Barth Hot Springs
- Free
- 7 hr 56 min from Boise
- Roadside
A riverside hot spring on the Wild and Scenic Main Salmon River in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, reached only by boat on a multi-day float. The Forest Service calls it the only hot spring on the river and asks boaters not to camp or stop for lunch there. Soap and nudity are not allowed, and the rocks on the short climb up are loose and wet.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- North Fork
- From Boise
- 7 hr 56 min
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
| Booking |
|
Rules
| Swimwear |
|
|---|
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Land manager | USFS |
Not stated by the land manager: ages, dogs.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with USFS before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
186 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–sulfate (sodium sulfate water)
- pH
- 9.5
- Temp at source
- 139°F
- Lithium
- 0.10 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 0.90 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.08 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “Barth Hot Springs” (0.1 mi from Barth Hot Springs), sampled 1980 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
What's here
- on the Wild and Scenic Main Salmon River
- reached only by boat
- only hot spring on the Main Salmon wilderness float
- no soap, no camping, no lunch stops
- Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
Getting there
- From Boise7 hr 56 min300 mi
- From Salmon4 hr 11 min137 mi
- From Missoula (MSO)4 hr 16 min141 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow.
| Elevation | 2,708 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Trail | Short scramble up from the river on loose, wet rocks |
Things to do near North Fork
Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
About 2.4 million acres, the largest contiguous wilderness in the Lower 48; Salmon River boating needs a permit.
Salmon River Road to Corn Creek
About 50 mi along the Salmon west of North Fork past Shoup, mines and pictographs; ends at the Corn Creek launch.
Campgrounds
- Hot Spring Campsite0.1 mi
- Sunny Bar Campsite0.3 mi
- Butterfly Campsite0.5 mi
- Poor Bar Campsite1 mi
Trailheads
- Horse Heaven Trailhead10.7 mi
- Dry Saddle Trailhead11.7 mi
- Base Camp Trailhead12.4 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Red River Hot Springs
An off-grid lodge in the Nez Perce National Forest near Elk City with a natural hot spring pool that is not chlorinated. It rents lodge rooms, cabins (one with its own outdoor mineral soaking tub) and dry RV and tent sites, and a cafe serves burgers and breakfast burritos on weekends. Day soaks are paid per visit with no re-entry, and nudity is prohibited.
Horse Creek Hot Spring
A hot spring with dispersed camping in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, near the border of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and Montana's Bitterroot National Forest. It sits at 6,200 feet, about 36 miles of forest roads west and north of North Fork. There is no potable water and there are no picnic tables or fire rings.
Burgdorf Hot Springs
A historic off-grid resort in the Payette National Forest, about 30 miles north of McCall on Warren Wagon Road, with three log-sided, gravel-bottomed pools. Day soaks are booked in two-hour blocks, and the rustic cabins have no electricity or plumbing. In winter the road becomes a groomed snowmobile trail, so guests arrive by snowmobile or tracked vehicle.
Red River Hot Springs: 20 mi · Horse Creek Hot Spring: 28 mi · Burgdorf Hot Springs: 45 mi
Sources (4)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.