Red River Hot Springs

What to expect

Red River Hot Springs is a small private resort at the very end of Red River Road, deep in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest east of Elk City. It is not fancy. Think rustic cabins, a lodge, a few yurts, a campground and a pool complex in a clearing in the timber at about 4,700 feet. People come for the soak and the remoteness, and in winter for the snowmobiling.

The hot water rises from a hillside spring at about 135°F57°C and is piped down to the pools. It is not chlorinated. Instead, the pools are flow-through, with fresh spring water running in all the time and pushing the old water out. The water is clear, with no strong smell, and fairly low in minerals.

The pools

• Swimming pool: About 32 by 28 feet and 4 to 9 feet deep, held around 95°F35°C. Warm enough to stay in for a long time, cool enough to swim laps.
• Wooden soaking tubs: Two of them, and these are the hot ones, at 100°F38°C or more. They are the main draw in winter, when snow is piled up around the deck.
• Round pool: A smaller round soaking pool near the changing room, usually cooler than the tubs.

There is a changing room by the pools. A small café sells coffee and snacks, and a little store carries basic supplies. Do not count on buying a full grocery run here. Stock up in Grangeville or Elk City.

Getting there

The resort is about 75 miles from Grangeville, and most of that is slow mountain driving. Fill up and buy food before you leave.

1. From Grangeville, take Idaho Highway 14 east. It follows the South Fork of the Clearwater River up toward Elk City.
2. About 3 miles before Elk City, turn right onto Red River Road.
3. Follow Red River Road roughly 24 miles to its end at the resort. You pass the Red River Ranger Station area and the Forest Service Red River Campground on the way.

The last 10 miles or so are gravel. Any normal car can manage it from late spring to early fall. In winter the road can be snowpacked or blocked, and you will want good tires, chains, or a 4WD vehicle. Call the resort for current conditions before you set out.

Parking is on site, right next to the pools and lodging.

When to go

Summer and early fall are the easiest time to visit. The road is dry, the campgrounds along the Red River are open, and there is good fishing, hiking and ATV riding in the area. The 95°F35°C pool is pleasant even on a warm afternoon.

Winter has its own following. The resort has long stayed open year-round, and snowmobilers ride in through the deep snow around it. Sitting in a hot wooden tub with snow banked around the deck is the classic Red River experience. The trade-off is the road. Winter days are short, the drive is long, and a storm can close the route.

Spring can be muddy, with snowmelt and soft road edges on the gravel stretch.

Hours have changed with each set of owners. Do not assume the pools are open every day. Call first.

Prices and booking

The resort has changed hands several times over the years. It was founded as a health retreat by the Meinert family in the early 1900s. A family that bought it in fall 2020 ran it for several years, and in spring 2025 new owners from The Dalles, Oregon, took over, with backgrounds in hotels and in running a resort in Hood River.

Because of that change, older prices and hours you see online may be out of date. What is known:

• Day soaking: Day visitors pay a modest fee to use the pools. We could not confirm the 2026 rate.
• Lodging: Rustic cabins heated by propane, lodge rooms and yurts, plus tent and RV sites. Breakfast has been available on request for lodge guests.
• How to book: By phone. The number long listed for the resort is 208-842-9222. The old website, redriverhotsprings.com, has lapsed and was for sale in October 2026, so ignore any booking links that point there.
• Clothing: Swimsuits. This is a family resort.

Where to stay nearby

• At the resort: The simplest choice, especially in winter, when driving back down Red River Road after dark is no fun.
• Red River Campground: A Forest Service campground on the banks of the Red River about 5 miles before the resort. It has about 40 sites with picnic tables and fire rings, a vault toilet, gravel spurs and no reservations. Older reviews found no drinking water, so bring your own. Large RVs should look at the sites before committing.
• Elk City: The nearest town, about 23 miles back, with basic services.
• Grangeville: About 75 miles away, with motels, groceries and fuel.

Safety notes

• Remoteness: This is one of the most remote resorts in Idaho. There is no cell service along much of Red River Road. Carry a spare tire, warm clothes and extra food in winter, and tell someone your plans.
• Road: Gravel and narrow in places. Drive slowly and watch for wildlife, especially at dusk.
• Heat: The wooden tubs can be well over 100°F38°C. Keep soaks short, drink water, and get out if you feel dizzy.
• Wildlife: Black bears live in the area. Store food and garbage in your vehicle or a hard-sided container if you camp. Deer and elk are common.
• Wildfire: Lightning-caused fires are a regular summer event in this forest. In August 2020 a storm started fires near the resort. Check Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest alerts in fire season.

Nearby stops worth adding

The streams and lakes around the Red River are popular for fishing, and the forest roads draw ATV riders in summer. Elk City grew up as a gold-mining camp and is a 3-mile detour past the Red River Road turnoff. On the drive, Highway 14 follows the South Fork of the Clearwater through a narrow canyon that is worth taking slowly, with several pullouts beside the river.