5 locations · United States
Idaho
Every clothing-optional place we've verified in Idaho. Tap any entry for full visit notes, etiquette, access and seasonal advice.
Idaho, USA
Goldbug Hot Springs
Goldbug Hot Springs sits high in the Salmon River Mountains of central Idaho, roughly five miles south of the small town of Salmon. It's a backcountry hot spring on public land — not a resort, not a club, just a natural geothermal feature that's become one of Idaho's better-known clothing-optional soaking spots. You'll earn it: the trail climbs about two miles up a steep canyon, gaining around 1,000 feet. The reward is a series of terraced pools cascading down the rock face, each with a different temperature depending on how close it sits to the source. The water is clear, mineral-rich, and hot enough at the top to require careful testing before you slip in. Lower pools mix with cooler runoff and offer more moderate soaking. Clothing-optional bathing is common here and widely accepted, though you'll encounter a mix of nude and clothed hikers depending on the day and season. The hike itself acts as a natural filter — you won't find tour buses or casual drop-ins. Summer weekends see the most traffic, but early mornings, weekdays, and shoulder seasons offer quieter experiences. Winter access is possible but requires snowshoes or skis and carries real risk. There's no infrastructure beyond the stone-lined pools themselves — pack out what you pack in.
Idaho, USA
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs is a series of natural geothermal pools along Warm Springs Creek in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, accessible via a 1.5-mile flat trail from US 12 along the Lochsa River corridor — one of the most accessible backcountry hot springs in the northern Rocky Mountains. The pools sit in old-growth forest, surrounded by cedar, hemlock, and Douglas fir, with the creek running warm alongside the soaking areas. Nudity is the universal norm at Jerry Johnson and has been for decades — the Lochsa corridor culture of primitive outdoor recreation treats the springs as part of the landscape rather than a commercial attraction. The pools range from 102°F near the source to cooler mixing zones further downstream, and the clear water and forest setting make this one of the most beautiful hot spring experiences in Idaho. The trailhead is about 60 miles east of Lewiston on US 12, one of the most scenic mountain highways in the Northwest — the route follows the Lochsa River through a deep wilderness canyon from the Montana border to the Clearwater plains. The highway is typically open year-round but can be closed by heavy snowfall.
Idaho, USA
Stanley Hot Springs
Stanley Hot Springs is a backcountry hot spring in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness of central Idaho, requiring a 3.5-mile hike on the Warm Springs Trail from the trailhead on the Selway River Road. The spring fills a pool at the base of the mountains, surrounded by wilderness forest, and it sees significantly less traffic than the roadside springs further east — the hike filters for committed visitors. The Selway-Bitterroot is the largest designated wilderness area in the contiguous 48 states, covering nearly 1.3 million acres of roadless forest in central Idaho and western Montana. The hot springs sit at the edge of this wilderness, reached from the western trailheads off the Selway River corridor. The experience is genuinely remote — no cell service, no facilities at the spring itself, and the surrounding forest wilderness is dramatic. Clothing-optional nudity has been the norm here for decades. The Selway corridor is reached from Lowell, Idaho, at the confluence of the Selway and Lochsa Rivers (about 65 miles east of Lewiston on US 12), then south on the Selway River Road.
Idaho, USA
Weir Creek Hot Springs
Weir Creek Hot Springs sits in the Clearwater National Forest along the Lochsa River corridor — the same US-12 (Lewis & Clark Highway) stretch that hosts Jerry Johnson Hot Springs about 12 miles to the west. The two springs share a similar backcountry character but draw different crowds: Weir Creek is less visited and has a stronger C/O culture, while Jerry Johnson sees more casual traffic from the larger campground nearby. A short forested trail (under a mile round trip) leads from the highway pullout to the main soaking pool, where warm water flows down a rocky cascade into a log-bordered natural tub. Temperatures run around 100–104°F year-round. The forest setting — dense fir and cedar above the Lochsa — makes this feel genuinely remote despite the highway proximity. In winter, the contrast between cold mountain air and hot water is exceptional. Clothing-optional nudity is the norm at Weir Creek, where the self-selecting crowd of repeat visitors has established a consistent naturist atmosphere. First-timers comfortable with backcountry hot springs will find it welcoming.
Idaho, USA
Bare Mountain Retreat
Bare Mountain Retreat sits in the foothills outside Boise, where high desert terrain meets ponderosa pine. The property spans enough ground to give you actual hiking options, not just a loop around a fence. You'll find a pool for cooling off after a trail, plus overnight accommodations and RV hookups if you want to stay longer than a day trip. The resort runs on the idea that shedding clothes means shedding the roles you play everywhere else. No one cares what you do for work or what car you drive. That leveling effect is real, though it won't fix all your problems. It just gives you a break from performing. Boise's high desert climate means hot, dry summers and cold winters. Spring and fall are your sweet spots for comfortable hiking. The trails here aren't Disneyland—watch for rattlesnakes in warm months, and bring more water than you think you need. Cell service can be spotty depending on where you wander. This is a members-and-guests setup, so you'll need to contact them ahead of time. First-timers are welcome, but call or email before you show up. The vibe leans toward people who've been coming for years, which can feel cliquey or comforting depending on your perspective.