Vulcan Hot Springs
Can you soak at Vulcan Hot Springs?
Yes. Vulcan Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. It's open Apr–Oct. It's a short walk from the road.
Vulcan Hot Springs surfaces close to boiling. The source is nowhere near safe to touch, let alone enter. It sits in Boise National Forest off Stolle Meadows Road, about eighteen miles from Cascade in Valley County, open to the public according to the Forest Service. Whatever soaking happens here happens only where the water has had a long way to cool, and the record says nothing about pools.
A walk of a bit over half a mile from Stolle Meadows Road brings you to the springs. The ground is national forest at around fifty-five hundred feet, with sixteen feet of snow over a typical winter and a wet climate through the year.
The months singled out on record run December into February, and at this elevation that means a snowy half-mile in. Stolle Meadows Cabin is the nearest listed overnight spot, about two miles away. The source will scald instantly; keep well clear of the vents and test any cooled water carefully before wading. The temperature on record is from June 1980.
Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Vulcan Hot Springs.
Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.
- Setting
- Hillside
- The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the west.
- Highest ground nearby
- 396 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the west
A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 80% of the springs on this site.
Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.
See every spring on the geothermal heat map →
Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.
The water at Vulcan Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.1).
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Overview Historic Stolle Meadows Cabin is a single-room dwelling that has been restored to near original condition. it's located in a beautiful setting near a variety of recreational activities. The cabin is available year-round. The route to the cabin is drivable in warmer months but is only accessible by a 6.5-mile ski or snowmobile trek in the winter. Many conveniences are provided for a comfortable and pleasant experience, but guests may want to bring some additional gear and supplies. Re...
Vulcan Hot Springs sits at 5,550 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.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Vulcan Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot, so bring water shoes and test pools carefully. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Springs Near Vulcan Hot Springs
More Springs Around 190°F
Alkaline Springs (pH ~9.1)
Hike 6 waterfalls near Vulcan Hot Springs
Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Vulcan Hot Springs, Idaho.