This Hot Spring Resort in Idaho Is Heavenly And We Bet You’ll Think So Too
By Courtnie Erickson|Published March 04, 2022
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Courtnie Erickson
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From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
My name is Courtnie, and I write for both Idaho and Utah at OnlyInYourState. From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, I’ve lived in what I believe are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. I have also enjoyed many of the best attractions in each state and I can honestly say, a visit to Lava Hot Springs is one of a kind and worthy of any bucket list. Enough about me — welcome to OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers.
Idaho is known for many things, but its hot springs rank at the top. Throughout the state, you will find up to 130 soakable hot springs, more than any other state in the country. Many Idahoans love to soak in these pools of warm water and find it the perfect way to wash away stress and daily worries, and I couldn’t agree more. I recently visited Lava Hot Springs, a hot spring resort located in the southern part of the Gem State, and I can honestly say this hot spring resort in Idaho is just as heavenly as it sounds.
Lava Hot Springs is located in southeast Idaho, approximately 50 miles from the Utah/Idaho state line and just over 10 miles from Interstate 15. It is located right off of Highway 30, also known as the Oregon Trail-Bear Lake Scenic Byway in Idaho.
This resort is located in the small town of Lava Hot Springs, which is charming in every way. A river flows through the middle of town and a small stretch of shops and cafes line Main Street.
While I didn’t spend any time exploring this area of town, each time I drove by, the streets were packed with cars and I saw visitors walking in and out of the shops. I even spotted individuals sitting on small tables by the road with a warm drink in hand. The entire town had a casual, relaxed feel to it and I was hooked.
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Lava Hot Spring Resort is unique because there are actually three separate areas for you to enjoy: The Indoor Aquatic Center, the Olympic Swimming Complex, and the Hot Springs Complex. I began my visit at the Indoor Aquatic Center.
Just to give you a little background of my trip, I visited this hot spring resort with my extended family. We had all ages from Grandpa and Grandma to my one-year-old nephew. The Indoor Aquatic Center was the perfect place to begin. There were activities for every age, and we spent hours exploring and enjoying this area of the resort.
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The Indoor Aquatic Center is home to a 25-yard indoor pool, complete with a rock-climbing wall and a 1-meter springboard. Most of the adults and teenagers in my family spent hours jumping, climbing, and swimming in this large pool.
Courtnie Erickson
However, the Portneuf Kiddie Cove was where my two-year-old daughter and I spent most of our time.
Courtnie Erickson
The water in the Kiddie Cove is kept at approximately 92 degrees Fahrenheit and it was the perfect temperature. There was a slide, areas to climb, water tables, and a giant yellow bucket that continually dumps water. This shallow pool also has a gradual slope so no matter your child’s size, you can find the ideal water depth perfect for splashing around.
Because our visit to this resort was in the dead of winter, the Olympic Swimming Complex was closed. However, we all plan to visit again during the summer to check it out.
In the warm summer months, this area looks like the ultimate day-trip destination, with four springboards and three diving platforms. The six-story body-flume slides go right over Highway 30 and feature a 60-foot drop - which as someone who is afraid of heights - terrified me slightly. There are also two tube slides and lots of green space. You could easily spend all day here.
After lots of swimming, we were finally ready to head to the Hot Springs Complex, and I couldn’t wait to just sit and relax.
The Hot Springs Complex is actually four blocks away from the other swimming areas. In the summer months, you could likely walk there without much difficulty. Due to the cold weather and the number of young kids in tow, we decided driving would be the easiest for our party.
Courtnie Erickson
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The Hot Spring Resort is everything I thought it would be — relaxing, beautiful, and oh so hot.
These hot springs are quite impressive, with more than 2.5 million gallons of hot water entering the pools each and every day. The water bubbles from an ancient volcano, and we were excited to learn that no chlorine or Sulphur is added to the water.
We visited over a long weekend, which meant the resort was quite busy - but despite all of the other people soaking in the pools, we were able to find a cozy corner for our family to just relax. We could also still take advantage of all of the incredible amenities offered at this one-of-a-kind resort.
Courtnie Erickson
There are five separate hot pools at Lava Hot Springs Resort, each of which varies in temperature so you can easily find your perfect soak.
The pools range in temperature from 102 degrees to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of the younger children with us, we stayed in the cooler pools, but these were still plenty warm and excellent for a long soak.
The bottom of the 102-degree pool featured a rock bottom, which was easy to walk on and made moving around the pool enjoyable.
We tried some of the other pools and they were just as heavenly. Simply sitting back and letting my body fully relax in the warm water was much needed. Some of the other pools had gravel bottoms, which were a little rough, but it made the pools feel more natural and we were still able to easily move around the pool if necessary.
It was easy to simply sit back and bask in the beauty of the area. The Hot Springs Complex is tucked against the mountain, giving you some extraordinary views while soaking away all of your worries. I certainly hopped out of the hot pools feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle the rest of the day.
Courtnie Erickson
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Everyone in my family — from adults to teens to toddlers — loved their visit to Lava Hot Springs Resort in Idaho. We will definitely be back and would recommend a visit to anyone and everyone who wants to experience the beauty and serenity of Idaho's hot springs.
The hours for the swimming pools and the hot pools are different and vary depending on the season, and you can visit the resort’s website for more information to help you plan your upcoming trip.
To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series. What destinations would you like to see featured next? Tell us where we should go on our nominations page.
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