By:
Submission
**THERE IS NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING AT THIS TIME **
Kirkham Hot Springs is open for DAY USE ONLY from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. until further notice.
Visitors may walk in, however they cannot drive into the campground. The gate is locked and there is a $5.00 day use fee for parking outside the gate. Updates can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices
Kirkham Campground is located next to the South Fork Payette River just east of Lowman, Idaho, along Highway 21 at an elevation of 4,000 feet. Visitors enjoy soaking in popular Kirkham Hot Springs on the banks of the river and exploring the scenic Kirkham Ridge Trail.
Popular Kirkham Hot Springs is located at the river's edge within the campground. A trail with staircases leads down to the soaking pools and small steaming waterfalls.
The South Fork Payette River offers whitewater rafting, kayaking and trout fishing. The Deadwood and Danskin River Access areas are nearby.
Kirkham Ridge Trail is one of the Lowman Ranger District's premier trails. It begins less than 1/4-mile away and stretches through beautiful country for 35 miles, connecting with many other trails in the area. It is open to hiking, mountain biking and horses. Sections of the trail are open seasonally to off-road vehicles.
The campground contains several single-family sites and one double site, all of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Some sites have small picnic shelters for shade.
Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided. A campground host is on-site. Roads and parking spurs are paved. A small gas station/cafe and mechanic are nearby.
The campground offers little shade, though a few Ponderosa pines are scattered throughout the site. The campground can be very hot and sunny during the summer. Wildflowers dot the landscape.
Numerous natural hot springs pools can be found along Highway 21, also known as the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway, and the Banks-Lowman Highway, also known as the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway. Both byways offer scenic views, wildlife watching, historical information kiosks and several trail opportunities.
Whitewater rafting and kayaking are popular activities on the South Fork and Main Payette Rivers. Several companies in the area offer guided half and full-day trips.
From Boise, Idaho, take State Highway 55 to Banks. Turn east onto the Banks-Lowman Highway and travel to Lowman. Turn left on Highway 21. The campground is located 5 miles east at milepost 77.
We camped at Kirkham hot springs again this August and were even more impressed with the area than we were a year ago. We arrived just in time to eat dinner and clean up after a long 12 hour drive from the St. Joe River. I walked down to the springs at 10 PM with my flash light and soaked in a hot pool for 15 minutes.
The following day, our family of 4 and our companion family of 9 kids and 1 adult stayed in the hot springs on and off from 10 AM to 5 PM.
I have never found hot springs as magnificent as the cascading hot water that lands on you like a professional masseuse. It's amazing. It was the high point of our 4 week camping trip.
Even though there is no camping you will access the hot springs from Kirkham camp ground. Park outside the campground and go around the bars and walk straight ahead and it will run you into the 1st pool, then go right and there will be more on your left. You will come to a bridge that will take you to that river. Before the bridge there is a trail that goes up to the left and will take you to some more pools.
If you take this trail make sure both hands are free, some parts of the trail is slippery. I know this because I slid and my phone went into a running hot spring and scratched up my left side. Bring water and sun screen.
Clean when I was there, will recommend.
