There is nothing more relaxing than soaking in a hot spring in Idaho. These naturally warm pools of water are the perfect place to relax and let the stresses and worries of daily life wash away. While there are more than 130 soakable hot springs in Idaho to visit, the Trail Creek Hot Springs is one that should be at the top of your bucket list. This hot spring does require a bit of a hike but the warm water and the beauty of the Boise National Forest surrounding you are enough to create a perfect winter day trip in Idaho.

The Trail Creek Hot Springs is located near the small town of Cascade.
Jennifer Browning/AllTrails
It is a primitive Idaho hot spring, so you won’t have many of the amenities that you will find at hot spring resorts in Idaho.
Before you hop in and soak on a cold winter day, be prepared for a short, but steep hike.
Mitchell Friedman/Flickr
Fortunately, this Idaho hiking trail is fairly accessible and you’ll find the trailhead right next to the highway pullout.
You must hike .2 miles to reach the hot springs. While the trail is short, it is quite treacherous.
Mitchell Friedman/Flickr
And it can be slick and difficult during the winter months in Idaho. So make sure you bring excellent hiking shoes for your trek to and from these natural hot springs.

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Once you arrive at Trail Creek Hot Springs in the winter months, it is like entering a magical winter wonderland.
Mandy Ritenour/Google
These hot springs are surrounded by trees in the Boise National Forest. You’ll feel like you are tucked away from the world.
There are two pools at these hot springs. You should immediately recognize the pools as they are surrounded by rock walls.
Mandy Ritenour/Google Local
The hot water slides down the rocks and into the pools to create the perfect water temperature. Be aware that during the springtime in Idaho, the lower pool may be submerged due to spring runoff.
These hot springs are popular and a favorite natural hot spring among many Idahoans. If you want to have these hot springs all to yourself and enjoy the peace and stillness of the area, make sure you plan a visit early in the day and try to avoid weekends.
Mandy Ritenour/Google
Doesn’t soaking in the Trail Creek Hot Springs in Idaho sound like the perfect way to wash away your stress? It’s one winter destination in the Gem State that you certainly won't want to miss.

While these hot springs are accessible year-round, the highway to the area may be closed due to inclement weather. You will want to check for any road closures before you begin your journey. For your ease, here’s a handy Trail Creek Hot Springs map.

Have you enjoyed a winter soak in these hot springs? Do you have any Trail Creek Hot Springs photos to share? What are your favorite year-round natural hot springs to visit in Idaho? Can you share some other fun things to do in Cascade Idaho? Let us know in the comments!

Here are even more incredible hot springs in Idaho that are accessible year-round. For those who really love hiking, you can find some great trails in and around the area by going to the AllTrails website.

If you’re still in the mood for more Idaho adventures, take a look at this video:

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More to Explore

Exploring More of Idaho

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | January 15, 2024

Where can we find ghost towns in Idaho?

  • Silver City is a former mining town and today home to the Idaho Hotel, one of the most haunted hotels in the state!
  • Dewey is also a former mining town and named after Colonel Dewey who bought the town's mine.
  • Wickahoney used to be an important stagecoach shop as mail traveled through the state back in the day.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other interesting ghost towns in Idaho.

Where can we find historic homes in Idaho?

  • Standrod Mansion in Pocatello is one of a few homes in Idaho built in a castle-like style that fashions a 16th-century French chateau.
  • The Bown House in Boise is an Italianate-style two-level home built in 1879 out of sandstone.
  • The Clark House in Hayden Lake was once one of the grandest homes in the state with a tennis court, private zoo, riding stables, greenhouses, a putting green, and more.

Read on to learn more about some of the many beautiful historic homes in Idaho.

Where can we find historic attractions in Idaho?

  • The EBR-1 Museum in Arco is the site of the former Experimental Breeder Reactor from which its nuclear power was used to light the town and was the first to do so in the U.S.
  • The Idaho Veterans Cemetery in Boise is a beautiful yet somber 76.5-acre cemetery where many of the state’s service women and men were laid to rest.
  • The Nampa Train Depot in Nampa was built in 1903 and was formerly a stop on the historic Oregon Short Line railroad.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other fascinating historic attractions in Idaho.

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Trail Creek Hot Springs, Idaho, USA