Kirkham Campground, near Lowman, Idaho, is a popular spot for those looking to soak in natural hot springs while enjoying the great outdoors. This location is right next to the Payette River, making it a prime choice for campers who want to experience both the beauty of the river and the warmth of the hot springs.

The campground is known for its proximity to several geothermal pools, which visitors rave about. As one camper noted, “The hot springs are incredible,” and they offer a unique way to unwind after a day of hiking. While the campground can get crowded, especially during peak times, many appreciate the lively atmosphere and the chance to meet fellow adventurers.

Facilities include vault toilets and trash disposal, but keep in mind that amenities are limited, so plan accordingly. Reviewers have mentioned that the area can be a bit rowdy at night, so if you’re looking for peace and quiet, consider visiting during the week when it’s less busy. 

For those eager to explore, there are numerous trails nearby, perfect for hiking and taking in the stunning Idaho scenery. Just remember to check the current status of the campground, as it’s temporarily closed for overnight camping and currently allows day use only. Whether you’re here for a quick dip in the hot springs or a day of hiking, Kirkham Campground offers a memorable outdoor experience.

## Overview

 Kirkham Campground is located next to the South Fork Payette River just east of Lowman, Idaho, along Highway 21 at an elevation of 4,000 feet. Visitors enjoy soaking in popular Kirkham Hot Springs on the banks of the river and exploring the scenic Kirkham Ridge Trail. 
## Recreation

 Popular Kirkham Hot Springs is located at the river's edge within the campground. A trail with staircases leads down to the soaking pools and small steaming waterfalls. The South Fork Payette River offers whitewater rafting, kayaking and trout fishing. The Deadwood and Danskin River Access areas are nearby. Kirkham Ridge Trail is one of the Lowman Ranger District's premier trails. It begins less than 1/4-mile away and stretches through beautiful country for 35 miles, connecting with many other trails in the area. It is open to hiking, mountain biking and horses. Sections of the trail are open seasonally to off-road vehicles.
## Natural Features

 The campground offers little shade, though a few Ponderosa pines are scattered throughout the site. The campground can be very hot and sunny during the summer. Wildflowers dot the landscape. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Numerous natural hot springs pools can be found along Highway 21, also known as the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway, and the Banks-Lowman Highway, also known as the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway. Both byways offer scenic views, wildlife watching, historical information kiosks and several trail opportunities. Whitewater rafting and kayaking are popular activities on the South Fork and Main Payette Rivers. Several companies in the area offer guided half and full-day trips.

Kirkham Campground -- Temporarily CLOSED (Day Use Only)

Lowman, ID is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Lowman is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Lowman and user-submitted reviews.

Lowman

The Best Camping Near Lowman, Idaho

Kirkham campground is located very close to the road, however, the Payette river blocks out any noise from the traffic. Multiple Hot Springs are available with the nearest one to us right next to the parking lot other ones are available at different temperatures with just a short easy hike down to them, a beautiful place to spend the night, enjoy nature, and have a good soak.

Kirkham  camp ground and hotsprings

Fun easy place to camp. In the winter you have to hike in because the bridge is closed. The pools are right on the water and hot year round. Down side is its not the most natural camping with only a few trees. 

Being in hot water has never been do nice. Mk

Kirkham Hot Springs / Campground is one of our favorite places to camp. Although I wish there were more trees (it gets pretty hot when the sun is out), this is an excellent spot for camping in the fall. It's a somewhat small campground, and the best part about it is it has easy access to hot springs.  There are natural pools right along the campground itself, or if you want to hike down along the river (I use the term "hike" very lightly here - it's a quick walk, but along rocks / boulders), the natural pools of hot water come trickling off the hillside and pool up right next to the Payette River. It is beautiful.

Great camping spot for easy hot springs access

The campground is awesome. There is a hot springs right by it. There is also another one down by the river. There are lots of elk and deer on the side of the hill. The only downside is that there are a lot of people. Most leave after a few hours but there is always a big noisy group. 

Great but...

Located right on the payette river this hot spring is a sight to see. The spots are far enough away from each other for a little privacy, however, people will be walking through the campground to get to the hot springs. Try and visit on a weekday night for better chances of privacy. The steam from the spring keeps the ground warm on the cooler nights.

A hot spring right on the river

Kirkham is by far one of my favorite spots, especially during the fall and spring. The gate entrance closes during the winter but you can still walk in and access the natural hot springs. If you’re visiting Idaho, this is a must see! the hotsprings waterfall into small pools alongside the ice cold river. The only downside is that it can get very crowded on the weekends. 

Waterfall hotsprings

I stayed here one weeknight. It was pretty crowded during the day with many people visiting the hot springs, but cleared out by evening. The bathrooms were relatively clean - considering the numbers of visitors during the day, however one was completely out of toilet paper, and the other was running very low (luckily I had my own)

At my campsite there wasn’t really anywhere that was a designated place for my tent - no completely level surface. I made the most of what I had available and was reasonably comfortable during the night. 
Multiple late night arrivals to camp made for poor sleep though - driving in with headlights then flashlights shining everywhere well after midnight while the new neighbors were setting up tents. 

The hot springs were great! I didn’t soak in the ones right beside the campsites both because they were quite hot, but also because of the biting  horseflies. But the area down the trail beside the river was great! 


Great Hot Springs, nice campground 

This campground was recommended to me by some Boise locals. I arrived at dusk and it was very crowded. Short walk to the hot springs. They’re not that hot, and there were 50 people scrambling for a spot. 
It is right off the road, so it’s at least convenient. Facilities were clean. 

Crowded and Loud

The camp ground is well cared for and the site managers do a good job.  The hot springs are incredible. There are multiple springs throughout the camp ground and along the river.  
The camp ground gets crowded and not everyone respects the rules while there.  Late nights and a bit of nudity kept my wife and I on edge with our young boys around.  
We will come back but only for a day trip.

Great, but...

Great place for a day trip.  Close to town, Boise, about an hour and half out.  Springs are awesome and there are several.  We stayed the over night and it became a little rowdy and a bit of nudity in one of the hot springs... my sons will always remember this place!  All in all it is really a good place to visit and stay over night, just be ready for it.  

Great hot springs... but

This is a very popular campsite all year round.  It is right on the river and hot springs.  Close to other hiking and other forest activities.  Can be crowded.

Right on the river

I was here in the thick of summer with no A/C and not even a fan, so I sweltered and felt like I lost my body weight in sweat. That said, this is the closest spot to the Kirkham Hot Springs and I would totally recommend it for that reason alone. I ended up going on something of a hot spring tour throughout Idaho and Montana and it is so cool to see these geothermal wonders. As a camper, you are much closer than other visitors who have to park outside the gate. There are a couple of different pools with different temperatures, so you can find one that suits your fancy (and isn’t as crowded as the others, hopefully). Tons of trails in the area.

** NOTE: I was recently informed that the camp section of this area is not open as of July 2022 and it is day use only, but the campground is expected to reopen at some point after renovations. Check conditions on the ground before you go.

Photos of Kirkham Campground -- Temporarily CLOSED (Day Use Only)

Real photos from real campers