Located in Downey, Idaho, Downata Hot Springs is a paradise for both adults and children. Find your happy place at this family-favorite soaking destination. Let out your inner child on the exhilarating slides, pick a trail and go for a horse or ATV ride, or just let it all go and soak the days away in the hot pools. And for more happy soaks, check out our choice of the best hot springs in Idaho – there’s something for everyone!
| Address | 25900 South Downata Road, Downey, Idaho 83234 |
| Location | Downey, Idaho |
| Open | Mon – Thurs, 12.30 pm – 8 pm, Recreation pool 6 pm – 8 pm |
| Clothing | Required |
| Road Access | Easy. All vehicles |
| Water Temperature | 85 – 106°F |
| Admission | From $10 |
What To Expect
The perfect place for a family vacation, Downata Hot Springs, which is open year-round, boasts handicap-accessible hot springs pools – two large outdoor pools, water slides, a water playground, massage services, camping, and lodging.
The surroundings are beautifully green and shaded, and there is a clean bathroom, pay-per-minute shower facilities, and simple picnic tables.
Adjacent to the main pool, you will find two hot pools which boast jets with color-changing lights for exhilarating night soaks. NOTE: The two hot pools are for relaxation and therapy, not for swimming or splashing in.
The wheelchair accessible 3-7 feet deep Recreation Pool is where all the fun and splashing happens, boasting 4 slides, squirters, and a basketball hoop, all with a lifeguard watching over your safety.
The Recreation Pool is completely drained and cleaned on Wednesday and Saturday nights, meaning on Thursday and Sunday the water is fresher and also hotter.
There is also a water playground for the littlest guests to enjoy, a horseshoe pit, a basketball court, volleyball, and soccer areas (extra charge for horseshoe and ball rental).
Between soaks, sliding, and ball games, why not take advantage of the site’s nearby horse or ATV trails, or take a walk for some bird and wildlife watching? In winter, take out a snowmobile!
The resort offers meeting facilities in the form of various-sized pavilions, and an amphitheater (available with or without the tech). Check the resort’s website for the rates and details. They also offer swimming lessons, spa-massage treatments, and seasonal events for all the family.
Hungry? The resort offers delicious and filling breakfasts, lunches, and dinners (we recommend the ribeye!) as well as a snack bar. Check out the menus here. We also love the “pizza and pool” passes on Fridays and Saturdays, and the “steak and soak” deals.
Opening times are subject to seasonal change and you should check the resort’s website for the latest before you go.
Pool Prices
| Swim n Slide Pass (Recreation Pool) | $12* |
| Everything Pass (Hot Pools & Recreation) | $19* |
| Hot Pools only (age 3+) | $10* |
Discounts are available for groups or extended visits. Check the resort’s website for the latest before you go. You can rent bathing suits, towels, pool toys, balls, horseshoes, and lockers.
About The Water
Downata Hot Springs resort is sourced by a 112°F rock-bottomed spring south of the hot pools which flows out at over 600 gallons per minute. This water is then piped to the swimming pool and has cool water added for swimmers’ comfort.
The hot springs pools are 102 – 106°F. The swimming pools average 85 – 99°F in summer and 95 – 101°F in winter. The hot mineral water also supplies the water slides, and water playground area and provides floor heating – great during winter snow!
NOTE that the Recreation Pool, slides, and playground are chlorinated.
The mineral water has no sulfur smell, and is clear, with a consistent PH of 7.1.
Interesting History
Originally the homestead of Robert Miller, Alexander Marshall, and his family moved to “The Springs” in 1907. They were the first to build a fenced-in swimming pool, one which had rock sides and a muddy bottom, and dressing rooms. The hot springs resort was popular with families, and, being the only pool in the area, was often used for baptism by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Over the next century, different family members and owners expanded, modernized, and added features to the hot springs resort and surrounding ranch and farm.
The name Downata Hot Springs literally means “down at hot springs.”
For the full history, click here
How To Get There
Note that in May 2023, a section of UT-91 was closed due to flooding. Check with the resort’s website before you go for directions should such closures happen again.
From Salt Lake City, Utah take the I-15 N for around two hours (132 miles). Take Exit 31 and turn east into Downey. Turn right onto the UT-91 S and head south. Halfway between the towns of Downey and Zenda, you’ll see a turning on your right onto “Back Downey Road.” This will lead you to the hot springs on your right.
From Boise, Idaho, you’ll need to drive 4 hours 42 minutes on the I-84 E via Bliss and Burley, and the I-86 via Pocatello. Take Exit 63A and turn south onto I-15 S. At Exit 36, get on the US-91 S and head south. Halfway between the towns of Downey and Zenda, you’ll see a turning on your right onto “Back Downey Road.” This will lead you to the hot springs on your right.
Can I Stay There?
The site has everything you need, whether you’re visiting alone, in a couple, in a family, or in a large group, whatever your budget, you can pick from camping, lodging, or “yurting”. In fact, there’s so much choice, it’s best to go straight to the resort’s site yourself to check out the options and photos! We particularly like the large yurts and cute modern cabins. A small yurt comes with bedding, a queen bed, a futon, a small fridge, a coffee maker, a skylight, AC, a TV, a DVD player, and tables. Bathroom and shower facilities are shared with other yurt guests, though no towels are included.
A small cabin sleeps 2- 4 and comes with a queen bed and bedding, one very small futon, a TV, DVD player, bath towels (not for pool use), a small fridge, a private restroom with shower, AC, microwave, and coffee maker. Each cabin boasts its own fire pit and outdoor table, and you can buy firewood at reception for $8/bundle.
Camping check-in: 4 pm
Camping check out: 2 pm
Lodging check-in: 4 pm
Lodging check out: 11 am
Accommodation Rates
Overnight rates extend from $59* for two people staying in the pet-friendly “Deer Den” to $400* for up to 18 guests staying in Hadley House – and there’s everything in between, from teepees and yurts to wagons and cabins. If you’re coming in your own RV, expect to pay between $30 and $45 depending on the size of your vehicle and the hookup you want. Check the resort’s website for the details and to read the policies and book before you go.
*Tax not included.
Accommodation rates do not include pool or slide admission. Water is available from April – October, and the nearest dumpsite is up the road in Downey.
There are pay-per-use washers and dryers onsite.
This facility has an extensive list of changeable rules, policies, and pricing that is far too detailed to go into here. Please check the details before you go to ensure a comfortable arrival, soak and stay.
Outside of Downata Hot Springs, there are hotels in Downey and Lava Hot Springs. We particularly like the adults-only Riverside Hot Springs Inn & Spa for those who are traveling without kids and have heard enough of them after a few hours at Downata. The Harkness Hotel in McCammon also makes a tastefully decorated and relaxing base as you explore the area.
What Else Is There To Do In The Area?
Explore miles of hiking and biking trails, visit Idaho’s art and history museums, and end the day with a hot spring soak. History lovers will find sites and museums to learn about the Oregon Trail, Ernest Hemingway, and more. One of our quirky museum favorites is the Idaho Potato Museum, open since 1912. Learn about all things potato, from the original potato planted in Idaho and the largest potato crisp made by the Pringle’s Company to the growing/harvesting process and other educational potato facts.
Around an hour away (50.3 miles) northeast of Downata is the town of Soda Springs. Soda Springs is famous for its 70-foot geyser, as well as Octagon Springs, Hooper Springs, and Lover’s Delight. The geyser was popped open by developers in 1937. Now, it is on an hourly timer. A truly admirable beast of nature!
Love hot-springing? Want more? Elsewhere in Idaho, you’ve got Lava Hot Springs, the easily accessible natural jacuzzi of Rocky Canyon Hot Springs, the hidden gem Trail Creek Hot Springs, and the popular Kirkham Hot Springs, just up the road from the simple but pleasant Haven Hot Springs. If you pop down to Utah, the next nearest popular resort is Crystal Hot Springs. Mystic Hot Springs resort offers bathtub-soaking in the desert, and the primitive but stunning Red Hill Hot Springs offers a unique red-tinted experience the native people once revered. We’re constantly updating, so come back to our site again and type “Idaho” into the search bar for more state soaking.
The Takeaway
A fun and family-friendly water park with temperatures and pools for all tastes and demands, alongside a beautifully kept and varied camp and accommodation ground, Downata Hot Springs is worth a visit any time of year.
The Dos And Don’ts Of Visiting A Hot Springs
Every hot springs has its own quirks. Visitors to Downata Hot Springs, for example, should be ready for lots of kids and families, and also be sure to adhere to the numerous guidelines laid out on the resort’s website so as to ensure a comfortable stay for all guests. For more general and very important “hot springs etiquette,” we highly recommend you take a moment to check out our carefully compiled easy-to-read list of “dos and don’ts” here. And always, always respect our nature – pack out what you pack in and LEAVE NO TRACE.
Frequently Asked Questions
The hot springs pools are 102 – 106°F. The swimming pools average 85 – 99°F in summer and 95 – 101°F in winter. The hot mineral water also supplies the water slides, and water playground area, and provides floor heating – great during winter snow!
This is a family resort, so depending on when you go, there could be a lot of kids and teens there during the day playing (though fewer in the separate therapeutic hot springs pools). Choose your accommodation to reflect your desire to keep away from the noise if it is a discomfort.
There are “Swim & Slide” passes for the Recreation Pool, kids’ playground, and slides, “Hot Pools Only” passes for those only wishing to soak in the quiet, and “Everything” passes for those wanting to make use of the full range of water facilities. Expect to pay extra for showers, lockers, towel rental, and pool/court toys.
The Recreation Pool is 3-7 feet deep. The baby pool and soak pools are 2-3 feet deep.
No. No pets are allowed except official service dogs. No therapy, emotional support, or companion animals are permitted.
Yes. There are ramps going into both the recreation pool and the large soaking pool, and a ramp from the main building down to the slide area and recreation pool.
Disclaimer
While we at Traxplorio do our very best to give you the latest information about these hot springs sites, life happens, weather happens, and property owners happen. We always recommend you go to the official hot springs’ web page and/or the relevant state authority page to check conditions, times, and prices (where relevant) before you head out. Thanks for understanding, and enjoy your soak!
