Cronks Canyon Hot Spring

No closures reported·Primitive·Easy short walk·Researched 14 Oct 2026

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100–101°F

Pool temperatures

Short walk

Easy access

Unknown

Fee not verified

Cronks Canyon is a tiny rock-and-sand pool built beside the Salmon River just off US-93 north of Challis. Source water is about 115 F and cools to about 100 F in the pool, which holds roughly 2 to 3 people. It is rarely visited and is best in late summer when the river is low.

Camping nearbyNo camping at the spring itself, which sits between the highway and the river. Cottonwood Campground is about 5 miles south along the river. Challis Hot Springs State Park has tent and RV sites.
1–2 pools
QuietLate summer and early fall, when the river is low.
SeasonBest in late summer and fall when the Salmon River is low. Higher water can cover or cool the pool.

Best time to go. Late summer and early fall, when the river is low. Evenings and mornings can be cool.

Access

No closures reported

No closure, fire or weather warning found in Forest Service, wildfire (NIFC) or National Weather Service feeds. That isn't confirmation it's open.

Checked 14 Oct · updated daily

Know before you go

Heavy highway traffic including trucks right beside the spring, and tight, unsafe parking. The pool is built from riprap and construction material. High river water can flood it. Source water is about 115 F and cools as it mixes with river water.

1
The spring is on US-93 along the Salmon River, about 20 miles north of Challis and about 2 miles from Ellis.
2
The pools are just below the highway embankment, and there is very little room to park between the road and the river.
3
Look for a pullout and scramble down a short slope to the water.

Cronks Canyon Hot Spring (spring location)

44.7200, −114.0160 · nearest town Ellis, ID

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