Soaking in Free Riverside Hot Springs with Mountain Views in Idaho

Spent two days traveling from Boise to Stanley in eastern Idaho and back — all for my favorite activity: hot spring soaking! 🧖‍♀️✨ It’s about a 3-hour drive one way, and a pretty off-the-beaten-path destination. The mountain road to Stanley has no gas stations, so even on a long weekend, it wasn’t crowded. Best of all — all three hot springs I visited were FREE!❤️ 🛁 My favorite was this rustic tub right by the Salmon River — one round, one square, firmly anchored among the rocks with chains and ropes. A hose pipes in steady hot water from the mountain, and thanks to a small hole at the bottom, the water stays fresh and clean. No idea who built these, but bless them!❤️ There’s a small slope down to the river. When we arrived, a couple was soaking in the square tub. The grandpa said it was seriously hot — he was sweating buckets! My partner tried the round tub first (not as hot), and the lovely couple soon offered us the square one. Oh man, it was perfectly hot — the kind that wraps around you and melts all your stress away. Leaning over the edge, watching the rushing river flow by was pure therapy. We soaked for about 10 minutes until we got too warm and passed it to another couple. Even on the drive back, I could still feel the warmth radiating through my body. My lower back and shoulder pain? Gone. 10/10 experience!❤️ 📍 Sunbeam Hot Springs 🛁 Another spring located near the town of Stanley — super easy to access with dreamy mountain views. The water was warm but not super hot. A few people were dipping in and out, but the pool is small — there were never more than four people at once. We found a spot where hot water was bubbling up and sat there gazing at the snow-capped peaks. So cozy! We even met a family who moved from Seattle to Boise. They say Boise’s lack of homeless people makes it infinitely better than Seattle…❤️ 📍 Valley Creek Hot Springs 🛁 The last one was on our way back — also riverside, more natural and spread out. You climb down and explore till you find a spot. People rearrange rocks to create their own personal pools. It was a bit more crowded, but with plenty of space, everyone can find their own warm little corner.❤️ 📍 Kirkham Hot Springs #Boise #Idaho #HotSprings #OffTheBeatenPath #USATravel #HiddenGems 🌲