Hot water gushes straight out of the ground in the huge pools.
As it is named, World Famous Hot Pools is the fabulous for families and even hot springs enthusiasts.
Sunken Garden
Lava Hot Springs is one of popular vacation destination in the State of Idaho.
It is not too much to say that World Famous Hot Pools is the heart of Lava Hot Springs.
The pool facility is located right next to the Portneuf River, where is a popular spot for tubing.
Before entering, let’s take a look at Sunken Garden behind it.


The garden in the valley has lots of volcanic products.
The lava eruption is considered active approximately 27,000 years ago.
It is not so apart from the Yellowstone National Park, so that the heat source of geothermal water is considered as the same system of magma chamber.
It steams very well from the huge pools.
Let’s get soaked ASAP.
Straight out of Ground
In the 1890s, the U.S. government purchased the land from one of tribes of American Indians, the Shoshone-Bannock.
The pools were severely damaged by the flood in 1962, but have been always popular until now.
The buildings are renovated and look new.
This is one of the gender-separated changing rooms.
Clothing is required in all the area.
I found an interesting dewatering equipment.
I liked the structure easy to understand.
The second biggest pool is located close to the entrance.
The benches are placed at the curved side.
The water temperature is moderate, around 108 degrees F.
I got an impression of the water straight out of the ground.
In other words, the geothermal water is upwelling being naturally pressured from the gravel bottom.
In the west side, there are two Jacuzzi pools.
In the westmost point, the water temperature of the pool is rather warm.
There is no bad smell of chlorine.
The large roofs are helpful for covering up in the sun.
I found a small cave under the cliff near the changing rooms.
I observed underground water that is geothermally heated as well.
In the eastmost point, there is the largest pool that I saw from Sunken Garden.
This long pool is one of the oldest one, is maintained at 111 degrees F.
The bottom is partly surprisingly hot, due to the bubbling water straight out of the ground.
The water is odorless and crystal clear, which may well be World Famous.
Summary
World Famous Hot Pools, Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, U.S.
Rating
- StyleWalk-in
- RuleClothing required
- ChlorinationNot detected
- 泉温Up to 111 degrees F