This place sounds like a must see. Sounds great
http://www.swaviator.com/html/issueAM00 ... sAM00.html
Some of you folks must know about it????
How come nobody said sumthin???
Gary

It's not mentioned in the article, but that airstrip is owned by the state of Idaho, so it's definitely open to the public. I was going to go there a couple of years ago, but someone told me the hot springs is no longer open to the public. I don't know if that is still the case, so some research might be in order before planning a trip.

I didn't notice the date of the article, but I did note a phone number 208.857.2233 May not be any good???. I saw after I posted that they had changed the name to Desert Hot Springs. I have a buddy pretty near there. I sent him the article. He may know somethin about it???

It isn't too far from here and I think kevbert is right, the HS it is closed to the public. I drove by the airstrip last year and it looked to be in decent shape and mowed. I landed there many years ago in the 182 mowing the strip with the prop - grass was waist tall. It is worth a good look before touching down. If there was any question, I'd just use the adjacent road.

That would be a shame to closed down. Sounded like such a cool spot.

Years ago I was packing (horseback) in and out of the Jarbidge Wilderness Area. Murphys was my favorite. I always thought that strip was in Nevada but I see it is in Idaho. My main concern then was that it was outside the Wilderness.
You are right, I hope that hot spring is still open.

Murphy Hot Springs closed not too long after the first addition of Fly Idaho came out. The strip is maintained by the state and, when we were there 6-7 years ago, it was in great shape. We did a low pass to check for badger holes and there were a few places to avoid, but it is so long that finding enough room to land wasn't a problem. We spent a couple of nights there and biked down to the the Springs. There, we met one of the few full time residents and he told us a bit about the current state of the hot springs. At the time, the water rights were in dispute between himself and another person. He had plans to reopen the "resort", but the water rights issue had to be resolved first. He did offer for us to come by and use his private hot tubs, but we didn't take him up on it.

We had a great time camping for a couple of nights on the strip. Lots of solitude. There was a full moon and, coupled with the soft, warm wind and the howls of coyotes, it made for an enjoyable trip.

This is also the site of the last stage coach robbery in the U.S. Also, we met a fellow that said that the ranch that he worked on in Jarbridge had a strip on it. Said it hadn't been used in some time, but he gave me his name and number and said we should give him a ring and come visit (we had helped him when we came across him with his truck broken down). My parents used to go up there and said that they really liked Jarbridge. We've just not made it back. I think I still might have his number. I'll have to look and maybe take him up on it.

Here are some pics from our trip. Those of you that know us, will notice the absence of some little ones. This was during the pre-kid (and Sprocket) years.


Geared up for our ride.


Pancakes for breakfast.




Campground along the river. Nice and cool in the shade.


Late afternoon at Murphy Hot Springs strip.

Seems I don't have any of the hot springs with me. Sorry.