Penny Hot Springs

Penny Hot Springs is a small cluster of three springs in the Boise National Forest’s Warm Lake/Yellow Pine area. The main event is Penny #1 — “New Penny” — a rock- and sand-walled pool fed by a source marked by copper-colored algae, with two smaller siblings nearby: a one-person soaker downstream and Twopenny across the river.

The Pools

Penny #1 (New Penny) — the main pool. Rock and sand walls, a sandy bottom, and water at 100–103°F that is crystal-clear to silty depending on how much use it has seen. Penny #2 sits about 30 yards south of #1 along the river: a small, one-person soaker at the base of a rock cliff, reachable only at low water. Penny #3 (Twopenny), about 30 yards further south across the river, never really developed — two shallow, slow-flow pools full of sludge and cool water; not recommended.

Seasonal Notes

The pools are buried during spring runoff, and late in the summer or early fall they can be stranded — too hot to soak. Plan around the water year.

Camping

A couple of good campsites sit 0.5 to 0.75 miles from the spring, and plenty of National Forest camping is available in the area.

Penny Hot Springs Soak Stats

• Season: Summer, fall
• Access Type: Hike (Penny #1)
• Public Land: Boise National Forest
• Elevation: 4,800 ft
• Water Temperature: 100–103°F
• Water Clarity: Crystal-clear to silty
• Visibility: Low-moderate
• Odor(s): None noticed
• pH: 8
• Nearest Area: Warm Lake / Yellow Pine
• Wildlife: Deer, elk, moose, fox, black bear
• Usage Level: Moderate