Loftus Hot Spring

What to expect

Loftus is one of the string of free hot springs along the Middle Fork Boise River, the long gravel corridor that runs from Arrowrock Reservoir up to the old mining town of Atlanta. Some guides list it as Loftus Natural Hot Spring. It sits on the hillside just above the road, so you do not need to ford the river or hike to reach it.

There are two soaking pools, both built by volunteers from boulders and sand, with the walls of the upper pool reinforced with mortar.

• The upper pool is the one people come for. It sits in a small rock grotto, fed by a little hot waterfall that pours in from the hillside. It is the hotter of the two, and reports put it anywhere from about 102°F to 110°F39°C to 43°C depending on the weather and the state of the walls.
• The lower pool is smaller and sits just downhill, taking the overflow from the top pool. It runs a few degrees cooler, around 100°F to 104°F38°C to 40°C.

Below the road, by the river, there is a third, much cooler spot that is only lukewarm in summer, at about 75°F24°C. It is more of a cool-off than a soak.

The water is clear and has no smell. The pools are small, so two or three people fill the upper one.

These pools are not permanent. Because people build and repair them by hand, they change over time. In 2011, someone wrecked the pools, and later that year visitors reported that a usable pool had been rebuilt but that the rock ledge above the upper pool was mostly broken off. What you find on any given day depends on who has been there before you.

Getting there

Loftus is in the Boise National Forest, on the Middle Fork Boise River Road (Forest Road 268), also signed as the road to Atlanta.

• From Boise: Drive east on State Highway 21 toward Idaho City. Near Lucky Peak, cross the Mores Creek bridge and turn right onto Spring Shores Road, which becomes the Middle Fork Boise River Road toward Atlanta. Follow it past Arrowrock Reservoir and a run of Forest Service campgrounds. Loftus is on the left, about 34 miles up the road and about 1.5 miles past Troutdale Campground.
• From Atlanta: Head west down the Middle Fork road about 33 miles.

The road is graded but long, narrow in places and badly washboarded. The Forest Service calls it rough. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended, and the drive takes longer than the distance suggests. Allow plenty of time, fill your tank in Boise and carry a spare tire. GPS apps are not always accurate out here, so save directions and an offline map before you lose signal.

Park well off the road. The pools are a short scramble up the bank from the road edge. Watch your footing on loose dirt.

When to go

Late spring through fall is the best window, roughly May to September. The road is dry, campgrounds along the river are open, and the drive is at its easiest.

Winter visits are possible, but the road can be snowy and icy, and visitors have reported the worst ice in the last few miles before the springs. High-clearance 4WD and chains are a minimum, and you should not try it alone.

Loftus gets heavy use, especially on summer and hunting-season weekends. Groups of hunters, campers and ATV riders sometimes use it as a party spot. A weekday visit is far more likely to give you a quiet pool.

2026 fire note: The Crooked Fire closure order issued in September 2026 covers several roads and trails in the Idaho City Ranger District through December 31, 2026, unless rescinded. Its listed roads do not include the Middle Fork Boise River Road, but conditions change. Check the Boise National Forest alerts page or call the Idaho City Ranger District (208-392-3700) before you go.

Rules and etiquette

• Free. There is no fee and no permit.
• Swimsuits required. A Boise National Forest order (#0402-00-64) prohibits public nudity on all forest land from August 27, 2025, to August 27, 2030. Loftus is on forest land, so it applies here.
• No soap or shampoo, including biodegradable products. These pools are tiny and have no outflow treatment.
• No glass. Broken glass has been reported in the pools before. Bring cans or plastic, and pick up any glass you find.
• Do not camp at the pools. Use the campgrounds or dispersed sites along the river.
• Pack out everything. There is no trash service at the springs.
• Leave the walls alone. If you fix a pool, add rocks rather than pulling them out.

Where to stay nearby

• Troutdale Campground is about 1.5 miles west on FR 268. The Forest Service lists it as free, open from the end of May to the end of September unless snow closes it earlier.
• Ninemeyer Campground is about 4 miles east. Like Troutdale, it is first come, first served, with picnic tables and vault toilets.
• Dispersed camping is available at rustic riverside sites along the road. There are no services, so bring water and pack everything out.
• Twin Springs Resort, about 10 miles downriver, has been listed as having cabins with private soaking tubs. Call ahead to confirm it is taking guests.
• Idaho City and Boise have the nearest full range of lodging and supplies.

Safety notes

• Hot water: The upper pool can reach about 110°F43°C near the waterfall. Feel it with your hand before you get in, and get out if you feel lightheaded.
• Poison oak: It grows along the riverbank and around the springs. Learn what it looks like and keep to the worn paths.
• Broken glass: Check the pool bottoms with your feet slowly, and wear water shoes.
• Remoteness: There is no cell signal. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
• Wildlife: Deer, elk and cougars have all been seen in the area. Keep pets close.
• The road: Washboard gravel, narrow curves and other drivers kicking up dust are the real danger. Drive slowly and keep right on blind corners.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Middle Fork Boise has one of the densest runs of hot springs in Idaho, and most people combine several on one trip. A few miles downstream toward Arrowrock, Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring is a small roadside seep at the Sheep Creek bridge. Neinmeyer Hot Spring is near Ninemeyer Campground, about 4 miles upstream. Farther up the road toward Atlanta come Browns Creek Hot Spring, with its hot waterfall across the river, then Dutch Frank Hot Spring and Granite Creek Hot Spring, both right at the river’s edge. In Atlanta itself, Chattanooga Hot Springs has a pool below a hot waterfall.