Stanley Hot Springs
Reaching Stanley Hot Springs in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness requires a nearly three-mile hike from the Wilderness Gateway trailhead, earning every degree of its 120-degree water. This series of thermal pools sits at 3,600 feet in the third-largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states.
The trail follows Warm Springs Creek through dense Clearwater National Forest, where 200 inches of annual snowfall feed a lush, almost Pacific Northwest-level canopy of cedar and fir. Multiple thermal seeps emerge along the creek, creating a series of soakable pools at different temperatures. At 74 degrees above the 45.9-degree ambient air, steam rises visibly through the forest understory. The wilderness setting means no constructed improvements, just natural pools shaped by previous visitors arranging rocks along the creek.
The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, designated in 1964 under the original Wilderness Act, protects 1.3 million acres of roadless terrain in Lewis and Idaho counties. Stanley Hot Springs draws water heated by deep circulation through the same granitic batholith that powers thermal features across central Idaho. The springs have attracted backcountry visitors since the area was first explored by non-Indigenous people in the early 1900s.
The hike covers roughly 2.9 miles each way with moderate elevation change. Wilderness Gateway Campground at the trailhead sits 4.6 miles away and accepts reservations. This is a wilderness area, so pack out all trash and practice Leave No Trace. Creek crossings may be difficult during spring runoff. The trail is typically snow-free from July through September. No permits are currently required for day use.
Is Stanley Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Wilderness Gateway Campground provides direct access to the Wild and Scenic Lochsa River. Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, including world famous whitewater rafting. Hiking and horseback riding trails abound in the nearby Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area, which is the 3rd-largest in the lower 48 United States. This large and unique campground offers respite for a variety of campers, including those with horses, horse trailers and RVs.Recreation The Lochsa...