Panorama of the main pool & creek
While not officially, clothing optional, Jerry Johnson is located in the middle of a national forest and has a long history of clothing optional use. I've visited JJ apx 10-12 times since the early 90's and have had some awesome experiences like soaking through a blizzard and being kept from soaking by a moose. In my experience, most people wear swim suits there, so you need to be very comfortable with yourself to enjoy it C/O. I don’t usually pack a swimsuit, but some people may want to. Most textiles that soak there know they are likely to encounter nude soakers, and there used to be a sign at the trailhead warning them, but it disappeared about 7 years ago. When I was in my 20’s, it was reputed to be a place where middle-aged hippies went nude. I may not be a hippie, but now I find that the torch has been passed and I am the middle-aged guy soaking naked surrounded by textiles. The location is very remote, near the ID/MT, about an hour drive from the nearest town. The only amenities nearby are the Lochsa Lodge (cabins/rafting/fishing) and a couple of small campgrounds. From the parking area on Hwy 12, you cross a footbridge over the spectacular Lochsa river and then it’s apx 1 mile of easy/moderate hiking to the main spring. Bring food and more water than you think you’ll need. People commonly bring alcohol, but please don’t bring glass bottles. There is an outhouse at the parking area, but no other facilities. The area is closed after dark and no camping is allowed. I’d recommend carrying bear spray, especially in the early morning before there has been a lot of human traffic on the trail. The creek provides a lot of white noise and you may startle wildlife that didn’t hear you coming. Deer, moose, & bears are common in the area. On the hike in, the first geothermal activity you’ll notice is from steam coming up from the riverbank by the creek. There is a dicey trail that leads to a small eddy where hot water from the rocks mixes with cold from the creek in a pool that is only useable in the late summer/early fall when the creek is low. I love this pool when it’s accessible because few people will venture down the trail, so it’s a bit more private. About 100 yds further up the trail is the main pool and a few cooler seasonal pools. I’d estimate, the main pool runs between 100-105 degrees and has a shallow, silty floor which is very comfortable to burrow into and sit on while feeling the hot water rising up through the silt. 100-150yds further up the trail, but not in view, is another pool that seems to run about 95-100 degrees.
Large boulder in the middle of the pool
view of the trail to the springs and the creek
wife trying to get a facebook appropriate pic
I prefer to enjoy Jerry Johnson very early in the morning before the crowds. Yesterday, we had the pool to ourselves for about an hour and only 3 other people showed up between 9-11am, but after that, there was a steady parade of people. During peak season, it can get rather crowded in the afternoon. While I wouldn’t travel more than a couple hours for it, this is truly a unique spot that would be a great complement to a fly fishing, hunting, or whitewater rafting trip.
