Zims Hot Springs

What to expect

Zims is a simple, unpretentious pool stop in the Meadows Valley, a few miles north of New Meadows. There is nothing wild about it. Hot mineral water from an artesian well fills two outdoor concrete pools next to a lodge building, with the Little Salmon River and open valley meadows around it and forested mountains behind.

The two pools have different jobs. The smaller soaking pool is the hot one, kept at about 100 to 105°F38 to 41°C according to the operator. The larger swimming pool is cooler, about 90 to 100°F32 to 38°C, and is where kids splash around and adults swim a few lengths. The Tribe describes the well water as cooled by the Little Salmon River before it reaches the pools.

The lodge is the hub. It has changing stalls, restrooms, a light snack bar, arcade games and picnic tables, and visitors use it as a warm place to sit between soaks. Reviews on the official site describe it as rustic and friendly, and that is the right expectation: this is not a spa, and you will not find massage rooms or a restaurant. What you do get is a reliably warm pool open all year and a short hop off the main highway.

In winter, steam rises thick off the pools, and snow often falls while you soak. Skiers stop in after a day on the slopes, and it is an easy break for families driving US-95.

History

The Nez Perce Tribe owns and operates Zims. The Tribe bought the property on March 22, 2019, from longtime owner Allen Dixon, whose father had bought the springs in 1976. The Tribe closed the pools briefly while it took over and reopened them to the public on May 24, 2019.

According to the Tribe, the area sits within Nez Perce aboriginal territory and was once known as Chinook Meadows. The Tribe says its people used the springs for ceremonial and spiritual purposes, and to work bighorn sheep horn into bows. It describes the site and valley as holding spiritual, cultural and medicinal value for the Tribe, and visitors should treat it with that in mind.

Getting there

Zims is at 2995 Zims Road, just west of US-95 in Adams County.

• From New Meadows: Drive north on US-95 for about 4 miles. Turn left (west) onto Circle C Lane, also signed as Zims Road. Visit McCall places the turn just past milepost 153. Signs point the way, and the pools are a short distance down the lane.
• From McCall: Take ID-55 to New Meadows. At the junction with US-95, follow US-95 north about 4.5 miles. Zims is on the left.
• From Boise: Most people drive north on ID-55 through Cascade and McCall to New Meadows, then north on US-95. US-95 north through Weiser and Council also reaches New Meadows.
• From Riggins: Drive south on US-95 up the Little Salmon River canyon. Zims is on the right, a few miles before New Meadows.

The roads are paved all the way to the lane, and the parking area is next to the lodge, so there is no walk. US-95 through the Little Salmon canyon and ID-55 can be snowy and icy in winter. Check Idaho 511 before driving.

When to go

Zims is open year-round, so the choice is about the experience. Winter is the classic visit: snow on the ground, steam on the pools and a warm lodge to change in. Summer is busier with families and RV travelers. Weekend afternoons can be crowded. Midweek evenings are usually calmer.

The pools are closed every Monday and Tuesday, and longer closures do happen. In fall 2026 the manager posted a notice that the pools would reopen on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, without giving a reason. Before a long drive, check the website or call 208-347-2686.

Prices and booking

The official site lists hours and amenities but no admission prices. Visit McCall lists $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, veterans and children 5 to 15, with children under 5 free. That listing is undated, and other directories quote different numbers, so treat it as a rough guide. Season passes and group rates are available. You do not need to book a soak in advance.

What is on offer:

• Rentals: swimsuits, towels and bins for your belongings.
• For sale: swim diapers, which small children need in the pools, plus snacks from the snack bar.
• Swimsuits are expected. This is a family pool, not a clothing-optional spring.
• Camping: RV parking, an RV park with a dump site, and tent sites. Rates are not posted online, so ask when you call.

Where to stay nearby

• On site: Zims has RV sites, a dump station and tent campsites, which lets you soak in the evening and again the next day.
• New Meadows, about 4 miles south, is the nearest town, with fuel, groceries and a few places to stay.
• McCall, east on ID-55 past New Meadows, has the widest choice of hotels, cabins and restaurants in the area, plus Payette Lake.
• Brundage Mountain Resort, the ski area between New Meadows and McCall, is the obvious pairing for a winter trip.

For more soaking in the region, Burgdorf Hot Springs is a historic log-walled resort north of McCall, and Gold Fork Hot Springs has rock-edged pools in the forest east of Donnelly. Riggins Hot Springs, farther north on the Salmon River, is private and not open for public soaking.

Safety notes

• Hot pool: At 100 to 105°F38 to 41°C the soaking pool is warm enough to make you lightheaded if you stay in too long. Take breaks, drink water, and skip alcohol before soaking.
• Kids: No lifeguard service is mentioned by the operator. Watch children closely, especially in the larger swimming pool.
• Winter footing: Decks and paths between the lodge and pools can ice up. Walk carefully in wet feet.
• Winter driving: US-95 and ID-55 see snow, ice and wildlife on the road. Drive slowly, especially after dark.