Danskin Creek Hot Spring
Danskin Creek Hot Spring flows at a soak-ready 106 degrees Fahrenheit, emerging just 58 feet from Banks Lowman Road in the Boise National Forest. Open to the public on Forest Service land, this roadside spring delivers one of the most convenient thermal soaking opportunities along the South Fork Payette River corridor near Idaho City.
The spring sits at 3,360 feet in a narrow canyon where the South Fork Payette River has carved through granitic rock. Ponderosa pines and Douglas fir shade the road, and the river runs within earshot. The air carries a faint mineral tang near the source. Winter brings over eight feet of snow, but the Banks-Lowman Highway is maintained, keeping access open. In summer, the canyon traps warmth and the contrast between cool river water and hot spring flow is easy to feel from a few paces away.
This stretch of the South Fork Payette corridor contains numerous thermal features, all fed by the same deep faulting through the Idaho Batholith. Danskin Creek's chemistry, pH 8.8 with 66 mg/L sodium and negligible magnesium at 0.1 mg/L, is typical of granitic-hosted systems where water reaches significant depth before returning to the surface. The USGS has recorded the source at 40 degrees Celsius, consistent with a moderate-depth circulation path.
The 106-degree temperature is comfortable for direct soaking without needing to mix with cold water, though individual tolerance varies. The spring is on Forest Service land with open public access and no fees. Hot Springs Campground is about 5 miles east along the Banks-Lowman Highway and accepts reservations. The road sees regular traffic from rafters and kayakers heading to the South Fork Payette.
Is Danskin Creek Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Danskin Creek Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 8.8).
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Overview Hot Springs Campground is located just east of Garden Valley, Idaho along the Banks-Lowman Highway at an elevation of 3169 feet. Visitors enjoy rafting, kayaking, fishing on the South Fork Payette River, and soaking in the hot springs at the river's edge. Recreation The South Fork Payette River is across the road from the campground, offering fishing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking. A natural hot springs soaking pool is located on the river directly across the road and down a...