Rocky Canyon Delight

09.17.07 Rocky Canyon Hot Springs Trip Report

There's not much more to say that wasn't said in the 06.16.07 trip report - meaning Rocky Canyon Hot Springs was indeed a sweet soak. Since it was a Monday, forest service road traffic seemed light compared to last time. There was still a steady stream of vehicles, mostly hunters.



It was a beautiful day, the river ford was freezing (see video) and the soak stellar. Light trash (no dirty diapers this time) around and in the hot springs, and the road in was in much better condition. Which can be accredited to all of the firefighter traffic from throughout the summer.
Rating: A

View the complete listing for Rocky Canyon Hot Springs in Idaho

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

Moondipper Hot Springs in Idaho

Moondipper Hot Springs, Pine Burl's lesser sibling, features a single rock walled pool with a sandy/silty bottom large enough for several soakers. Moondipper is an easy 2 mile hike along the Middle Fork of the Payette River from the Boiling Springs Guard Station, and is best suited for spring and early summer soaking - when there is enough cold creek water to mix with the hot spring outflow.



Seasonal Notes
The Forest Service Road that provides access is snow covered all winter until approximately late May.

Camping Notes
There is a flat, sizeable campsite just a bit further past Pine Burl 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 near the forest road.

06.16.07 Trip Report

Weak spring runoff due to low winter snowpack in the mountains means that Moondipper's soaking window is a bit smaller this year. Meaning, it's already over. The cold creek water that is desperately needed to bring down the temps of the hot waters of Moondipper was already too low. Although, a couple siphon hoses might do the trick.
Rating: C

View the complete listing for Moondipper Hot Springs on IdahoHotSprings.com

Lil Dipper - Kinda Neat

North of Crouch Idaho, near the Middle Fork Payette River and just before Moondipper Hot Springs you'll find Lil Dipper. It's not worthy of a soak due to low flow and moderate temperatures.



Seasonal Notes

The Forest Service Road that provides access to the trailhead is snow covered all winter until approximately late April or mid-May.

Camping Notes

Primitive and official campgrounds are all over the place. There is a great primitive site directly above the hot springs source.



06.16.07 Trip Report

I've hiked past, paused at and noticed Lil Dipper on many visits to this area and finally decided to document it. See the general description above for details, this is not a soakable hot springs.

View the complete listing for Lil Dipper Hot Springs in Idaho

Boiling Springs Bamboozle

At the end of a forest road in the Boise National Forest, north of the town of Crouch, Idaho lies the historic Boiling Springs Guard Station - which is available for rent by reservation only. The real treat is the nearby hot springs; featuring rock walled pools with rock/sand bottoms that have minor amounts of silt/algae.



Boiling Springs Cabin Closed for Repairs Until September 2007?

According to the Boise National Forest website and Recreation.gov the Boiling Springs Guard Station is supposed to be shut down for repairs this season. What I saw was a small group of people recreating at the Guard Station, no official Forest Service anything or tools for that matter in sight. Why are people partying at Boiling Springs when it is supposed to be closed for repairs? Hmmm. Something seems amiss.


Posted! - No Nudity!

View the complete listing for Boiling Springs Hot Springs on IdahoHotSprings.com

Rocky Canyon Hot Springs in Idaho

North of Crouch, Idaho and on the far side of the Middle Fork Payette River next to Idaho's busiest Forest Service Road lies a beautiful sight... Rocky Canyon Hot Springs. If you can stand all of the people, non-stop dirt road traffic and river ford you are in for a treat.



As of 2007, Rocky Canyon Hot Springs now features 5 rock and mortar pools and 1 rock and log walled pool with gravel/sand bottoms.



The Forest Service Road that provides access is snow covered all winter until approximately late April or mid-May. Spring runoff makes for a tricky river ford early in the season, cross carefully. Best bet is to wait until after runoff. During the summer this is ORV country, expect legions kicking up dirt and dust all over the road.



Primitive and official campgrounds are all over the place. Due to the location of the hot springs there is no possible way to camp next to or near the springs.



06.16.07 Trip Report

Well how do you like that. Five new, stellar soaks and one original tasty soak await the hot springs interloper at Rocky Canyon Hot Springs. Thank you Carey and J. Smith - excellent handiwork on the new digs!



Despite the insane forest road traffic that did not cease until 3am!!!! This soak was a slam dunk. The traffic is terrible because of all the folks heading to and from Silver Creek Plunge. If you decide to camp near the hot springs, make sure you put all of your trash away at night. Wildlife has been getting into human trash in this area, once the wild animals eat our trash they rarely are able to return to their instincts.

As hot springers, we already leave enough of a footprint behind. Let's do our part, pick up everyone's trash, and make sure we are leaving these special areas as untouched as possible.
Rating: A

Rocky Canyon Hot Springs in Idaho Video Clip

North of Crouch, Idaho and on the far side of the Middle Fork Payette River next to Idaho's busiest Forest Service Road lies a beautiful sight... Rocky Canyon Hot Springs. If you can stand all of the people, non-stop dirt road traffic and river ford you are in for a treat.

View the complete listing for Rocky Canyon Hot Springs in Idaho