Red River Hot Springs
Red River Hot Springs produces 131 degrees Fahrenheit water at 5,040 feet elevation in Idaho County's Nezperce National Forest, with a strongly alkaline pH of 9.4 and total dissolved solids of 274 mg/L. The source sits just 165 feet from the road, making it among the most accessible high-temperature springs in central Idaho's backcountry.
The setting is deep in the Red River drainage, surrounded by dense stands of lodgepole pine and subalpine fir at the western edge of the Bitterroot Range. This area receives over 15 feet of snow annually, burying the landscape under a thick white blanket from November through May. The water emerges sodium-rich and nearly iron-free, running clear over mineral-stained rocks. Summer brings wildflower meadows and the steady sound of the nearby creek.
The thermal activity at Red River connects to the same deep-seated batholith heating that powers many of central Idaho's hot springs. Water chemistry shows almost no calcium or magnesium, consistent with long contact time in granitic rock rather than limestone or volcanic formations. The area has been known to Nez Perce people and later to miners who worked the Red River placers in the late 1800s.
Roadside access makes reaching the spring straightforward once you navigate the long forest roads from Grangeville. Walker Cabin, a reservable 1930s-era Forest Service rental, sits about 17 miles away along Crooked River Road near the Gospel-Hump Wilderness. Snow closes access roads typically from October through June. Bring supplies for full self-sufficiency.
Is Red River Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Red River Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.4) with 274 mg/L total dissolved solids.
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Overview Walker Cabin is nestled among trees just off Crooked River Road #233, which leads into the Gospel-Hump Wilderness Area, in the Nez Perce National Forest. The cabin was originally built around 1930 as a summer home. Jerry and Helen Walker purchased the cabin in 1967, then donated it to the U.S. Forest Service in the 1980s. It is now available for public recreational use. The cabin must be reserved in advanced; there are no walk-ups. Recreation Crooked River is a popular area for many...