass).

Hours and rules

The pool is open 9am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 8pm on Sunday, year-round. Late hours make it one of the few places in the area where you can soak after dark.

The resort runs it as a family pool and enforces a few rules firmly:

• Swimwear only. Overly revealing or see-through suits are not allowed, and staff enforce the dress code at their discretion.
• No outside alcohol. It is confiscated, and guests who break the rule can be asked to leave. This applies to members too.
• Drinks from the bar only. Adults 21 and over can buy drinks at the Pavilion or the upstairs Lounge after getting a wristband from the pool attendants.

The website does not mention lockers, showers or a glass policy. Bring a bag you can keep at the poolside and leave valuables in the car or your room.

Getting there

The resort is at 101 Holiday Drive, Garden Valley.

• From Boise: Take Highway 55 north to Banks. Turn right onto the Banks-Lowman Highway and follow the South Fork Payette River east to Garden Valley and the small town of Crouch. In Crouch, turn north onto the Middle Fork Road. Follow it about 3 miles, then bear onto Warm Springs Road and continue about a mile to Holiday Drive and the resort. The whole drive is about 55 miles and 1.5 hours.
• From McCall or Cascade: Come south on Highway 55 to Banks and follow the same route east.

All of it is paved. There is parking at the resort. In winter, Highway 55 and the Banks-Lowman road can be icy, so check the Idaho 511 road report before you go.

When to go

Winter is when the pool is at its best. The air is cold, the water feels warmer, and steam hangs over the surface. Weekday evenings are usually quiet.

Summer is family season. Expect kids in the shallow end on weekends and during school holidays. Early mornings are calmer.

Holidays bring higher lodging rates, and the resort notes that prices can change during events and busy periods.

Where to stay nearby

The resort has its own lodging, bookable online or by phone at 208-462-3250. Starting rates listed in 2026, before tax:

• Motel rooms from $125 a night, with queen beds and a full bathroom. Some have kitchenettes at a higher rate. A few rooms take pets.
• Cabins from $150 a night. There are only two, one room each, and no pets.
• Condos from $245 a night, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. Extra charges apply for more than four guests.
• RV and camping spots at $25 a night. There are eight sites with power and two without, and you must call the office to book.

Outside the resort, Garden Valley and Crouch have a handful of cabins, rentals and small motels. National forest campgrounds lie along the Middle Fork Payette and the South Fork Payette, in the Boise National Forest.

Safety notes

• Supervise kids. The deep end reaches about 5 feet. The resort has pool attendants, but they are not a substitute for watching your own children.
• Heat and alcohol: Warm water and drinks are a poor mix. Keep it moderate, drink water, and get out if you feel lightheaded.
• Slippery deck: Wet concrete is slick, and in winter it can ice over between the pool and the building. Walk carefully and wear sandals.
• Winter driving: The canyon roads into Garden Valley can be slick after dark. Plan your drive back before you settle in for an evening soak.

Nearby stops worth adding

Garden Valley sits in a cluster of natural hot springs. East along the Banks-Lowman Highway, Pine Flats Hot Springs has pools above the South Fork Payette, and Kirkham Hot Springs near Lowman has hot waterfalls by the road. Up the Middle Fork Payette, Rocky Canyon Hot Springs is a riverside soak that needs a ford. These wild springs are on Boise National Forest land, where a forest order bans public nudity through August 2030, so bring a suit. The South Fork Payette is also a popular rafting and kayaking river in summer.