Pine Flats Hot Spring Waterfall (pic)

Here's a pic from yesterday's excursion to Pine Flats Hot Springs in Idaho... trip report to follow.



Not bad for a cellcam pic (my camera battery died).

IdahoHotSprings.com Clean-Up and NE of Cascade Hot Springs Condition Update

Despite a redesign looming in the horizon for IdahoHotSprings.com, I took some time and did some spring cleaning. I removed a bunch of slow code, ads, and non-relevant pages. I did everything I could short of a complete redesign, which is coming, did I say that already? ;)

Last weekend I was up camping and hiking around the Warm Lake and Krassel areas. Runoff was picking up, but not quite enough to bury the pools at Trail Creek and Sugah. However, it was enough to limit access to the hot shower at Buckhorn and bury Penny and Teapot. Forest Road 474S road into Molly's, Molly's Tubbs and Vulcan was still snow-covered.

Forest Road 474N is in the worst shape I've ever witnessed. After the wildfires and before winter, crews had to quickly replace a series of over 20 large, metal culverts along the road, and unfortunately didn't have time to repave the road after installing the new culverts. That's exactly where all the rough spots are, some are tire killers! Go slow, it's only the first 20 miles.

On the way up to Cascade, passing through Banks revealed tons of people. The pass between Cascade and Warm Lake had at most 7feet of snow on the roadside, but the road itself was dry pavement. However, snow drifts, at times, covered an entire lane throughout many blind corners. I experienced a few scares with speedy oncoming drivers not paying attention on the way in and out.

All things considered; trash was low, the nights were cold, but the campfire, warm spring days and hot springs were stellar.

Pic "They All Looked Away"

January 17, 2007
Originally uploaded by Melinda Mary

McCredie Hot Springs in Oregon

The ScenicBoys Visit Slate Creek Hot Springs in Idaho

Found a great video on YouTube that features Stanely Idaho, the surrounding area and Slate Creek Hot Springs (also near Stanley):



More video and pictures of Slate Creek Hot Springs in Idaho

Lowman and Sun Valley Idaho Area Hot Springs Condition and Access Updates

From the FindHotSprings.com Forums:

• Frenchman's Bend Hot Springs near Sun Valley Idaho in Great Shape After Forest Service Recovery

• Access condition updates for Hot Springs in the Lowman Idaho Area: Bonneville, Kirkham, Pine Flats and Tenmile

Sweet Soak at Sharkey Hot Springs in Idaho

The two resortish-like soaking pools at Sharkey were built by the BLM during the summer of 2001, they were stellar. Even up to 2003, the date of my previous visit, the two pools were still good. After this last visit, I now consider the pools to be in moderate condition. Clear signs of the worsening condition of the concrete housing were visible, and each pool contained a fair amount of slick algae. However, the most blatant difference I noticed is that trash was everywhere! At least the restrooms and changing rooms were in decent condition.

Here's what one of the pools looked like in 2003:

Here's what it looks like now (click to enlarge):

A great soak was shared with a couple visiting the area from Montana. About 20 minutes into our soak we heard quite the commotion. Someone was shooting down the dirt road at a very high speed and came ripping into the hot springs parking area. This pickup drove up to the fence, perpendicular to the parallel parking spots, and almost through it! It was the county Sheriff. Wow, quite the dramatic entrance.

Another view of Sharkey's pool (1 of 2):

After a good sneer and a scowl, the Sheriff ripped on out just as fast as he came in. The Montana couple made a few remarks about the 'law in these parts' after some talk about receiving a ticket recently that wasn't legit. All I know is that wasn't necessary. If the guy was really looking for someone, our vehicles and license plates were clearly visible in the parking lot.

Central Concrete Fire Pit (click to enlarge):

All of that aside, it was a great soak with good company. The hot 102-103 degree water was a welcome contrast to the cold, crisp mountain air. After soaking, the couple even fired up one of the on-site grills and shared some grub and brew. It was refreshing to have such a great soak and meet some friendly folks, a combination I find to be quite rare in Idaho sometimes. They even started picking up trash first, FTW!

Sharkey is also known as Lewis and Clark Hot Springs (along with a few others). Why? Because Lewis and Clark came through here, maybe they even walked down this road:

Rating: B+ (from March 31, 2008 visit)

View more pictures and past trip reports of Sharkey Hot Springs on IdahoHotSprings.com

Map of Sharkey Hot Springs

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Boise Roadless March!

Boise Roadless March Route:

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On Monday, April 7 at 11:45 a.m., the Idaho Conservation League (ICL) and roadless area protection supporters will be delivering over a thousand comments in person, to the federal government.

The walk will be from the Idaho Conservation League office (710 N. 6th St., Boise) to the Borah Post Office (Bannock St.).

Please, come and join your fellow outdoor enthusiasts as we deliver a clear message to the federal government, that we want Idaho’s pristine forests protected for our future!

What: Deliver Roadless Comments
When: Monday, April 7, be here at 11:30 a.m.
Where: Idaho Conservation League office, 710 N. 6th St, Boise (Corner of 6th and Franklin)

Please let me know if you might be interested in speaking to the press and I’ll make sure you get some follow up information.

One Last Swipe at Millions of Idaho Roadless Public Forests - Loaded with Hot Springs

This is it everyone! April 7th is the last day to submit your comments in favor of protecting millions of undeveloped pubic roadless Idaho forests from invasive and destructive drilling, logging and mining development.

The Bush Administration and key Idaho Republican political leaders (save for former Governor Risch) have clearly sold out in favor of special interests. They aren't even bothering to hide it this time. Many of the latter are actually former phosphate miners and/or heads of phosphate mining companies, which just happens to be one of the primary reasons they are after Idaho. More >

Quick Facts:

• Idaho has the most roadless land in the lower 48. Less than 2% of all land in the United States is roadless.

• Roadless areas provide necessary spawning grounds for Steelhead and many other fish. Fishing brings in millions of dollars of revenue to Idaho every year.

• Idaho has the most usable, roadless public hot springs in the entire United States. Many of these hot springs have even been used by Indians and settlers, and have historical and medicinal significance. They also provide valuable winter habitat for wildlife. Without the hot springs in the Stanley area, large herds of Elk wouldn't survive the harsh winter conditions.
  

If you love the outdoors in any capacity, please - Take Action!

• GYC - End the Assault on Idaho's Roadless Lands!
  
• Wilderness Society - Keep Idaho Forests Wild!
• Earthjustice - Stop the Idaho Forest Giveaway!
• Idaho Conservation League Submission Form

E-mail direct to: IDcomments@fsroadless.org

Snail Mail them to:
Roadless Area Conservation-Idaho
PO Box 162909
Sacramento, CA 95816-2909

View Talking Points, Background Info., Links, Maps and More

Willow Creek Hot Springs in Oregon Trip Report

General Description

Miles away from nowhere, Willow Creek Hot Spring features a single pool out in the middle of southeast Oregon's high desert region. An all-season gravel/dirt road will get you most of the way there, but the last bit is on soft dirt, which is impassible during rain. Choose your season wisely.

Wildlife Sighted: Wild Horses, Pronghorn (Antelope), Rabbits (plenty of them!), Bobcats, Cougars, Deer, Owls (spotted 2 of them), Coyotes, Bats and Foxes (oh my) - don't even think of driving out to this one at night, all of the animals listed above are all over the road after dusk [there are also Thunder Eggs in this area]

Seasonal Notes
Accessible all year.

Camping Notes
BLM camping right next to the hot springs and in the surrounding area.

03.03.08 Trip Report

I miss this place. Looking back though my records, I couldn't believe it had been 3 years since my last visit. The northwest has too many incredible places. My return visit to Willow Creek Hot Spring was on a blustery day, very windy and chilly. The soak was stellar, whew! Thank goodness, because I didn't bring any firewood!

On my way to the hot springs I came across two herds of wild horses. I was awestruck. The only other time I experienced such a thing was 6 years ago, just a few miles west of my present location. Wild horses! Can you even imagine!

Please note, the entire BLM area surrounding the hot springs and pit toilet were extremely muddy! There was one small area near the entrance wide enough for a couple vehicles that was just barley dry enough to park.
Rating A

View past trip reports and pictures of Willow Creek Hot Springs in Oregon

Wild Horses and Hot Spring in the Oregon Desert

Willow Creek Hot Spring in Southeast Oregon Video Clip



Clip features two run-ins with real-life wild horses. There are not many of these herds left in the US. The rest of the clip features a high-desert hot spring... Willow Creek. Footage is from the southeast corner of Oregon, approx. 4 hours from Boise Idaho and near Fields Oregon.

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