Lava Hot Springs

Lava Hot Springs is a small resort town in Southeastern Idaho. This quaint resort town has grown up around naturally-occurring hot springs.

Understand
Native American people have used the springs for healing for centuries. It was a common place shared by many nations. Settlers started living here in the mid-1800s. Some buildings in the downtown date from the early 1900s.

The core of the town is small, laid out along the Portneuf River, which flows westwards from the Portneuf Range to the east, through town, and onwards to join the Snake River near Pocatello. US Highway 30 runs east-west to the north of the town and the river.

Get in
Most visitors will drive in along US 30.

Get around
The main part of the town is compact and easily walkable. To get out of town requires a private auto. There is no city bus service.

Do
Bathing in geologically-heated mineral springs has been an attraction here since before the settlers arrived. In addition to some private mineral baths in hotels, there are two public areas for hot springs and bathing. The Portneuf Rapids are right in town. Despite some natural heating, the river originates from snowmelt. Riding the rapids, and the fairly calm stretch below, is cool and fun on a hot summer day. There are good put-in points on the north side of the river, along Main Street to US 30. The Center Street bridge over the river is a good take-out point. Several vendors rent rafts for riding these rapids. Wet and happy youngsters carrying colorful rafts much larger than themselves are a common sight on the downtown streets in summer.