Adventures Along the Middle Fork of the Boise River

Picture this: Sitting on the private deck of a cute cabin looking out over the Middle Fork of the Boise River. You start to get a little chilly so decide to warm up by climbing down into the hot tub that is fed from a natural hot springs source. Sounds like a pretty ideal spot doesn’t it? Well this is what you get when you enjoy a stay at the Twin Springs resort!

Alex and I recently had the pleasure of staying for two nights to celebrate his birthday. This isn’t the first time we’ve stayed there and it certainly won’t be the last. It’s the perfect jumping off point for adventures and we took full advantage! We explored and hiked up and down the dirt road stopping at other natural hot springs and trails to soak up as much nature as possible. There is a herd of elk that make their home around the Twin Springs area and we got to see them on this trip again as well.

The road to Twin Springs is mostly dirt and right now…full of potholes and rocks that have fallen from the hillsides. Be sure to take your time and be prepared in case you get stuck for some reason (download our Basic Preparedness Gear Checklist for Your Vehicle).  We camp all along this route throughout the year and have several spots we enjoy stopping off at. The boys enjoy being able to get out and run too! Some of our favorite natural hot springs can be found between Twin Springs and Atlanta. You can spot several from the road.

There are also plenty of places to hike and walk through. Cervidae Peak is the closest to Boise along that route. Up the road past Twin Springs, we climbed up Haga Creek Trail then part way up another trail across the Sheep Creek Bridge. We took a break along our Haga Creek Trail hike to sit down and just enjoy the scenery and quiet….even taking our shoes and socks off to put our feet in the dirt. It was sunny but started to snow while we sat there….perfect!

There isn’t a ton of traffic right now so we took advantage and walked the boys along the road trying to spot wildlife each evening….that’s when Alex spotted the elk! They made their way along the hills behind the property and we could watch them from our deck when we returned to the cabin.

There are many great fishing spots to take advantage of as well. Alex tried his luck just below our cabin and has also fished along the riverbanks all along that stretch of the Boise River. We encourage you to drive along the river to enjoy the incredible scenery….it is so cathartic.

One of our favorite things to do is sit out and look at the stars at night. With hardly any light from a city or buildings to interfere, the stars are incredibly bright. We had cloudless nights during our stay and it was fantastic! I have an app on my phone that I like to use when trying to locate specific stars that are not as easily identified – Stellarium. I highly recommend checking it out!

Twin Springs was established in 1898 and you can see many old relics around the property. We’ve hiked up the hill behind the property and seen the remnants of the old sluice line as well. And the view from that vantage point is gorgeous! The little general store – that guests used to be able to hang out in and enjoy some adult beverages and conversation – has also served as a school and home in the past. We’ve also heard a rumor that one of the buildings on the property might be haunted……I’m not sure how true those stories are though.

While you might not be able to enjoy a beer inside the store now, you can sit around on the front porch and chat with other guests or the managers of the property. If you’re lucky, you might also be able to sit around their giant firepit at night….we did and it was a blast!

Twin Springs usually books up pretty quickly but going during the week usually allows you to book something sooner. There are 3 cabins on the river, each with their own private deck and hot tub. There is also the Rockhouse (this is where Alex and I have stayed several times prior to this trip) or the Gatehouse. Rockhouse doesn’t have a kitchen so we’ve always just cooked our food over their mini firepit or BBQ grill. It was a treat to have a full kitchen this time around though! The property also has a steam room you can take advantage of…so relaxing!

Did you know they are a dog friendly too? Something our boys definitely appreciate.

We highly recommend planning a getaway at this rustic location – you won’t be disappointed! They don’t have a phone line that is reliable so it’s best to just email them at twinspringsresortidaho@gmail.com; check them out online at www.twinspringsidaho.com.

Feel free to drop us a line with any questions you may have or recommendations you might like. Happy adventuring!