Entry No. 53 — the Missoula file — filed under: soak

Jerry Johnson Hot Springs

About 65 miles west of Missoula over Lolo Pass, an easy mile-plus trail leads to a cluster of completely undeveloped riverside hot pools. There are no buildings, no fees, and no plumbing: the springs seep out of moss-draped boulders, with some pockets almost too hot to enter and others tempered by the creek running alongside. The Forest Service made it day-use only after years of abuse, so camping at the springs is illegal and the pools close at night (open roughly 6am to 8pm).

The move: Pack a swimsuit and a dry-bag picnic, hike the gentle 1+ mile in from the Warm Springs Trailhead, and bounce between the hottest boulder pool and the cooler creek-edge soak for an afternoon.

📍 Before you go Day-use only, 6:00am-8:00pm; no overnight or camping at the springs. Roughly a 1 hr 20 min drive from Missoula via US-12. Undeveloped and clothing-optional in practice; pack out everything. Crosses into Idaho.

• 📍 Lolo Pass corridor / Powell, ID (via US-12)
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Warm Springs Trailhead, US-12 near mile marker 152, Idaho County, ID

Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-24