Jerry Johnson Hot Springs lies in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests of north-central Idaho, reached from the Warm Springs Trailhead along the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River. The U.S. Forest Service operates the trailhead at Milepost 152 on US Highway 12 — the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway and All-American Road. It is a day-use spring on public forest land, set against one of Idaho's most scenic mountain corridors.
Best season — Summer and fall (the trailhead is open year-round)
At a glance
The facts worth checking before you roll out
Conservative, source-minded facts for planning your visit — always worth confirming against current conditions before you travel.
State
Idaho
Managed by
U.S. Forest Service (Nez Perce-Clearwater NF)
Trailhead
Warm Springs Trailhead, MP 152 on US 12
River
Lochsa Wild and Scenic River
Use
Day-use only, no overnight camping at the spring
Access
Open year round (trailhead)
On the ground
The Forest Service places the Warm Springs Trailhead along the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River at Milepost 152 on US Highway 12 — the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway and All-American Road — and notes it serves as access to both the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and Jerry Johnson Hot Springs. The corridor is one of Idaho's classic mountain drives, threading the Lochsa's tight river canyon.
The spring itself is day-use only, with no overnight camping permitted at the hot springs; the agency lists posted day-use hours, and the trailhead is open year round even when the surrounding high country holds winter conditions.
For RV travelers, the appeal is the setting: a roadside trailhead deep in national forest, paired with a scenic byway that links the Idaho-Montana high country. Always confirm current hours, parking, and any seasonal restrictions on the official Forest Service page before you stop.
Official sources
- U.S. Forest Service — Warm Springs Trailhead (Nez Perce-Clearwater NF) USDA Forest Service
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Planning an RV trip near Jerry Johnson Hot Springs: An Idaho RV Traveler's Guide?
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