Haven Hot Springs

What to expect

This is a small, family-run roadside property on the South Fork of the Payette River corridor, a few miles east of Lowman. It is privately owned and works more like a booking system than a public pool: you reserve an hour, let yourself in, soak, and leave the gate closed behind you. There is no front desk in the usual sense and no lifeguard.

The main attraction is what the owners call the Big Hot Pool. It was built around 1951 on the hillside just above Highway 21 and is about 75 by 30 feet. Water comes from a hot source on the slope above. The owners describe the hotter side at about 101-104°F38-40°C and the cooler side at about 85-98°F29-37°C, and both shift with the season and the weather. A visitor guide gives the source temperature as about 148°F64°C. The owners say the water is natural and untreated, which matters for how you use it (see the safety notes).

The rest of the property is a mix of small businesses run by the same people: four motel rooms, RV and tent sites on shady lawns, a café and store, and a gas pump selling ethanol-free 87-octane fuel. The café is seasonal. When we checked in October 2026 the café was closed, with a note that it re-opens in fall 2026, and the store was closed while it restocked. When the café is running, the menu leans toward sourdough biscuits and gravy, espresso, burgers and eggs from hens kept on site. You can order ahead by text.

Getting there

The property is on Idaho Highway 21 about 4 miles east of Lowman in Boise County. A visitor guide puts it near milepost 76.3, with the turn onto Thompson Lane.

• From Boise: Take ID-21 northeast through Idaho City and over Mores Creek Summit to Lowman, then continue east on ID-21. Allow a little under two hours. The road is paved but winding, and snow and ice are common on the passes in winter.
• From Banks or Garden Valley: Take the Banks-Lowman Road east along the South Fork Payette to Lowman, then turn east on ID-21.
• From Stanley: Take ID-21 west over Banner Summit. Winter closures for avalanche risk sometimes shut this section, so check Idaho 511 first.

Parking is on site. If you need longer than your booked slot, text the owners on 208-793-0630 to extend. Cell service in Lowman is poor, so book and download your confirmation before you leave town. The owners post a wifi network you can use from the parking lot to check email.

When to go

The pool runs year-round. Winter is the most memorable time: snow on the hillside, steam over the water and almost no traffic on Highway 21. It is also when driving takes the most care.

Summer is busy along this whole corridor because of river rafting and nearby Kirkham Hot Springs. A reserved slot at a private pool is a good fallback when Kirkham’s lot is full. Weekday mornings are the easiest slots to get.

Prices and booking

Every soak needs a booking, made online through the soak page. Prices posted in 2026:

• Big Hot Pool: $20 per hour minimum for one or two people, then $10 for each additional person, plus tax and a processing fee. The owners note that prices can rise at any time.
• Overnight guests: half-price daytime soaks, plus free pool access at night. For campers, night access runs from 10pm to 7am.
• Motel rooms: four rooms with one or two beds, each with its own private back-yard soaking tub, wifi, a TV, a fridge, a microwave and a coffee maker. Rooms start at $185 a night before tax and fees, with extra charges for additional guests and pets.
• RV sites: $37 to $67 a night depending on hookups, plus $5 per camper or pet and 10% tax and handling.
• Tent and car camping: $15 to $37 a night with the same add-ons.

Invoices come by email from a person, not instantly. Cancel pool slots as early as you can. Fees apply only if the slot cannot be rebooked, but unpaid no-shows can lose the right to book again. Motel and campsite cancellations are fully refunded at 14 days or more. Closer to the date the refund depends on whether the room is rebooked, and there is no refund within 48 hours.

Rules and etiquette

The pool rules are posted on the booking page and are strict about a few things:

• Booked guests only. The pool is self-service for authorized guests, and entry without a booking is treated as trespassing.
• Clothing is optional. Swimwear is not required during private soaks. Bring your own towel, robe and sandals.
• Under 18s need a guardian to sign a liability release.
• No glass, no food and no animals in the pool. Broken glass can force a full drain, and guests who bring it can be banned. Canned drinks are allowed.
• Leave the flow bricks alone. They control how hot water moves through the pool.
• Pack out your trash. There is no trash pickup in Lowman. Smokers must use an ashcan.
• Quiet hours run from 10pm to 9am.

Where to stay nearby

The simplest option is to stay on site in a motel room or campsite, which also halves the soak price and opens the pool at night. Motel check-in is at 4pm and checkout at noon. Campsite check-in is at 2pm.

Kirkham Hot Springs next door is day use only, with no overnight camping since 2022. Forest Service campgrounds line ID-21 and the Banks-Lowman Road, including Pine Flats west of Lowman. For full services, Idaho City is the nearest town of any size, and Stanley is the base to the east.

Safety notes

• Untreated water: The owners say the water is natural and untreated and could become contaminated at any time. Keep your head above the water, do not swallow it, and skip the soak if you have an open cut. If anyone sees feces, vomit, blood or similar in the pool, they should get out, close the gate and report it.
• Heat: The hot side reaches about 104°F40°C, and the motel tubs can run hotter. Check the temperature with your hand before you get in.
• Winter driving: ID-21 crosses high passes on either side of Lowman. Carry chains or good winter tires and check road reports before you go.
• No signal: Plan on no cell coverage. Tell someone where you are going.

Nearby stops worth adding

Kirkham Hot Springs is the obvious pairing, with its riverside pools and hot waterfalls a short walk away. West of Lowman, Pine Flats Hot Springs sits above the South Fork Payette. North on ID-21, Bonneville Hot Springs is another Forest Service soak with a campground.