McCall / Burgdorf Hot Springs Wildfire Update

Warren Wagon road, from McCall to Burgdorf Hot Springs has re-opened. The roads beyond the hot springs are open to residents only. Which means access to Secesh Hot Springs is a no-go. Here's the latest update

Burgdorf Hot Springs near McCall, Idaho

Burgdorf Hot Springs in Idaho

Founded in the 1870s, Burgdorf is located near the historic town of Warren, Idaho. Burgdorf features a 6x6 ft spring box pool (113°) and a 50x85 ft large pool (100°-104°), both with sandy bottoms. Electricity-free rental cabins are available and come with a wood stove and oil lamp. You will need to bring cooking equipment, food and any other supplies. If you are planning on spending the night. Please call in advance for reservations. Also, according to Becky from Secesh.net, the owners/operators maintain a blacklist that contains the names of unruly visitors. So behave! Keep in mind that Burgdorf is not your typical commercial hot springs; as it is also a ghost town located on private land surrounded by the beautiful Payette National Forest.

Facilities
Rental Cabins (18 on-site)
Food Services

Rules
No Dogs
No Outside Fires
No Outside Smoking

Directions
Summer Directions (Mid-May to early November): From McCall, drive 30 miles north on Warren Wagon Road to Burgdorf Junction. Go west (left) at the junction to the parking and camping areas. Winter Directions: Same as above, but via groomed snowmobile or cross-country ski trails. Rentals are available in McCall, Idaho.

Online Driving Directions

View Topo Map

Rates
Adults, $5.30
Children, $2.65
Cabins, $27/night

Hours
Public: 10am - Dusk
Private: Dusk - 10am

Make Reservations
Contact Melissa K. Wallace
Phone: 208.636.3036

Additional Information: Weather, WebCam, Nearby Attractions... etc.

Roadless Hot Springs at Risk in Idaho!

Roadless Area Hot Springs Jerry Johnson at Risk

Roadless areas represent our last intact ecosystems, water systems, wildlife areas and open spaces. Many use and value this land, including: hunters, anglers, backpackers and kayakers along with many other types of recreational users.

IRAs also contain hot springs, which are very unique features that set Idaho's roadless forests apart from the rest. Scroll down to view the list of 22 hot springs located in IRAs in Idaho - all face a severe risk of development.

Please send your comments to Governor Kempthorne (contact info. below), telling him to petition to protect all inventoried roadless areas in Idaho. I've backpacked 100s of miles throughout the years in many of Idaho's roadless areas within the Boise, Payette, Sawtooth, Salmon-Challis and Clearwater National Forests. Developing any of Idaho's IRAs just doesn't make sense.

Here's why:

• IRAs are important for recreation, clean water, fish and wildlife.

• Idaho's uniqueness is represented by roadless forests, that draw middle class families to our cities - which are vital to urbanized economies and growth.

• Idaho's forests already have over 34 thousand miles of road with over $660 million dollars of backlogged maintenance.

• Roadless areas are a key component of Habitat Conservation Planning; which allows city and land planners to better design roadway and transit systems, and manage population growth.

• 74% of the state's Steelhead and Chinook Salmon habitat in roadless areas, and Steelhead and Salmon anglers spend over $60 million dollars annually in Idaho.

Even though Idaho has the most roadless land in the lower 48, Governor Kempthorne is drafting a petition that could potentially open up millions of acres of inventoried roadless land for reasons that include energy exploration and old growth forest harvesting.

There is still time for your voice to be heard!

Governor Kempthorne is accepting comments until March 1, 2006. You can e-mail your comments to roadless@osc.idaho.gov or send them to:

Governor Kempthorne
c/o Office of Species Conservation
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83702-0195

My research has concluded that the hot springs listed below are all located within Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) in Idaho. As such, their fate is currently in the hands of the Governor.

Boise National Forest
-Moondipper
-Pine Burl
-Bull Creek
-Bull Rack
-Tenmile
-Lynx Creek
-Weatherby
-Here Comes the Sun

Caribou-Targhee National Forest
-Bear Valley Creek

Clearwater National Forest
-Jerry Johnson
-Weir Creek

Payette National Forest
-Cable Car/French Creek
-Cluster
-Secesh
-Buckhorn
-Penny
-Mollys
-Vulcan

Salmon-Challis National Forest
-Owl Creek

Sawtooth National Forest
-Lightfoot
-Skillern
-Willow Creek

Take more action - sign petitions in favor of roadless protections and adopt-a-roadless-area!

Backpacking Trip to Secesh Hot Springs in Idaho

Secesh Hot Springs

General Description
Secesh Hot Springs lies way above the Secesh River and requires a quarter mile, near vertical hike to reach after fording the Secesh River. Hot water from the source flows directly into the top pool. The outflow from the top pool and two other smaller sources fill the next pool below. The 3rd pool from the top (just below the 2nd) isn't warm or deep enough for a soak. The last and lowest pool; located all the way down by the Secesh River features frigid, stagnant water. Something remarkable to note: the hot springs water is among the softest I have ever experienced - my skin felt amazing after soaking, not dry at all. It should also be noted that the infamous Red Spider Mites inhabit this hot springs as well. Please tread lightly as this area is heavily impacted due to the nearby popular Loon Lake loop hike, bike or motorbike.

Secesh River & Lowest Pool

Pool Condition
All pools feature rock walls, gravel and rock bottoms and are at most 3 feet deep and 6-8 feet wide. They will require revamping and cleaning upon arrival because of their low use. We used the tarps left in the pools (we removed the tarps upon arrival, cleaned the pools, preformed light patch work on the rock walls, then replaced the tarps before soaking) and removed them again before leaving. Please always remove tarps or plastic when leaving the hot springs. The pools were full of algae and goobers due to low usage.

Hot Soak

Seasonal Notes
Fording the Secesh River limits access to this hot springs until late summer, usually starting mid to late July until the snow falls (anytime between Sept.-Nov.). Winter access could be possible with a snowmobile (to the TH) and snowshoes to the hot springs; but fording the river would prove crazy this time of year.

Loon Lake

Camping Notes
There's 1 fairly large and semi-flat, grassy campsite next to the river way below the hot springs. There is no camping up-top near the hot springs: no open or remotely flat space. Please use the existing primitive camp; there's no need to create another campsite. There are other primitive camping opportunities near and at Loon Lake and at the trailhead campground.

B-23 Dragon Bomber (rear)

Briefing

09.03.05 - 09.05.05
Our 3-day backpacking trip to Secesh Hot Springs was a blast! In addition to the hot springs, we also hiked out and around Loon Lake among the horde of day hikers, mountain bikers and motorbikes to the wreckage of a downed WWII B-23 Dragon Bomber that crashed on January 29, 1943. Everyone survived the crash and following ordeal - according to the historical sign; which didn't help the credibility of my (made up) ghost story of the Bomber crew walking the trails at night.

After fording the Secesh River we left the crowds behind, our packs at the primitive campsite and headed up the steep mountain side to the hot springs. That was quite a hike; much more difficult than the 4 mile hike in. The near vertical hike is a maze of faint trails blocked by downed trees and slides. We cleaned up the algae and goober laden pools and enjoyed many grade A, perfect temperature soaks. A slight detraction was the presence of Red Spider Mites.
Rating A-

B-23 Dragon Bomber (front)