Where families experience family.

Pool Closure

As of April 1, our pool will be closed for refurbishment. We hope to reopen the pool for weekend swims beginning Friday, May 2.

Campgrounds and Cabin reservations will be available beginning May 15!

Current Road Status

The road to Silver Creek Plunge is OPEN for all snowmobile and tracked-vehicles ONLY!

The road hasn’t been groomed since January 6 so it is pretty bumpy. From the snowmobile park to the “Y,” expect snow-pack, slush, and several bare spots. From the “Y” to the Plunge, expect a very bumpy soft snow-pack.

Visit Silver Creek Plunge

Since 1957, Silver Creek Plunge has been providing a family-friendly camping experience that offers a geothermal swimming pool, fishing, hiking, and amazing star-gazing beneath the Idaho mountain sky. We are 2 hours north of Boise and 25 miles north of Crouch. We sit nestled on 13 acres of forested land surrounded by the beautiful Boise National Forest with Silver Creek running through the heart of the campground. We can’t wait to have you join us!

Current Pool & Store Hours

CLOSED — April 1 until May 2

 

How to get here

From Hwy 55 or Hwy 21, take the Banks-Lowman Rd toward Crouch/Garden Valley.

Take Middle Fork Rd toward Crouch and follow Middle Fork Rd through Crouch. About 5 miles outside of Crouch the pavement ends and becomes dirt/gravel as you enter the Boise National Forest. From this point, you are 15 miles from Silver Creek Plunge!

After about 8 miles the road will “Y”. Take the slight right toward Silver Creek Campground (this is Forest Service Road 671)

After another 7 miles, turn right into the Silver Creek Campground, cross over the bridge and follow the signs to Silver Creek Plunge Office, Pool, Check-In.

Our History.

Believe it or not, Silver Creek Plunge actually began as a silver mine in the late 1890’s (by best guess). M.F. Eby (picture at right) who was a pioneer resident of Boise with interest in horticulture and mining, staked claims for Silver Creek Mine and Deadwood Silver Mine. We don’t have any record of the Silver Creek Mine producing silver but he did strike hot water! (Fun fact, the “hot pool” in the plunge today is the old entrance to the mine!)

In the 1920’s M.F. Eby sold the claim to E.H. Heller. (Below Left: Picture of E.H. Heller soaking in hot pool at mine entrance, July 22, 1926; photo taken by his son Leland) Silver Creek passed to E.H. Heller’s son, Leland “Lee” Heller, who sold it to Mert Lyons in 1956. It was Mert and his friend Floyd Suttle who built the Silver Creek Plunge that we know today and that opened in 1957. (Fun facts: the center section of the cabin above the pool is the cabin Mert built; Cabin #7 located by our solar field is the cabin Floyd built.)

Since 1957, Silver Creek Plunge has several owners. Who can forget the tall-tale, gun-toting Buford? Followed by the Area family and Stephens family? As of May 2022, Silver Creek Plunge is owned and operated by the Penn Family of Boise. The Penn’s have family roots that go back to the 1860’s in Idaho and Eastern Oregon (you can read more about our history in the Store at Silver Creek Plunge). We look forward to continuing the legacy of Silver Creek Plunge!

Left: E.H. Heller in 1926 / Center: Waner family in 1941 / Right: Construction of current Plunge in 1956.

 

Our geothermal pool.

Our pool holds 186,000 of geothermal water. The water enters the pool from the rocks between 100-104 degrees and exits the pool at 97 degrees, the average temp is 100. The water flow rate is almost 540 gallons per minute which means that nearly every 6 hours, the entire volume of water is changed. The result is sparkling clear, naturally heated water!

No Reservations needed to enjoy our pool! We look forward to seeing you here!

NOTE: the pool is closed every Wednesday until after 6pm for cleaning.

Pool pricing

  • Children under 2: free

  • Children 2–12: $12

  • Adults 13–59: $15

  • Seniors 60+: $10

  • Evening Swim (2 hours before close): $10

  • 3-Day Pass (minimum 3 day swim required; Adults: $10; Children: $8; Seniors: $7)

The original mine shaft entrance in our pool

 
 

A typical Silver Creek Plunge Saturday Night in the summer.

 

Stay.

We are now taking reservations for our 2025 Summer Season. Call us at 208.739-3400 to reserve your stay!

If soaking in The Plunge for a day isn’t enough, we offer a variety of lodging options, each with its own rustic charm. It would be helpful to view the accommodations as “camping indoors” which means you don’t have to haul your trailer up the mountain but can still enjoy the mountain experience!

To reserve a Cabin or A-frame, call us at 208.739.3400

No reservations are required for our tent sites. All tent sites are first-come-first-served.

Check-In Time: 3 pm

Check-Out Time: 11 am

  • A-frame

    We have 6 A-frames and they were all built in the late 1950’s by our original owners. These A-frames sleep 4 and come equipped with either two full-beds or a full-bed and a full-futon , gas oven and stove, cold running water, and its own outdoor fire-pit, picnic table and access to a common outhouse.

    Cost: $89 per night

  • Family Cabins

    We have 6 Family cabins which were originally the Darling Motel in Caldwell but were purchased and transported to Silver Creek Plunge in the 1980’s! These cabins are 2-room cabins and sleep 6. Each comes equipped with 2 full beds in the bedroom and 1 sleeper sofa in the front room. Each cabin also comes equipped with a propane oven and stove, cold running water, refrigerator, propane heater, and an outdoor fire-pit, picnic table, and its own private outhouse.

    Cost: $129 per night

  • Deluxe Family Units

    We have 3 Deluxe Units. 1 is our Founder’s Cabin (Cabin 7) and the other 2 are located above our Store. Each Unit can potentially sleep 8.

    Cabin 7 has 2 full beds, a bunk-bed, and a queen sofa sleeper.

    Our 2 Units above the store have 2 full beds and 1 sleeper sofa (queen air mattress is available upon request)

    Each Deluxe Unit has an indoor toilet, hot-and-cold running water, propane oven and stove, a refrigerator, and a propane heater, along with their own designated fire-pit.

    Cost: $159 per night

  • Tent/RV Spots

    Our Tent/RV sites are first-come-first-served and are currently unmarked. You will know it’s a tent site by looking for a fire-pit/picnic table combination. Come, stake your spot, check-in at the office and you’ll be good to go!

    Cost: $15 per night

    We also are Camp Hosts for Boise National Forest’s Silver Creek Campground. This campground sits on the west side of Silver Creek and has 53 campsites and 2 group sites. These are all walking distance to The Plunge. To make reservations for Silver Creek Campground Boise National Forest, click the link here!

FAQs

Contact us.

silvercreekplunge@icloud.com

(208) 739-3400

Facebook

@silvercreekplunge