Challis Hot Springs
- From $10
- 96–105°F
- 5 hr 1 min from Boise
- Walk-in OK
A hot springs unit of Land of the Yankee Fork State Park near Challis, beside the Salmon River, with a 100 x 30 ft warm pool and a smaller pool kept near 105F. Day use is $10 per person, with children 5 and under free. A 68-site state campground is on the same property.
Winter schedule: campground water off and dump station closed since Oct 26, 2026; pools open Wed-Sun.
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✓ Verified November 2026
- Price
- From $10
- Water
- 96–105°F
- Nearest town
- Challis
- From Boise
- 5 hr 1 min
- Reservations
- Walk-in OK
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Hours |
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|---|---|
| Season |
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Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Day pass, walk-ins welcome |
| Booking |
|
Rules
| Ages |
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|---|
On site
| Pools | 2 |
|---|---|
| Lodging | No |
| Camping nearby | Yes |
Not stated by the venue: swimwear, dogs.
Water temperature
Soaking-pool temperatures as published by the venue or land agency; they vary with season and flow.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
651 mg/L
Moderately mineralized · Sodium–sulfate (sodium sulfate water)
- pH
- 7.1
- Temp at source
- 122°F
- Lithium
- 0.10 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 4.3 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.41 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “14n 19e 23ddd1s Beardsleychallis Hs”, sampled 1979–1983 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.
The pools
| Pool | Temp |
|---|---|
| Large pool100 x 30 ft. Target about 96F in summer and 98-100F in winter. | 96–100°F |
| Hot pool25 x 18 ft, kept as close to 105F as possible. | 105°F |
As published by the venue. Temperatures shift with the seasons and the weather.
Facilities
- Showers: yes
- Restrooms: yes
| Good to know |
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|---|
What's here
- Land of the Yankee Fork State Park unit
- large 100 x 30 ft warm pool
- smaller 105F hot pool
- 68-site campground on site (tent to water/electric RV)
- on the Salmon River
Getting there
- From Boise5 hr 1 min194 mi
- From Salmon1 hr 43 min67 mi
- From Friedman Memorial / Sun Valley (SUN)2 hr 53 min91 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow.
| Elevation | 4,900 ft |
|---|---|
| Road | 5025 Hot Springs Road, Challis, ID 83226 |
Things to do near Challis
Land of the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center
State park museum on Challis-area mining history; Wed-Sun 8:30am-4:30pm.
Challis Bison Kill Site
Archaeological site with a short paved interpretive path at the Interpretive Center.
Bayhorse Ghost Town
Mining ghost town unit of the state park; closed for the season from Oct 26, 2026.
Campgrounds
- Watts Bridge Campground7.7 mi
- Bayhorse Campground10.4 mi
- Cottonwood Campground11.1 mi
- Ellis13.1 mi
Trailheads
- Round Valley Trailhead3.2 mi
- Blue Mountain Trailhead3.7 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Goldbug Hot Springs
Hot springs on BLM land east of Elk Bend, 23 miles south of Salmon off US-93, reached on foot from the end of a county road. The first quarter mile of the trail crosses private property on a public easement, where dogs must be leashed. There is no fee.
Slate Creek Hot Springs
A hot spring up Slate Creek off the Highway 75 corridor east of Sunbeam, toward Clayton. The Stanley-Sawtooth Chamber lists it (also called Hoodoo) among the springs north of Stanley.
Sunbeam Hot Springs
Hot springs that flow into the Salmon River beside Highway 75 north of Stanley, next to a historic bathhouse building dating from 1937. The Stanley-Sawtooth Chamber lists it among the soakable springs north of town.
Goldbug Hot Springs: 29 mi · Slate Creek Hot Springs: 33 mi · Sunbeam Hot Springs: 33 mi
Sources (3)
· 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.