Rocky Canyon Hot Springs
- Free
- Roadside
A three-tiered hot spring above the Middle Fork of the Payette River, about 12 miles up South Middle Fork Road from Crouch. Reaching it means wading the river, which Visit Idaho says is only safe in summer at low water. Parking is a small pull-off on the left of the road.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- Crouch
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season |
|
|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Camping nearby | Yes |
| Land manager | Unknown |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, 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 unknown 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
248 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–sulfate (sodium sulfate water)
- pH
- 8.85
- Temp at source
- 119°F
- Lithium
- 0.07 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 12.5 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.07 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “11n 05e 29cdb1s”, sampled 1977–1979 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
- three-tiered spring
- above the Middle Fork Payette River
- river wade required
- roadside camping spots
Getting there
| Elevation | 3,411 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Trail |
|
| Parking | Small pull-off on the left side of the road |
Things to do near Crouch
Hot Springs Campground
Forest Service campground on the Banks-Lowman Road east of Garden Valley with a riverside soaking pool
Campgrounds
- Rattlesnake Campground1.1 mi
- Hardscrabble Campground1.1 mi
- Trail Creek Campground1.8 mi
- Tie Creek Campground3.5 mi
Trailheads
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Silver Creek Plunge
A family campground in the Boise National Forest about 25 miles north of Crouch, built around a 186,000-gallon geothermal pool that has operated since 1957. Water enters at 100-104F and the full volume turns over about every six hours. Lodging is rustic A-frames and cabins with no linens or showers, plus first-come tent and RV sites.
Boiling Springs
A geothermal area on the Middle Fork Payette River about 24 miles north of Crouch on Forest Road 698, next to a Forest Service campground and the rentable Boiling Springs Cabin. Recreation.gov describes soaking in the hot springs beside the cabin, and the USFS says the springs are a short walk from the trailhead parking. The main spring is near boiling, so test the water before getting in.
Terrace Lakes Resort
A golf resort in Garden Valley with an outdoor geothermal pool open year-round to day visitors without reservations. The resort also has a restaurant and lounge, motel rooms, cabins, condos and RV spots. Drinks bought on site can be taken to the pool area with a wristband.
Silver Creek Plunge: 7 mi · Boiling Springs: 8 mi · Terrace Lakes Resort: 8 mi
Sources (2)
· 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.