Country
United States
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No reviews yet
Family friendly
Yes
Season
July to October
About Jerry Johnson Hot Springs
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs is a set of undeveloped soaking pools along Warm Springs Creek, a tributary of the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River, in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest of north-central Idaho. The site sits at roughly 3,200 feet in an old cedar and fir forest about an hour west of Lolo Pass. Three groups of rock-walled pools are fed by separate hot sources. The lowest, beside the creek below a small waterfall, is the hottest (up to about 115°F near the source) and is under water during spring runoff, emerging later in summer. A middle group by a large boulder runs around 95-100°F, is easiest to reach and is the busiest. A third group further up the trail has meadow and mountain views and tends to be quieter. Pool bottoms are sand and gravel with sharp rocks around the edges. Clothing is optional by long custom: nude soaking is common, though many visitors wear swimsuits, especially on busy summer days. The Forest Service converted the site to day use only after years of overuse, and there are no facilities at the pools.
Legal context & local rules
The Forest Service makes Jerry Johnson Hot Springs day use only (6am to 8pm); overnight presence and camping are prohibited and patrolling officers cite violators (2026). The Forest Service page does not mention nudity; clothing-optional soaking is a long-standing tolerated custom, and guides report that a clothing-optional sign at the trailhead was removed in 2009.
Public nudity is largely prohibited in the US under indecent exposure laws which vary significantly by state. Vermont has no state-level law against public nudity, making it unique. Florida designates specific beaches as clothing-optional (Haulover Beach, Blind Creek State Park). Federal jurisprudence under the First Amendment has occasionally recognised nude expression in protests, though states regulate for public decency standards. Most states prohibit exposure of "sexual organs" in public under statutes similar to Florida Statute § 800.03.
What’s here
Getting there and visiting
Park at the Warm Springs trailhead on US Highway 12 at about milepost 152, an hour and a half east of Kooskia or an hour west of Lolo, Montana. There is no fee; a vault toilet is at the parking area. Cross the highway and the swaying suspension footbridge over the Lochsa, then follow Warm Springs Creek Trail about 1.4 miles one way on a fairly flat but rocky, sometimes muddy path. Allow about an hour round trip. No public transport and no cell service; not wheelchair accessible.
What visitors say
Visitors rate the setting highly: an easy forest walk, a creek with a waterfall and several pools at different temperatures. Nude soaking is usual and accepted, though suits are common and nobody is expected to strip. The middle pools draw the biggest crowds; people looking for quiet head to the upper pools or come early on weekdays. Common advice is to wear water shoes for the sharp rocks, test the hottest pools carefully, pack out trash, and leave before the 8pm closure, which is enforced. High water in spring floods the lowest pools, and debris after floods has occasionally silted them up.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Before you go
- 1 Check the current local rules and access conditions before travelling.
- 2 Bring a towel and sit on it when using shared seating.
- 3 Never take photographs of other people without clear consent.
- 4 Respect the venue’s clothing, privacy, and behaviour rules.
Location
⌖View this place on the map
46.4627, -114.8728
Frequently asked questions
Is Jerry Johnson Hot Springs clothing-optional?
Yes, by custom. Nude soaking is common and tolerated, though not officially designated, and many people wear swimsuits.
Can I camp at the springs?
No. It is day use only from 6am to 8pm and officers cite people found there after hours. Jerry Johnson Campground is about a mile from the trailhead.
How long is the hike?
About 1.4 miles each way on a mostly flat trail from the Warm Springs trailhead at milepost 152 on US 12.
Is there a fee?
No. Parking and access are free; the only facility is a vault toilet at the trailhead.
When are the pools best?
Late summer and fall, when the creek is low enough to expose the hot waterfall pools; spring snowmelt cools and floods them.
Sources
- Warm Springs Trailhead (USDA Forest Service, Nez Perce-Clearwater) Official
- Jerry Johnson Hot Springs, Idaho (Hot Springs Guides)
- Idaho's popular hike-in hot springs (Islands)
- Jerry Johnson Hot Springs guide (Finding Hot Springs)
- Jerry Johnson Hot Springs (Hot Springs Locator)
Researched 24 October 2026 .
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