Silver Creek Plunge
- From $15
- 97–104°F
- Walk-in OK
A family campground in the Boise National Forest about 25 miles north of Crouch, built around a 186,000-gallon geothermal pool that has operated since 1957. Water enters at 100-104F and the full volume turns over about every six hours. Lodging is rustic A-frames and cabins with no linens or showers, plus first-come tent and RV sites.
Room links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
✓ Verified November 2026
- Price
- From $15
- Water
- 97–104°F
- Nearest town
- Crouch
- Reservations
- Walk-in OK
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Hours |
|
|---|---|
| Season |
|
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Day pass, walk-ins welcome |
| Booking |
|
Rules
| Swimwear |
|
|---|---|
| Ages |
|
On site
| Pools | 1 |
|---|---|
| Lodging | Yes |
Not stated by the venue: dogs.
Water temperature
Soaking-pool temperatures as published by the venue or land agency; they vary with season and flow.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
197 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–sulfate (sodium sulfate water)
- pH
- 8.95
- Temp at source
- 101°F
- Lithium
- 0.33 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 9.8 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.05 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “12n 05e 36dba1s” (0.1 mi from Silver Creek Plunge), sampled 1955–1979 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 |
|---|---|
| The Plunge186,000 gallons; enters at 100-104F, exits about 97F. Hottest section 100F. | 97–104°F |
| Kiddie sectionkidsShallower kids section of the main pool. | 97–98°F |
As published by the venue. Temperatures shift with the seasons and the weather.
Facilities
- Venue says flow-through skim pool
- Water is never recycled and turns over about every 6 hours at ~540 gpm
- Showers: no
- Towels included: no
- Restrooms: yes
- Sauna: no
| Good to know |
|
|---|
What's here
- 186,000-gallon geothermal pool
- hot section in the old mine entrance
- A-frames and cabins
- first-come tent/RV sites
- camp hosts for USFS Silver Creek Campground
- solar power only
- no showers
Getting there
| Elevation | 4,491 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
Things to do near Crouch
Silver Creek Campground
USFS campground with 53 sites and 2 group sites in Peace Valley, walking distance from the pool.
Middle Fork Payette River Trail #033
Leaves from the Middle Fork Payette River / Wet Foot Trailhead near Boiling Springs.
Trailheads
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Boiling Springs
A geothermal area on the Middle Fork Payette River about 24 miles north of Crouch on Forest Road 698, next to a Forest Service campground and the rentable Boiling Springs Cabin. Recreation.gov describes soaking in the hot springs beside the cabin, and the USFS says the springs are a short walk from the trailhead parking. The main spring is near boiling, so test the water before getting in.
Rocky Canyon Hot Springs
A three-tiered hot spring above the Middle Fork of the Payette River, about 12 miles up South Middle Fork Road from Crouch. Reaching it means wading the river, which Visit Idaho says is only safe in summer at low water. Parking is a small pull-off on the left of the road.
Terrace Lakes Resort
A golf resort in Garden Valley with an outdoor geothermal pool open year-round to day visitors without reservations. The resort also has a restaurant and lounge, motel rooms, cabins, condos and RV spots. Drinks bought on site can be taken to the pool area with a wristband.
Boiling Springs: 4 mi · Rocky Canyon Hot Springs: 7 mi · Terrace Lakes Resort: 15 mi
Sources (3)
· 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.