Pine Flat Hot Springs
Pine Flat Hot Springs erupts at 138 degrees Fahrenheit on Forest Service land in Boise National Forest, just 110 meters from Banks Lowman Road. USGS readings of 59.5 degrees Celsius confirm the powerful thermal output. The water registers 91 degrees above the local ambient average, one of the largest temperature differentials in the region.
The spring sits at 3,760 feet elevation along the South Fork Payette River corridor, where steep canyon walls of weathered granite rise on both sides. Whitewater rafters and kayakers pass regularly during summer months. Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir shade portions of the riverbank, and the air carries the sulfur-mineral scent typical of high-temperature alkaline springs. Pine Flats Campground lies just 300 meters away, making this an easy walk from camp. The river's cold water provides natural mixing opportunities.
At 138 degrees Fahrenheit, Pine Flat ranks among Idaho's hotter accessible springs. The pH of 9.2, elevated sodium at 75 mg/L, and negligible calcium indicate deep circulation through the Idaho Batholith's granitic core. The Banks-Lowman corridor follows a major fault zone that channels geothermal fluids to the surface at multiple points. Gold miners worked this stretch of the Boise River basin through the 1860s, and the road itself was built partly to service mining claims.
Source temperature of 138 degrees Fahrenheit is dangerously hot and requires substantial cooling or mixing with river water before any contact. Pine Flats Campground accepts reservations and sits within walking distance. The Banks-Lowman Highway provides year-round paved access. Idaho City lies a short drive east for supplies. Check current fire restrictions, as the area has experienced recent wildfire activity.
Is Pine Flat Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Pine Flat Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.2).
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Overview Pine Flats Campground is located a few miles west of Lowman, Idaho, along the Banks-Lowman Highway at an elevation of 3,700 feet. Visitors enjoy rafting, kayaking and fishing on the South Fork Payette River, and soaking in the hot springs at the river's edge.Recreation The South Fork Payette River flows next to the site, down a small hill, and offers trout fishing, rafting and kayaking. The Danskin River Access area is 5 miles west of the campground. A 1/4-mile nature trail begins i...