Kirkham Hot Springs: hours, fee and temperature
Kirkham Hot Springs sits right beside the South Fork Payette River off Highway 21, with vault toilets and a changing area that make it the most developed free-standing soak in the state, no hike required. It's a $5-per-vehicle day-use site inside Boise National Forest. Our hot springs in Idaho guide covers it alongside the rest of the state's roadside and hike-in soaks.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Lowman, Idaho (about 4.5 miles west of the springs) |
| Access | Roadside, off Highway 21 |
| Fee | $5 per vehicle day-use; interagency America the Beautiful passes and an annual Boise National Forest day-use pass (sold through Recreation.gov) are honored (Boise National Forest, Kirkham Hot Springs) |
| Hours | 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., day-use only, no overnight camping |
| Legal status | Public, Boise National Forest |
| Temperature (source, historical) | The NOAA/NCEI thermal springs archive lists Kirkham at 149°F (historical estimate, base year 1980) |
| Temperature (pools, recent) | Source water emerges around 120–135°F and mixes down to roughly 95–110°F across the developed soaking pools, with a small hot waterfall running near 110°F, per current visitor reports |
Getting there and facilities
Kirkham is one of the few hot springs in this guide you can drive straight to: it sits directly off Highway 21 about 75 miles northeast of Boise and 4.5 miles east of Lowman, with a paved parking area, vault toilets and a changing space, features most of the undeveloped springs on this list don't have. The $5 day-use fee is paid at the site; interagency passes and an annual Boise National Forest day-use pass cover it, and the same fee also applies at nearby Pine Flats Hot Springs. There's no camping at the springs themselves, though Kirkham Campground sits adjacent for anyone wanting to stay the night.
The pools
Multiple soaking pools sit at different points along the riverbank, ranging from cooler pools near the South Fork Payette itself to hotter pools closer to where the geothermal water emerges from the hillside at an estimated 120–135°F. A small hot waterfall drops into part of the pool system at around 110°F, one of the more photographed features on this list. Because there's a spread of temperatures across several pools rather than one uniform soak, most visitors can find a comfortable spot regardless of the season or river level.
How this guide was researched
This page draws on the U.S. Forest Service's official page for Kirkham Hot Springs, the NOAA/NCEI thermal springs archive, and published visitor reports. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Fees and hours are set by Boise National Forest and can change; verify current details with the Lowman Ranger District before you go. Last checked August 2026.
FAQ
How much does Kirkham Hot Springs cost?
$5 per vehicle for day use, covered by interagency America the Beautiful passes or an annual Boise National Forest day-use pass.
What are the hours at Kirkham Hot Springs?
7 a.m. to 9 p.m., day use only. There's no overnight camping at the springs themselves.
Do you need to hike to Kirkham Hot Springs?
No. It's roadside, directly off Highway 21 near Lowman, with parking, vault toilets and a changing area on site.
How hot are the pools at Kirkham Hot Springs?
Source water is estimated at 120–135°F, cooling to roughly 95–110°F across the developed soaking pools, so most visitors can find a comfortable temperature.
Is Kirkham Hot Springs good for a first hot spring trip?
It's one of the more beginner-friendly options on this list: no hike, developed facilities, and a range of pool temperatures to choose from.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked August 2026. Read our full methodology.