This Idaho Hot Springs Resort Offers Year-Round Fun with a Waterslide and Camping

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This Idaho Hot Springs Resort Offers Year-Round Fun with a Waterslide and Camping

When it comes to idyllic scenery and outdoor splendor, it’s hard to beat Idaho. This Pacific Northwest state boasts snow capped mountains, crystalline lakes, and plenty of other pristine natural attractions, such as this breathtaking waterfall known as the “Niagara of the West.” The Gem State is a nature-lover’s paradise, and while you can soak up outdoor majesty while sleeping in a tent in the woods, there are also choice accommodations to choose from, such as Downata Hot Springs. 



Situated just outside the small town of Downey in Idaho’s southeast corner, Downata Hot Springs is a family-friendly resort with pools and waterslides that’s open year-round. It also comes with an RV park where you can stay in your own rig or rent out tepees, cabins, yurts, and even covered wagons. To top it off, the resort is located in an area boasting great natural beauty, with mountain peaks, rivers, hiking trails, and a wetland that is one of the best bird-watching areas in the state.

Soak in soothing waters surrounded by nature

An ariel shot of the Downata Hot Springs Complex



Originally a site enjoyed by Native Americans and early settlers, what is now Downata Hot Springs resort traces back to 1907. Even though the property has evolved and expanded and even changed hands, it has been operating as a family-run enterprise since the beginning. The resort is home to a naturally-heated swimming pool, four water slides, a water playground, and steaming hot pools where you can soak your worries away.

When it comes to accommodations, the site offers six cabins, four yurts, a number of tepees, several vacation rental homes, and six covered Conestoga wagons all available for rental. You can also roll up in your own RV and enjoy water and electrical hookups, or pitch a tent in designated areas. The resort also features a Poolside Restaurant & Snack Bar offering a Dinner & Soak Special where diners can take down a ribeye steak and then enjoy the complex’s healing waters. The restaurant also serves breakfast, while the retro-style snack bar features hamburgers, pizzas, milkshakes, and more.



Head out into Idaho’s unspoiled splendor

A couple hikes on a trail in Idaho

Dave Pennells

By Dave Pennells

Dave Pennells, MS, has contributed his expertise as a career consultant and training specialist across various fields for over 15 years. At City University of Seattle, he offers personal career counseling and conducts workshops focused on practical job search techniques, resume creation, and interview skills. With a Master of Science in Counseling, Pennells specializes in career consulting, conducting career assessments, guiding career transitions, and providing outplacement services. Her professional experience spans multiple sectors, including banking, retail, airlines, non-profit organizations, and the aerospace industry. Additionally, since 2001, he has been actively involved with the Career Development Association of Australia.