BURGDORF HOT SPRINGS, IDAHO

Burgdorf Hot Springs is located about 30 miles north of McCall. Burgdorf dates back to the 1870's and is VERY rustic. There are no phones or electricity. RV's and tents are NOT allowed; but there are nearby campgrounds for RV's and tents. The camp area has 11 cabins with beds, wood stoves, kerosene lamps and outhouses. Bring your own bedding, food, cookware, etc. Elk, deer, moose and bear sightings are common. After dark, the large, 75x50 feet by 15 feet deep, hot spring pool with sand bottom and log sides is clothing optional. Burgdorf also has children's pools (2 feet deep and only 104 degrees F) as well as two hot tubs that are 112 degrees F.

DIRECTIONS: From McCall, go north on Warren Wagon Road to the Burgdorf Junction and then left to the camp area. The road is only open from mid-May to early November. During the winter, access is by snowmobile or via cross-country skiing.

SITE REVIEWS:

Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998
From: "Edwin L. Hofmann" (lionworkers@email.msn.com)

Dear Sir,

I don't know what these people are thinking. There were so many naked drunk people in that pool the last time I was there, that my wife nearly left me. There was a bearded man with an elk bugle, calling the animals naked at about 2 in the morning... driving the party into a frenzy. Your reports about the pool being 15' deep are totally wrong, but the "clothing optional" is 100% right! We loved our visit and will return sans clothes soon. Rock on Burgdorf!

Date: 9 Sep 1998
From: CLDBHO@aol.com

I HAVE BEEN VISITING THE HOTSPRING SINCE I WAS THREE YEARS OLD AND HAVE CONTINUED TO TAKE MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WITH ME. IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST HOT SPRINGS ON EARTH. THERE ARE TWO REALLY HOT LOG BUILT POOLS, COVERED FOR THOSE WHO CAN TAKE IT AND A LARGE POOL WITH A KIDDIE POOL. AS FOR THE CLOTHING ISSUE IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT APPROPRIATE IN THE 60'S AND 70'S AFTER DARK BUT NOW IS A BIT MORE FAMILY ORIENTATED.

Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997
From: zaphod@internetoutlet.net (zaphod - Dan Meredith)

The description of Burgorf as 15' deep is about 10' optomistic. I drove up with scuba gear and was a little dissappointed. Its 5' max.

The rest of the description seems accurate, a pleasant spot.

Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996
From: 73040.263@compuserve.com

I noticed Burgdorf Hot Springs, Idaho listed in the naturist sites.

As hot springs go, Burgdorf is excellent, with a huge pool, tremendous volume of very hot water, beautiful setting, easy access (unless it's snowed in), and a forest service campground within easy walking distance. However, naturists will be disappointed if they're expecting lots of social nudity. I was there for a week in September, 1995, and absolutely everyone I saw was clothed. Some guidebooks mention that it's clothing optional after dark, but the springs are privately run and officially closed after dark. I spoke to some locals, and they said that what it really amounts to is that the springs are effectively clothing- optional in the wintertime, when the only access is by cross-country ski or snowmobile (perhaps 4WD if you're lucky), and there are no crowds.

Also notable is the hand-lettered sign beside the pool saying "No Booze".

--Rich Cochran

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