# Vulcan Hot Springs, Idaho

Vulcan Hot Springs in Idaho. 190°F (88°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Valley County.

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

## 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.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 190°F (88°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.1 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 5,550 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.6 mi from the nearest road (Stolle Meadows Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Valley County |
| Nearest town | Cascade |
| Coordinates | 44.56800, -115.69500 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | STOLLE MEADOWS CABIN, 2.1 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free. No fee |
| Season | Apr–Oct |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | About 0.75 mi one way from Stolle Meadows trailhead, 177 ft gain; high clearance road |
| In winter | Forest road closed by snow |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Boise National Forest |

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

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 190°F, the source water at Vulcan Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Vulcan Hot Springs

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.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1980-06-02 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.1 |
| Calcium | 1.7 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 95 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 41 mg/L |
| Chloride | 15 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 48 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [South Fork Plunge, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/south-fork-plunge): 129°F source, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Trail Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/trail-creek-hot-spring): 122°F source, pH 9.7, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County, primitive pools, pools 100–110°F, free, year-round
- [Warm Lake Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/warm-lake-springs): Warm, TDS 258 mg/L, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Mollys Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/mollys-hot-spring): 138°F source, pH 9.3, Roadside, near Cascade, Valley County, primitive pools, free, may–oct
- [Bull Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/bull-creek-hot-springs): Hot, pH 9.5, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Dollar Creek Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dollar-creek-warm-spring): 68°F source, pH 7.7, Roadside, near Cascade, Valley County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Vulcan Hot Springs?**
Vulcan Hot Springs has a water temperature of 190°F (88°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Vulcan Hot Springs located?**
Vulcan Hot Springs is located in Valley County, Idaho at 5,550 feet elevation, near Cascade. Coordinates: 44.5680°N, 115.6950°W.

**How do I get to Vulcan Hot Springs?**
Vulcan Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Stolle Meadows Road (0.6 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Vulcan Hot Springs?**
Yes, Stolle Meadows Cabin is located nearby (2.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Vulcan Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.1 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Vulcan Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Vulcan Hot Springs reaches 190°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals