Skillern Hot Springs, near Fairfield, Idaho
Camas County, Idaho4.8 (6 reviews on Google)
Skillern Hot Springs is a free, undeveloped hot spring on Big Smoky Creek in the Sawtooth National Forest's Fairfield Ranger District. The Forest Service says Big Smoky Trail #072 starts at the north end of Canyon Transfer Camp and leads to the springs; independent trail guides put the hike at about 6 miles round trip, with an upper route that avoids the creek and a lower route with four crossings. NOAA's thermal springs survey lists the source at 140°F, and no official source publishes pool temperatures, so test the water before getting in. The Forest Service route to the trailhead runs north 18 miles from Fairfield on Forest Road 094, then 5.5 miles on FR 227 and 2 miles on FR 085. Canyon Transfer Camp at the trailhead is a first-come, first-served campground with 7 single and 3 group sites, vault toilets and a hand pump, charging $6 a night for a single site from mid-May through October 31. Visit Southern Idaho says the road closes from October to mid-May depending on snow, and a Sawtooth National Forest order in effect until September 9, 2031 prohibits public nudity.
Sources: fs.usda.gov (1), visitsouthidaho.com, hotspringsguides.com, fs.usda.gov (2)
Skillern Hot Springs is in Camas County, Idaho, 2.5 miles in a straight line from the nearest road a car can reach; the road-network data does not name that road. The hike in is about 3 miles by trail. Treated here as an undeveloped backcountry pool; nothing on file corroborates that label. The NOAA survey puts this vent at 140°F (scalding), well above typical soak temperatures. Access is priced as free and amenities on file include camping. The clothing policy is given as clothing required on the operator's own site.
Source: NOAA thermal springs survey — SKILLERN HOT SPRINGS, 0.10 mi
At a glance
Water temp
Above 110°F — risk of burns; test before entering
NOAA thermal springs survey — SKILLERN HOT SPRINGS, 0.10 mi
Survey-measured
Road required
Any car
Unverified
Getting there
Hike-In (3 mi)
Visitor-confirmed
Clothing
Clothing Required
Verified
Camping on site
Not indicated
Verified
Cell service
Assume none
Information verified: — roads and policies change without notice.
Camping & lodging nearby
Options within about 20 miles of Skillern Hot Springs.
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Conditions at the spring
What we can actually confirm
Every attribute shows its source. Where nothing confirms it, we say so rather than guess.
Clothing policy
Clothing Required
Vehicle needed
Not confirmed
Getting to the water
Hike-In (3 mi by trail) · nearest road 2.55 mi away in a straight lineCamping on site
Not indicated
Development
Primitive/Backcountry
The water
Skillern Hot Springs: common questions
How long is the hike to Skillern Hot Springs?
About 6 miles round trip, or 3 miles each way, from Canyon Transfer Camp according to Visit Southern Idaho and Hot Springs Guides; AllTrails measures 6.2 miles with roughly 580 feet of elevation gain. The Forest Service does not publish the distance to the spring. The trail splits: the upper route climbs more but stays out of the creek, while the lower route has four creek crossings.
Sources: visitsouthidaho.com, hotspringsguides.com, alltrails.com
How do you get to the Skillern Hot Springs trailhead?
The trailhead is Canyon Transfer Camp. Forest Service directions: from Fairfield, go north 18 miles on Forest Road 094, turn left onto FR 227 for 5.5 miles, then turn north onto FR 085 for 2 miles. Big Smoky Trail #072 begins at the north end of the campground and is open to hikers, other non-motorized travel and motorcycles; pick up a Motor Vehicle Use Map from the ranger station.
Source: fs.usda.gov
Is the road to Skillern Hot Springs open?
As of October 2, 2026, the Sawtooth National Forest alerts list no closure on the roads in the Forest Service directions or on Big Smoky Trail. The Fairfield Ranger District's prescribed-burn road closure (October 5–31, 2026) covers Paradise Creek Road (FR 030), which is not on that route. Access is seasonal: Visit Southern Idaho says the road is closed from October to mid-May depending on snow, and the Forest Service gives Canyon Transfer Camp's season as May to October, seasonally dependent. Call the Fairfield Ranger District at 208-764-3202 before you go.
Sources: fs.usda.gov (1), fs.usda.gov (2), visitsouthidaho.com, fs.usda.gov (3)
Can you camp near Skillern Hot Springs?
Yes, at Canyon Transfer Camp at the trailhead, about 3 trail miles from the spring. It is a first-come, first-served Forest Service campground with 7 single sites and 3 group sites, vault toilets, a potable-water hand pump, picnic tables, fire rings and horse corrals. Fees from mid-May through October 31 are $6 a night for a single site and $12 for a double, and pets must be leashed in the campground.
Source: fs.usda.gov
Is Skillern Hot Springs clothing optional?
No. Sawtooth National Forest order 0414-00-033, in effect from September 9, 2026 to September 9, 2031, prohibits being publicly nude on all National Forest System lands in the forest; a violation is a Class B misdemeanor.
Source: fs.usda.gov
Does it cost anything to visit Skillern Hot Springs?
The spring itself is free. The Forest Service lists fees only for overnight camping at Canyon Transfer Camp: $6 a night for a single site and $12 for a double, from mid-May through October 31.
Sources: fs.usda.gov, hotspringsguides.com
How hot is Skillern Hot Springs?
NOAA's thermal springs survey lists the source at 140°F, and Hot Springs Guides gives the same figure. No official source publishes soaking-pool temperatures, so test the water before you get in.
Source: hotspringsguides.com
Tips before you go
Practical notes from operators, land managers and published sources — plus reviews written here.
USFS: Big Smoky Trail #072 begins at the north end of Canyon Transfer Camp and leads to Skillern Hot Springs; it is open to non-motorized travel and motorcycles. From Fairfield: north 18 mi on Forest Road 094, left on FR 227 for 5.5 mi, then north on FR 085 for 2 mi. Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/recreation/canyon-transfer-camp
About 6 miles round trip (3 each way) per Visit Southern Idaho and Hot Springs Guides; AllTrails measures 6.2 mi with about 580 ft of gain. The upper route climbs more but avoids the creek; the lower route has four creek crossings. Sources: https://visitsouthidaho.com/adventure/skillern-hot-springs/ , https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/skillern-hot-springs-idaho , https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/skillern-hot-springs
No nudity: Sawtooth National Forest order 0414-00-033 (in effect Sept 9, 2026 to Sept 9, 2031) prohibits being publicly nude on all forest lands. Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/alerts/public-safety-occupancy-and-use
Canyon Transfer Camp (trailhead): 7 single and 3 group sites, first come first served, vault toilets, potable-water hand pump, horse corrals; $6 single / $12 double per night mid-May to Oct 31; season May–October, seasonally dependent. Fairfield Ranger District: 208-764-3202. Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/recreation/canyon-transfer-camp
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Contact & location
Address: Idaho 83340
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