Now That's a Pine Burl

Pine Burl Hot Springs in Idaho is a two mile hike from the trailhead near Boiling Springs and features a single rock walled pool with mortar reinforcement. The sole pool has a sandy bottom with a slight amount of slit in the corners. There's no avoiding it, just before Pine Burl you will pass Moondipper and Lil Dipper hot springs.



Seasonal Notes
The Forest Service Road that provides access is snow covered all winter until approximately May. During the summer this is ORV country, expect legions kicking up dirt and dust all over the road. Possible snowmobile access during winter months.



Camping Notes
There is a flat, sizeable campsite just a bit further past the springs as well as another further up the main trail before you depart up the creek to Moondipper. There are also many primitive and official camping opportunities accessible from the forest road.



06.16.07 Trip Report

I camped near more people than ever before on this trip verses all previous backpacking trips made in Idaho. After about an hour I found the last primitive near the hot springs, which turned out to be pretty lame. Blasts of searing hot 118 degree water mixed with blasts of staggering 96 degree water plagued the pool and made way for a fairly strenuous soak. Meaning tired arms from non-stop stirring. It was obvious someone had been tinkering.



Aside from all the people, lack-luster hot springs and insane forest road traffic - it's always nice to be out here; my primitive site was perched near a mountain top coupled with a scenic view of the river valley below.
Rating: D