Prospector Hot Springs
Prospector Hot Springs lies more than six miles from the nearest road in the backcountry near the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, straddling the Idaho-Montana border. Reaching it demands serious commitment. At 3,215 feet in the Nezperce National Forest, this is one of the more remote thermal features in the Northern Rockies.
Dense conifer forest blankets the steep drainages around the spring. The area receives over 40 inches of precipitation annually, including nearly 15 feet of snow, creating a lush, mossy environment unlike Idaho's drier thermal spring settings. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness boundary lies nearby, and the surrounding terrain is rugged, steep, and largely trail-dependent for travel. Wildlife sightings are common in this corridor.
The thermal activity here connects to deep fracture systems in the Idaho Batholith's metamorphic contact zone. The original NOAA survey classified this spring's temperature simply as hot without recording a precise measurement. The Nezperce National Forest manages the area, which has seen minimal development since the early Forest Service surveys of the region.
This is a backcountry destination requiring multi-hour hiking or horseback travel from Savage Pass Road. Navigation skills and bear country awareness are essential. Elk Summit Campground, about 11.5 miles distant, provides 15 first-come, first-served sites and serves as a staging area. Access roads typically open mid-summer and close with early fall snow.
Is Prospector Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Backpacking adventures
- Overnight camping trips
Not ideal for
- Day trips with young children
This sweet destination of a campground rests a short distance from the 1.34 million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Located just 24 miles south of Highway 12, you'll have available to you 15 campsites, stock facilities, stunning scenery, and access to some of the nation's wildest country including many remote alpine lakes and mountain peaks. Hoodoo Lake is just a short stroll from the campground.