Sunbeam Hot Springs is located 15 minutes down Highway 75 from Stanley, Idaho, heading towards Challis. The hot springs have a decent-sized car park, a pit toilet, and loads of history! While accessing these hot springs isn’t as easy as accessing Boat Box, the hill isn’t really that bad to hike down. Just a few steps.. but it’s steep!
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Sunbeam Hot Springs Quick Facts
- Location: Sunbeam Hot Springs
- Temperature: hot.. like super hot, although buckets available to add river water in
- Access: right off highway 75, down a steep muddy path
- Texture: in a copper pot/kettle or in a pool of river rock and silt
- Depth: sitting down, it covers the shoulders, river pools range some up to a foot or more
- Smell: these are not sulfur hot springs, so you won’t get that typical hot spring smell
Where exactly is Sunbeam Hot Springs?
Like most other hot springs near Stanley, Sunbeam Hot Springs are located right off highway 75, only 15 minutes from town. From the car park, a paved path leads to the old bathhouse and information boards, the bathroom, and the start of the hot spring pools upriver.
From there, you’ll have to scramble over river rock and dirt to get to the hot spring pools. (These may be underwater in the winter months, and too dry in the summer months).
The other option for hot springs at Sunbeam Hot Spring is in our opinion the better option…the hot spring pots.
From the car park, look downriver, you’ll see two different pots! These are the soaking pools that we fell in love with! There’s a kettle and a plastic tub.. and then the overflow from the two hot spring pots flows into more pools along the river just below!
To access the Sunbeam hot spring pots, you’ll have to hike down a steep and muddy trail. Don’t worry it’s only a handful of steps down to the pots, but it can get slippery, so use your best judgment when you’re there!
What’s the history of Sunbeam Hot Springs?
One of the coolest parts of Sunbeam Hot Spring are the information boards telling the history of the place. It’s insane to know that these hot springs have been in use for hundreds of years, bringing travelers from all over the country to soak in the healing waters.
There used to be a bathhouse at the hot spring, and even an old farmhouse too. The home was heated with copper pipes piping the hot spring water running under the house. So interesting looking at pictures from Sunbeam and seeing what it was like in the past!
Today, you can still go in the bathhouse, though it’s really just a big empty room, and obviously can still soak in the hot springs. While there aren’t any remnants of the old home there, there are pictures on the information board, and they’re worth checking out!
While I’m sure other hot springs in the area have great history too, it’s really cool to be at Sunbeam, see the pictures of its past, and sit and imagine life back then!
What makes Sunbeam Hot Spring our favorite?
In our opinion, Sunbeam Hot Springs is the best hot spring in the Stanley area. The pools are close enough to the road for easy access, but far enough away that the noise isn’t atrocious. We really enjoyed the hot pots and how easy it was to adjust the temperature. And although we had the place to ourselves the entire two hours we were there, it’s a large area of hot springs, so even with more people, you can still enjoy a nice soak.
The scenery surrounding Sunbeam Hot Spring paired with the rich history of the place truly gave it that dreamy, romantic hot spring feel! Do yourself a favor and drive the extra ten miles and go to Sunbeam Hot Spring! Trust us, it’s well worth it!
My version of relaxing in two photos, vs. Jay’s version…
How do you get the perfect water temperature in the tubs?
There are two different tubs at Sunbeam Hot Spring along with the river pools. The river pools are great and are adjustable by moving rocks around to allow cold river water in the pool or not. The tub and kettle on the other hand are a bit different.
Both the kettle and tub are filled with water piped under the road and directly into the kettle/pot. Be careful…this water is hot enough to burn you. A plastic bucket at the hot spring allows you to add river water to cool the temperature of the water coming straight from the source.
As you can imagine, with just water sitting in a pot and people getting in and out of it over and over again, the water can get gross rather fast. Whoever designed the kettle and tub thought of this though, and added a plug to the bottom of them both. Draining the water allows the next user to add fresh water and get it to its perfect temperature. However, this process can be roughly 20 minutes, so it seemed like most people just go in the water already there!
The pipes leading into the kettle and tub are moveable. So, when you’re soaking move them where you/d like! Just be careful as it really is hot enough to burn you coming directly from the source! They also are held in place with rocks at the source of the hot spring. So you may have to climb up the hill and adjust the rocks to keep the pipes in place.
Don’t be afraid to dip in the river when you get too hot. The cold water from the river feels so refreshing! And, it makes the hot spring feel like new when you get back in!
Please, check the current before dipping in the river, as it can be swift!
What do I need to bring for soaking in the hot springs?
Proper swimsuits are a must when visiting Sunbeam Hot Spring and other hot springs in Stanley. While there are the more natural rock pools just below the kettle, don’t be that person that insists on bathing nude. There are hot springs for that, and these ones simply are not.
You’ll also certainly want to bring a towel. We always travel with a microfiber towel, as they’re small, quick-drying, and are made for being used over and over again without washes in between.
We also recommend bringing a water bottle. At least a liter of it per person. Being in the hot water will dehydrate you. Plus, drinking water is a great way to cool you down on the inside!
Since this hot spring is literally just steps from the road, you really don’t have to wear shoes to get in and out. Though the walk down is muddy to the pots and rocky to the river pools. Crocs make for great shoes for slipping in and out of!
Sunbeam Hot Springs Etiquette
Wear Clothing // No, you don’t have to be wearing your long johns to soak, but do make sure you’ve got your goodies covered! Sunbeam hot springs are not the type of hot springs to bathe nude in… Don’t be that person in the kettle with your hooha hanging out!
Limit Soaking Time to 30 Minutes // As a general rule, once someone else shows up to soak in the kettle bit of Sunbeam Hot Springs, enjoy another 20-30 minutes of your soak before passing the space off to the next person. Thankfully, this hot spring isn’t as popular as Boat Box Hot Spring down the road, and we had it to ourselves for over two hours!
If you’re waiting to soak, don’t be afraid to ask those in front of you how much longer they will be. Just do so in a polite and friendly way! And shoot, don’t pressure them to get out! It is what it is if others are soaking and you have to wait!
Pack Out Trash // If you bring it there, don’t leave it there. There are no garbage cans at SunBeam so be sure to pack out whatever you pack in. If you can’t bring it back to your car after soaking, don’t bring it with you in the first place!
Don’t Use the Bathroom in the Springs // There are toilets located not that far from the hot springs. It’s literally just a handful of steps up the hill by the parking lot. Use the toilets that are provided! Don’t go in the actual hot springs!
Leave Your Pets in the Car // Is it just us or does it drive everyone else insane when people let their dogs in hot springs!? And even more so when people allow their dogs to just run freely splashing other soakers, and getting water all over other people’s belongings!? If you’re a dog owner that does this, please let us know why you think it’s okay!! As a pet owner, please keep in mind, not all people are “dog” people and want your dogs all up in their business!
Camping near Sunbeam Hot Springs
Idaho has some amazing primitive campgrounds that are oftentimes free or available to use for a very little charge. There are loads of campgrounds right along the Salmon River, minutes from Sunbeam Hot Springs. Although be warned, these campgrounds are seasonal and tend to fill quickly in the high season.
If visiting April-September, plan on paying around $20 a night for a campsite along Highway 75. In the offseason, before the snow hits, some of these campgrounds like Mormon Bend Campground, are open with limited services for $8 a night. However, we also found some free campsites near Sunbeam Hot Springs just from driving around or using one of the many ways to find free camping, found in the post below!
We camped at a campground up Yankee Fork Road. This worked out great as it was a full-service campground, with no fees in the off-season, and super close to Sunbeam Hot Springs!
Where else to stay close to SunBeam Hot Springs
If camping isn’t your thing.. don’t worry! There are BnBs, cabins, and lodges when you don’t want to sleep under the stars! Below we’ve listed a couple that caught our eye! Book well in advance if you plan on visiting Stanley in the summer months. The town is very small and is a very popular place for tourists!
If You’re Looking for a Hotel Stay in Stanley // The Mountain Village Resort is a great place to stay in the heart of Stanley. If you stay at the resort, you can use their private hot springs. The resort is easily accessible with a large parking area. And, has a killer restaurant to indulge at. Think… churro ice cream, delicious biscuits and gravy, and classic mountain village decor!
Fancy a Cabin Stay in Stanley? // Triangle C Cabins are cabins right next to Stanley’s grocery store, offering private cabins with individual bathrooms. These cabins are postcard-perfect with the Sawtooth Range just behind them!
Are there any other hot springs near SunBeam Hot Springs?
Thought you’d never ask.. 😉 There are five hot springs all within 15 miles of each other right around Stanley, Idaho!! And of course, after we learned of them, visited them multiple times, and enjoyed it all.. we wrote about them so you could too! Read about them, find their locations, and see pictures of each in the post below!
We also dedicated an entire post to Boat Box Hot Spring. Boat Box is arguably one of the most popular hot springs near Stanley… but it is really worth it!? You decide in the post below!
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A Week in the Boise National Forest
Things to do in Stanley, Idaho
Boat Box Hot Springs — like Sunbeam, but closer to town
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United States National Parks | listed by state with PDF download
