Boat Box Hot Springs
- Free
- 3 hr 23 min from Boise
- Roadside
A single old mining cauldron beside the Salmon River, filled by piped spring water, about three and a half miles from Stanley on Highway 75. It fits three or four people, and a bucket is usually left for adding cold river water. The roadside pull-off holds only two or three cars.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- Stanley
- From Boise
- 3 hr 23 min
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Tickets & booking
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
On site
| Pools | 1 |
|---|---|
| Lodging | No |
| Camping nearby | Yes |
| Land manager | Unknown |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages, dogs.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with unknown before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
214 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–sulfate (sodium sulfate water)
- pH
- 9.5
- Temp at source
- 136°F
- Lithium
- 0.13 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 17 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.06 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “11n 13e 36baa1s Usfs Hot Springs”, sampled 1979–2010 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
The pools
| Pool | Temp |
|---|---|
| CauldronOld mining cauldron; cool it with river water | — |
As published by the venue. Temperatures shift with the seasons and the weather.
What's here
- old mining cauldron tub
- beside the Salmon River
- fits 3-4 soakers
- bucket for adding cold river water
- roadside on Highway 75
Getting there
- From Boise3 hr 23 min136 mi
- From Friedman Memorial / Sun Valley (SUN)1 hr 53 min78 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow.
| Elevation | 6,223 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Trail | Short scramble from the pull-off to the river |
| Parking |
|
Things to do near Stanley
Stanley
Small mountain town at the junction of Highways 21 and 75 with lodging, food and visitor information
Salmon River Recreation Complex
Forest Service campgrounds and river access along Highway 75 east of Stanley
Redfish Lake Recreation Complex
Campgrounds, beaches, day-use areas and a lodge around Redfish and Little Redfish lakes south of Stanley
Campgrounds
- Salmon River Campground0.8 mi
- Wild camping with pit toilet1.3 mi
- Casino Creek Campground1.5 mi
- Riverside Campground2.2 mi
Trailheads
- Cove Hot Springs3.8 mi
- Alpine Way Trailhead5.3 mi
- Boundary Creek Trailhead6.2 mi
- Redfish Trailhead7 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Mormon Bend Hot Springs
A hot spring near the Forest Service's Mormon Bend Campground on the Salmon River east of Stanley, listed by the Stanley-Sawtooth Chamber among the area's soakable springs. The campground has 15 sites and is open April through September.
Mountain Village Resort Hot Springs
Three spring-fed soaking tubs in buildings on Valley Creek, about a third of a mile walk from the Mountain Village Lodge in Stanley. The two private tubs book in 90-minute sessions and the shared Osprey tub in one-hour sessions, free for lodge guests. Water usually runs 98-104°F with no chemicals added.
Basin Creek Hot Springs
Hot springs near Basin Creek and Basin Creek Campground on Highway 75 east of Stanley; the Stanley-Sawtooth Chamber lists both the campground spring and Basin Creek (Cove/Kem) springs among the area's soakable sites.
Mormon Bend Hot Springs: 3 mi · Mountain Village Resort Hot Springs: 3 mi · Basin Creek Hot Springs: 4 mi
Sources (4)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.