Snowshoe Johnsons Hot Spring
At 108 degrees Fahrenheit and nearly three miles from the nearest road, Snowshoe Johnson's Hot Spring in Idaho's Salmon National Forest demands real effort to reach. The payoff is a genuine backcountry soak at 5,472 feet elevation with few other visitors around.
The hike in from Hoodoo Meadows Road crosses terrain that receives over nine feet of snow annually, so timing matters. Custer County's high country opens into meadows and conifer stands as the trail gains elevation. The spring itself emerges in a setting where the only sounds are wind through lodgepole pines and moving water. At 66 degrees above the average annual air temperature of 42 degrees Fahrenheit, the thermal contrast against mountain air feels especially pronounced on cold mornings.
This is a hike-in destination requiring roughly 2.7 miles of trail from Hoodoo Meadows Road. Carry everything needed for a full day. The area is snowbound well into June most years given the 110 inches of annual snowfall. No facilities exist at the spring. GPS coordinates are essential as signage is limited in this part of the forest.
Named for a local character from the settlement era, this spring sits within a landscape shaped by the Idaho Batholith, the massive granite intrusion responsible for heating groundwater across central Idaho. The Salmon National Forest holds dozens of thermal features, but Snowshoe Johnson's remote location has kept it relatively unchanged. Federal management under the Forest Service maintains the area with minimal development.
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Overview Yellowjacket Guard Station is a historic Forest Service Ranger Station and Work Center. Originally constructed in 1925 and remodeled in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Recreation Hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers and off-road enthusiasts will find many trails in the surrounding area. Hunting is also a popular activity. Click here for an Idaho OHV safety messageFacilities The spacious...
Snowshoe Johnsons Hot Spring sits at 5,472 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 22% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Snowshoe Johnsons Hot Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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