Worswick Hot Springs

What to expect

Worswick is the opposite of a tidy campground pool. It is an open, mostly treeless hillside in the Smoky Mountains north of Fairfield, where hot water breaks out of the ground in several places and runs down toward Little Smoky Creek. On a cool morning the whole slope steams, and you can see it from the road before you park.

The source water is hot enough to hurt you. The USGS sampled the spring several times between 1972 and 1983 and recorded temperatures of 178 to 189°F81 to 87°C, which is 178 to 189°F81 to 87°C. That water cools as it flows downhill, and visitors have built a chain of more than ten small pools along the runoff using rocks and logs. The higher pools, closest to the vents, can be far too hot to sit in. The lower ones, near the parking area, are usually somewhere around 90 to 105°F32 to 41°C, according to Visit Southern Idaho and other regional guides. Temperatures change with the season and with how the rock dams have been arranged, so the pool that was perfect last summer may not be this year.

The pools are small and shallow, with sand, gravel and rock bottoms. Some collect algae. There is a large dirt parking area and a pit toilet, but nothing else: no changing area, no trash service and no drinking water.

Getting there

Worswick is on the Fairfield Ranger District of the Sawtooth National Forest, in Camas County. The parking area is about 20 miles north of Fairfield, and the drive takes roughly an hour.

• From Fairfield: Fairfield is on US-20 between Mountain Home and the Wood River Valley. Head north out of town on Soldier Road, which becomes Forest Road 094, toward the Soldier Mountain ski area. The road climbs over Couch Summit and drops to Little Smoky Creek. Five Points Campground sits about 17 miles from Fairfield on this road. Near the Little Smoky Creek junction, turn right onto Forest Road 227 (Little Smoky Road) and follow it about 2 miles to the signed turnoff for the springs on your left. Several guides list that spur as FR 465; OpenStreetMap shows the lot off Carrie Creek Road.
• From Boise: Take I-84 east to Mountain Home, then US-20 east to Fairfield, about 2 hours 20 minutes before the forest roads.
• From Ketchum or Twin Falls: Reach Fairfield on US-20 (from Ketchum via ID-75 south) or on ID-46 north from the Magic Valley, then follow the Fairfield directions.

The forest roads are dirt and gravel, bumpy and sometimes washboarded or rutted. Passenger cars do make it in dry summer conditions if driven slowly, but a vehicle with some clearance is more comfortable. Shortcuts over the mountains from Ketchum or Featherville are tempting on a map, and guides warn against them unless you know current conditions. The pools start right by the parking area, so there is no real hike. Reaching the upper pools means walking up a steep, wet slope.

When to go

Summer and early fall are the season. The roads are generally snow-free from late May to early November, but in spring, snowmelt mixes into the runoff and many of the pools below the source run too cool to enjoy. A visitor report from May described every pool below the top source pool as too cold for a soak. By late summer they warm up.

Late June to early October is the sweet spot. Fall nights get cold at this elevation, about 6,100 feet at the source according to the USGS, which makes evening soaks better but means you should bring warm layers.

Winter is snowmobile country. The roads are not maintained, and the area has high avalanche danger. Do not plan a winter drive.

Worswick sees moderate use. It is busier on summer weekends, but it is remote enough that midweek visits are often quiet.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimsuits required. Sawtooth National Forest order 0414-00-033 bans public nudity on all forest land and roads from September 9, 2026 to September 9, 2031. Older guides describe Worswick as clothing optional. That is no longer allowed, and violations are a federal misdemeanor.
• No soap or shampoo, even biodegradable kinds. The pools are small and the runoff goes straight into Little Smoky Creek.
• Leave the rock dams alone unless you are making a small repair. Rebuilding the pools to suit yourself changes the temperature for everyone below you.
• Pack out everything, including bottles, food scraps and toilet paper.
• Campfires only in established rings, and check Sawtooth National Forest fire restrictions before you go.
• Alcohol: the same 2026 order prohibits possessing alcohol in violation of state law, and bans burning pallets or other wood with metal hardware.

Where to stay nearby

There are no campsites at the springs. Some people sleep in the large dirt lot, but the closest proper option is:

• Five Points Campground, about 2 miles from the springs, is a free, first come, first served primitive campground with 7 units, vault toilets and no potable water. It is open May through October, depending on conditions. Dogs must be leashed.
• Little Smoky, Carrie Creek, Pioneer and Narrows are other small primitive campgrounds along Soldier Creek Road and Little Smoky Creek. Pioneer sits on the south side of Couch Summit.
• Dispersed camping is allowed in parts of the Sawtooth National Forest. Camp at least 200 feet from water.
• Fairfield is the nearest town for supplies and has The Wrangler for a meal. The Fairfield Ranger District office is at 102 First Street East (208-764-3202).

For more soaking on the same trip, Skillern Hot Springs is a hike-in spring elsewhere on the Fairfield district, and Baumgartner Hot Springs is a developed campground pool near Featherville.

Safety notes

• Scalding water. This is the biggest risk at Worswick. Source water near 180°F82°C can cause serious burns in seconds. Stay out of the vent area and the narrow channels near it, test every pool with a hand, and keep a close eye on children and dogs. The lower pools are reasonable for older kids with an adult watching, but this is not a place to let anyone wander.
• Footing. The slope is wet, muddy and slick with algae in places. Wear sandals with grip, not bare feet.
• Water quality. These are unmanaged pools. One visitor found elk droppings and animal remains in the top pool in spring. Keep your head above the water and avoid swallowing any.
• Remoteness. There is no cell service out here. Bring a spare tire, extra water and an offline map, and tell someone your plan.
• Wildlife. Deer and elk use the area. Keep food in your vehicle at night.