Stuart Hot Springs
Stuart Hot Springs demands commitment. Tucked more than five miles from Fog Mountain Road in the Nezperce National Forest, this backcountry thermal feature at 2,825 feet sits in one of Idaho's wettest zones, receiving over 200 inches of snow annually. The journey filters out casual visitors entirely.
The approach follows forested drainages through dense Bitterroot Range timber where the canopy holds moisture year-round. At the spring, steam threads upward through conifers dripping with moss. The air carries the mineral-sharp smell of heated water mixing with wet earth. Ravalli County's backcountry stretches in every direction without structures or trails markings, and the only sounds are creek water and wind moving through old-growth.
Stuart Hot Springs surfaces along a fault system within the Idaho Batholith, where deeply circulating groundwater encounters residual volcanic heat. The Nezperce National Forest has preserved these thermal features under federal protection since the early twentieth century. Average annual temperatures here hover around 48 degrees Fahrenheit, yet the geothermal gradient pushes water well above that baseline through fractured granitic bedrock.
Plan a multi-day trip. The 5.7-mile approach from Fog Mountain Road crosses unimproved terrain with no marked trail for portions. Bring topographic maps and GPS. Snow typically blocks access from November through May. The nearest established campground, Wilderness Gateway, sits 28 kilometers away along the Lochsa River corridor.
Is Stuart Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Backpacking adventures
- Overnight camping trips
Not ideal for
- Day trips with young children
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...