Home: Idaho Hot Springs: Skillern Hot Springs

Skillern Hot Springs in Idaho


Season: Spring, Summer, Fall Type: H (hike)
Sawtooth National Forest Overall Rating: A-
5,900 ft Water Temperature: 100º (cliff pool - others submerged)
Fairfield / Featherville / Smoky Mountains Area Usage Level: Moderate

Picture Viewer


05.13.02: The trailhead sign


05.13.02: Take the high-water trail unless you like lots of fording


05.13.02: Yours truly


05.13.02: Natural dish in the rock face created by the outflow over time


05.13.02: Great day - excellent soak
 


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[ View 09.18.06 Skillern Hot Springs Video Clip ]
 

General Description
A solid rock walled, waterfall-fed pool with a log dam and gravel/solid rock bottom awaits at the end of a 2 hour hike in the Smoky Mountains in the Sawtooth National Forest. The seasonal river pools at Skillern hot springs feature rock walls and gravel/sand/silt bottoms. All pools shallow and seat approx. 2-4 people each.
 

Dates Visited: Trash Levels: Bug Levels:
09.18.06 light moderate
05.13.02 none! none

Water Clarity:
Crystal-Clear

Visibility:
Low

Odor(s):
Slight Odor

Wildlife Sighted: Deer and elk

Seasonal Notes
Seasonal Forest Road closure from October through mid-May (open date in May depends on snow level, usually May 20th). Prime soaking season is between late July and late October.

Camping Notes
There are a couple primitive sites near the spring, and an official (4 site) campground at the trailhead. There are also plenty of campgrounds and primitive sites to choose from in the surrounding Sawtooth National Forest.

Briefings

06.01.07 - 06.02.07 Trip Report and Pictures by Soker Grrl

09.18.06
It's been almost 5 years since my last visit to this incredible place and Skillern hasn't changed a bit - thank goodness! The hike was awesome, soak stellar and my most noteable memory from the trip (besides the insane wind) was soaking the day away while watching Hybrid Cutthroat make their way upstream.
Rating A-

05.13.02
Skillern was sweet! The 4 or so hour round trip hike was nothing short of scenic, and this time of the year you are almost guaranteed to be the only one out there. Small spots of snow dotting the landscape were visible throughout the duration of our hike.

The FS lady we ran into at Canyon Campground (cute girl stationed at Soda or Shasta) said we were the only campers in the whole Sawtooths! I thought that was pretty stellar. However, I did catch a glimpse of a group of campers/partiers leaving Worswick HS on our way in. They left all of their trash in their fire pit, some half burnt with the smell of burnt plastic still fresh in the air.

Anyway, the two lower pools below the source where cold meets hot were too submerged for use, but the upper pool around the bend nestled in the side of the rock face was good to go. I think we must have spent all day there. That would explain the insane sunburn on one side of my body. Please treat this area with care.
Rating A-

Average Rating: A-

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