# Stanley Hot Springs, Idaho

Stanley Hot Springs in Idaho. 120°F (49°C). Hike · Public Land. Lewis County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/stanley-hot-springs
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Stanley Hot Springs?

Yes. Stanley Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools that run at 106°F. Soaking is free. It's open Jun-Oct best. Reaching it takes a hike.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 120°F (49°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 3,600 ft |
| Access | Hike · Public Land, 2.9 mi from the nearest road (Wilderness Gateway Loop A) |
| Land | Clearwater National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Lewis County |
| Nearest town | Kamiah |
| Coordinates | 46.31600, -115.25800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | WILDERNESS GATEWAY, 2.9 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | Jun-Oct best |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Pool temperature | 106°F |
| Getting there | 5 mi one way on Trail 211 from Wilderness Gateway, gradual; improvised log crossing of Huckleberry Creek |
| In winter | snowshoe possible, creek crossing riskier |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/stanley-hot-springs-idaho

## About Stanley Hot Springs

Stanley Hot Springs is a series of thermal springs in the Clearwater National Forest, reached by hiking close to three miles from Wilderness Gateway Loop A. The listing puts it in Lewis County with Kamiah the nearest town at 37 miles. Wikipedia places it inside the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho County. The water is hot, around 120 degrees. Access is open.

About 3,600 feet, and wet. Annual precipitation tops fifty inches and snowfall averages over 200 inches, so this is damp mountain country with long winters. Forest Service land throughout, National Forest designation, nothing recorded about a fee. The nearest road is a campground loop, and the hike in from it is roughly three miles.

Wikipedia describes Stanley Hot Springs as a series of thermal springs in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The USGS tracks it as a site, and OpenStreetMap uses the same name.

Wilderness Gateway campground sits about three miles off, the same distance as the road. December through February are on file as best months, though with the snow that falls here that will be a snow trek. Hot water at 120 degrees can scald with time. If Wikipedia's placement inside the wilderness is right, wilderness regulations apply.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Kamiah](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/kamiah), 0 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Stuart Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/stuart-hot-springs): Hot, Backcountry, near Hamilton, Ravalli County, primitive pools, free, mid-late summer
- [Weir Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/weir-creek-hot-springs): 117°F source, pH 9.4, Short Walk, near Superior, Mineral County, primitive pools, pools 105°F, free, year-round
- [Colgate Warm Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/colgate-warm-springs): 106°F source, pH 9.5, Short Walk, near Superior, Mineral County
- [Jerry Johnson Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/jerry-johnson-hot-springs): 118°F source, pH 9.5, Short Walk, near Superior, Mineral County, primitive pools, pools 95–115°F, free, year-round
- [Marten Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/marten-hot-springs): Hot, Backcountry, near Hamilton, Ravalli County
- [Prospector Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/prospector-hot-springs): Hot, Backcountry, near Hamilton, Ravalli County, primitive pools, free, mid-late summer

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Stanley Hot Springs?**
Stanley Hot Springs has a water temperature of 120°F (49°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Stanley Hot Springs located?**
Stanley Hot Springs is located in Lewis County, Idaho at 3,600 feet elevation, near Kamiah. Coordinates: 46.3160°N, 115.2580°W.

**How do I get to Stanley Hot Springs?**
Stanley Hot Springs has Hike road access, with the nearest road being Wilderness Gateway Loop A (2.9 mi from the road).

**Is Stanley Hot Springs free to visit?**
Stanley Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Stanley Hot Springs?**
Yes, Wilderness Gateway is located nearby (2.9 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Stanley Hot Springs?**
With care. At 120°F Stanley Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Hot_Springs