Sunbeam Hot Springs: Nature’s Spa in the Heart of Idaho
This weekend we made a quick trip over to Central Idaho for some much needed mountain time! While we were traveling from Stanley to Challis, we came across Sunbeam Hot Springs on the side of ID-75. We decided to stop and check it out, and stretch our legs a little bit. Man oh man, it was ABSOLUTELY worth it!!
A Brief History of Sunbeam Hot Springs:
Sunbeam Hot Springs was once revered by the native Lemhi-Shoshone people for their healing properties. They were used by the tribes as sacred gathering places for centuries. It was later discovered on accident by a fur trader named Alexander Ross who referred to the site as a “boiling fountain.”
The iconic stone bath house and the pipe systems which are still in place today at the site were placed back in 1937 as part of a project run by the Conservation Corps from Clayton (a now ghost town…almost.) More recently volunteers have come in to maintain the rock pools and pipes and clean the facilities.
Our Experience:
While we didn’t get into our bathing suits to take full advantage of the hot springs, we did wade out and dip our feet. The water was absolutely wonderful and we had a lot of fun testing out the different temperatures and pools. The beaches and riverbed are pretty rocky, so I would recommend bringing water shoes to save yourself the agony.
There were also a lot of flies in the area while we were there. Make sure to bring bug spray, and possibly cover your babies with long sleeves. During our time there (about an hour) I was bitten by 3 horseflies, and MAN do they hurt! As for mosquitos I didn’t really see any at all, and trust me, if they were there they would find me.
The water comes out of the ground here at about 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This is really hot! Definitely keep an eye on your kiddos. They may even find some of the pools in the river to be too hot. The nice thing is you can always adjust the rocks to let in more or less river water to make the pool just right for you and your little ones.
Facilities at Sunbeam are very minimal. While the stone bath house looks like it might be something, it’s really just for show. There are no windows or doors on it and nothing on the inside of it, so it doesn’t even really make a good changing room. There is a bathroom on site with a pit toilet, that was really clean and totally tolerable. That’s where we changed out of our wet clothes.
Overall, Sunbeam Hot Springs was a great stop! It’s a beautiful place to sit out in the river in the middle of the mountains and just relax. I would absolutely recommend stopping if you’re in the area. If nothing else to check out the stone bath house and the beautiful blue green waters of the river.
The Details:
Directions: From Stanley,turn left onto State Hwy 75 N Destination will be on the left about 12 miles (look for the bath house)
Tips for Visiting: Make sure to bring bug spray and water shoes or flip flops, and keep younger children as covered as you can in the summer to avoid horseflies
Water Temperature: Comes out of the ground at 160 degrees, but cam be mixed with river water to customize your experience. There are also tubs on the other side where you can add hot and cold water as well.
Our Favorite Part: The beautiful mountain setting and the bath house (even though its just decorative, it’s really neat!)
