The fact Idaho has some pretty spectacular hot springs is no secret, and finding ones that are quiet can be tricky. That’s why Bonneville Hot Springs turned out to be such a gem! On the same day, we went from sharing the springs with over 50 people in Kirkham, to just 4 at Bonnevile (two of whom left when we arrived and two who arrived when we left). This, despite it being a Saturday.

It’s not just the fact that the springs were quiet that we loved, the setting is absolutely stunning. Have we convinced you to add them to your Idaho itinerary yet?

Bonneville Hot Springs Idaho - All you need to know

Why we loved Bonneville

We were lucky enough to have Bonneville to ourselves when we visited, which felt particularly good as it is just a 20 minute drive away from Kirkham Hot Springs which were heaving!

We arrived fully prepared to be sharing the springs with an army of people, only to discover we had this picture perfect location to ourselves!

Bonneville was quiet, but it also felt as wild and rural as any hot spring we visited in Idaho and we can’t work out why it’s not busier! There are several pools set beside a fast flowing river, in a forest which parts to views of a snow-capped mountain.

It was so relaxing listening to the sounds of the rushing water, the wind in the trees, and that sense of being transported far away from the rest of the world.

In the winter the campsite is closed, which is probably why it was so quiet. For this reason - unless you are looking to camp - we’d recommend visiting outside the months of May - September to get that truly tranquil experience.

The walk to the springs

Bonneville Hot Springs isn’t right by the side of the road like many of the hot springs in Idaho, but it’s a very easy, short walk. The trail, which starts at the day use car park at the campground, is a 1/4 mile long and should only take 5-10 minutes through a pretty stretch of forest. There is a bit of a slope, but the majority of the walk is flat.

You’ll know you’re at the hot springs when you see the steam that rises directly onto the trail. Then you have a slightly slippery slope down to the shore to the pools themselves.

How to pick your pool

Firstly, be very careful with the first pools you come to when you have walked down the slope. They are seriously hot, and I couldn’t even dip my toes in without feeling like they were being scalded!

I know many of the hot springs in Idaho have very hot water, but this was on a whole other level. Luckily there is a log across the pool which allows you to access the river shore and walk along to the more temperate hot springs.

The water in the springs is not very deep, so on a really cold day your upper body might get a bit chilly, but it was perfect when we visited in fall.

The pools at Bonneville aren’t quite as ordered as those at Sunbeam or Kirkham where they get cooler the closer you get the river. At Bonneville, there are two springs which feed into different parts of the pools.

There’s also an inlet of cool water which make some of the pools in the middle cooler than those near the edge of the river.

It’s worth testing a few to see which is your favourite. We went for the second to last pool right beside the river: firstly for the temperature, but also the view. If you’re brave you can do a sort of polar plunge from this spot by warming up in the hot spring and then jumping in the freezing cold river and then repeat!

As we left, we met some locals who turned up with a couple of beers and swore by the middle pools, so I guess you can’t really go wrong!

Essential info for Bonneville Hot Springs

Getting to Bonneville

Bonneville is a two hour drive from Boisie and a 50 minute drive from Stanley. It’s only 20 minutes away from Kirkham Hot Springs if you want to combine the two in the same trip!

Parking

There is a day use car park at Bonneville which costs $5. Make sure you bring cash as there is no machine, simply a place you put your money in an envelope!

Camping at Bonneville Hot Springs

There is a campground beside the springs which is open between May and September. Campsites (22 spots) cost $15 per night for a single site or $30 for a double site. The springs will no doubt be busier when the campsite is open.

Hot Spring Etiquette

As with all natural areas you should leave the hot springs exactly as you found them. We were disappointed to see some littler at many of the springs. Pack out everything you bring in.

Don’t let dogs into the pools. Respect other people and don’t stay for hours in one pool if it’s busy - having said that this is more of an issue at the smaller springs in Idaho, Bonneville has quite a bit of space so hopefully you can have them for as long as you want.

Clothing is optional at Bonneville so please be careful if taking pictures in the area.

Finally, the springs aren’t public bathrooms. This means no soap or shampoo which contaminates the water and the nearby river.

Other nearby hot springs to visit

The closest hot springs to Bonneville are Kirkham. Kirkham is an amazing hot spring area with a unique warm water waterfall but does get incredibly busy! Avoid weekends if you can or visit very early in the day.

Another close by springs that we were planning to visit but ran out of time for is Sacajawea Hot Springs. We heard good things about the springs from locals but otherwise don’t know too much about them.

Let us know if you pay them a visit!

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