Council Mountain Hot Springs

What to expect

Council Mountain Hot Springs, sometimes called Laurel Hot Springs, is a creek you soak in rather than a single pool. Hot water rises on the side of Council Mountain in the Payette National Forest and runs down Warm Spring Creek. Visitors have stacked rocks to form small pools along the channel, so on a good day you can work your way along the creek and choose the temperature you like.

The character of the place changes through the year. In spring and early summer, snowmelt pours cold water into Warm Spring Creek and only one or two pools near the source are worth sitting in. A visitor in early June found just one good soak, at about 96-98°F36-37°C. By late summer and fall the snowmelt is gone, much of the flow is spring water, and the whole run of pools warms up. One hiker in late November described the creek as hot enough that a foot slipping into the direct flow burned her toes.

The pools have rock walls and dirt and gravel bottoms. The water is clear when left alone but clouds up quickly once people step in. There is no sulfur smell to speak of.

This is a moderate hike to a casual, undeveloped soak. There are no toilets, signs at the pools, or trash cans. You are likely to share the creek with a few other hikers on a weekend, and you might have it to yourself midweek.

Getting there

Council is on US-95 in west central Idaho, about 2 hours north of Boise and about an hour southwest of McCall.

1. From Council, drive about 4 miles south on US-95.
2. Turn east onto Road 186, the Middle Fork Weiser River road. It starts as a county road through private land and becomes Forest Road 186 once it enters the Payette National Forest. Stay on the road through the private sections, because public and private land are mixed here.
3. Follow the gravel road up the Middle Fork Weiser River. The Warm Spring Creek trailhead is roughly 9 miles along, about 45 minutes from the highway. It has a small dirt parking area and a campsite. Cabin Creek Campground is a little farther along the same road.

FR 186 is a seasonal road, generally open from about May to October or November. A regular car can usually manage it when dry, but it is gravel with rough patches.

The trail. From the trailhead, the path climbs the side of Council Mountain for about 2 miles to the springs. GPS tracks from different hikers put the round trip at roughly 3.5 to 4.5 miles and the climbing at about 900 to 1,250 feet. The trail is narrow, cut into a hillside and passes through an old burn area with little shade. When wet it turns into slick, greasy mud, and one hiker described about 90 percent of it that way. ATVs have been seen on parts of the route, so stay alert. Near the pools you rock-hop across the creek.

Wear boots with good tread and bring sandals or water shoes for the creek and pools.

When to go

September and October are the best months. The creek is warm along much of its length, the air is cool, and the road is still open.

Late spring and early summer are cool in the water, because snowmelt dilutes the hot flow. You may find only one pool warm enough to soak in, and the trail will be at its muddiest.

July and August are dry, but the exposed, burned slope gets hot in the afternoon sun. Start early.

Late fall can be cold and beautiful. One hiker went in late November with the air at 28°F−2°C and still had company at the trailhead. Once snow closes FR 186, the springs are effectively out of reach for most visitors.

Rules and etiquette

The springs are on Payette National Forest land. There is no fee, no permit and no posted hours.

• No soap or shampoo in the pools, including biodegradable products.
• Pack out everything. There are no trash cans or toilets. Bury human waste well away from the creek or, better, pack it out.
• Leave the pools as you found them. Small adjustments to the rock walls are part of using a creek soak. Digging new pools is not.
• Clothing. There are no posted rules. Swimsuits are common, but at a remote creek you may meet people soaking without them.
• Dogs are fine on the trail on a leash. Keep them out of the pools.
• Respect private land along the lower part of Road 186.

Where to stay nearby

• Primitive sites: There is a campsite at the trailhead, a few more right off FR 186 near the springs, and one above the spring source. Free camping is also possible along the Middle Fork Weiser River.
• Cabin Creek Campground (USFS): A little farther along FR 186 on the Middle Fork Weiser River, with 17 sites in two loops, one set up for horse campers. Sites are first come, first served at about $10 a night, and the usual season runs about May 15 to early November. Recent listings disagree on whether drinking water is on, so bring your own. The campground was closed for renovation from fall 2023 into 2024 and has since reopened.
• Council: The town has basic services and some lodging, about 30 to 45 minutes from the trailhead.
• McCall and Cascade: About an hour or more away, with lots of lodging. Several of the springs listed on this site near Cascade and McCall, such as Gold Fork Hot Springs, make good second stops.

Safety notes

• Scalding water: The source and the channel just below it can be hot enough to burn. Feel each pool with your hand before you step in, and watch where you put your feet when moving between pools.
• Mud and footing: The trail is slick when wet, and the creek crossing is on rocks. A fall on this slope is the most likely injury.
• Sun and heat: The burn area offers little shade. Carry plenty of water in summer.
• Wildlife: Deer, elk and bears have been reported along the trail. Make noise and store food properly at camp.
• Remoteness: Cell service is limited on FR 186. Download a map and tell someone where you are going.
• Water quality: Keep your head out of the water and do not drink it.

Nearby stops worth adding

Council Mountain Trail #198 leaves from near Cabin Creek Campground if you want a longer hike. Back in the Weiser River valley, the Middle Fork Weiser River has easy fishing access along FR 186. For a second soak, the developed springs around Cascade and McCall have built pools and changing rooms.