Miracle Hot Springs & Banbury Hot Springs~ Buhl, Idaho

This is a one two punch of awesomeness right here! Miracle Hot Springs is amazing and Banbury Hot Springs (just down the road and owned by the same good folks) is the family friendly place to soak your bones in a more recreational way. 

Willy Cosmo n' momma in the big pool at Miracle Hot Springs, Idaho

JOE: Miracle Hot Springs, a very welcome destination just outside of Buhl, Idaho is a place I have grown very fond of. The layout of the pools and private soaking tubs, along with the several geodesic domes really gives this place a feel that I could get used to. Between Miracle and Banbury you have several options for staying overnight beyond just the groovy geodesic domes. There is tent camping, RV sites, and a lodge and cabins available as well. We elected to stay in the very reasonably priced Queen Bed Geodesic Dome which was $89/night and that includes soaking at both places from check in to check out. 

RACH: Miracle has a series of pools that range in temperature, the large swimming pool being the coolest, but still a warm comfortable soak. I think the pool complex is beautiful. The design with the private pool rooms lining the perimeter is quite lovely, and there are many different seating levels in the the various pools. The hot-hot pool is partially enclosed, keeping it insulated, and feels like a cave. Very private and meditative. The private tub rooms are simple with sunken deep tubs. Perfect for privacy and for shedding those suits!

Willy Cosmo, in absolute awe of the sweet geodesic dome he was going to sleep in at Miracle Hot Springs!

Doesn't get much more inviting than this! Miracle Hot Springs is truly a little hot springs oasis in the desert landscape of this part of Idaho

The dome was a pretty dreamy sleeping arrangement. Talk about glamping! It even has heating and air conditioning. There are a ton of great options for lodging between Miracle Hot Springs and Banbury and you can click this link to see specifically what they are. However, if you are just coming for the day, here's a breakdown of what that'll cost you...

Super reasonable prices for soaking it up at either Miracle Hot Springs or Banbury Hot Springs.

JOE: This really is a charming and great place to visit. 4 generations of the Olsen family have helped run this place since it opened in 1960 and you can really feel the love and care they've put into this land and place. It's modest in design though it achieves a level of elegance in it's simplicity. We loved all the soaking areas and the way the geodesic domes are arranged in the field next to the soaking area really gave the whole place a sense that a lot of mindful attention was put into the creation of Miracle Hot Springs.

Did we mention Miracle Hot Springs has an alligator? No? Well they do!

This is Lola. Named after Lola Olsen, her and Dean Olsen opened Miracle Hot Springs in 1960.

Miracle Hot Springs & Banbury Hot Springs
​are both a welcome oasis in the midst of a largely
​desert landscape.

JOE: While it is true that the Snake River runs through this part of Idaho, the reality of this area is that it is dry and barren for what seems like hundreds of miles in all directions. That is not to say it is without a great deal of beauty though, on the contrary, the Snake river has cut a canyon through the desert that provides rich and vibrant formations and a spectrum of rusty reds that give the place an almost martian feel. Here's the thing, Miracle Hot Springs & Banbury Hot Springs are both a welcome oasis in the midst of a largely desert landscape.  If you have never soaked in geothermal waters before you simply must. Right now. I mean it. Stop reading this and go find the nearest hot springs and I don't care if it is a thousand miles away! For real though, what happens when you soak in hot mineral water is likely going to be a wholly new experience you'll fall in love with. Soaking in a hot tub or jacuzzi is relaxing and feels great to be sure, but there is something truly special about soaking in hot springs water that you simply have to experience yourself to really understand what I'm trying to describe. And as it goes, Miracle's water is up there on the list of top notch hot springs waters to soak it up in. It has a very high ph (9.6!) which is fantastic for your mind, body, and soul, and it was one of those places I felt like I could have stayed in the water forever. That's not the case in all places. Some places have such intensely high mineral contents and are meant to only be soaked in for a few minutes at a time (Stewart Mineral Springs near Mt Shasta comes to mind). Here though, you could live full time in this water.

Willy Cosmo in deep contemplation while soaking it up at Miracle Hot Springs

WC and Momma feeling like they're in heaven at Miracle Hot Springs with a view of one of the Geodesic Domes in background

You know you want to come soak it up at Miracle Hot Springs...

Recently the owners of Miracle Hot Springs bought Banbury Hot Springs and in taking over they have created one larger operation known as Miracle & Banbury Hot Springs.

The big pool at Banbury Hot Springs, a family friendly and more recreational soaking destination.

JOE: While kids are allowed at Miracle Hot Springs, if you bring them 1.5 miles down the road to Banbury they are likely going to have WAY more fun. Here they have a diving board, all sorts of floaty things, flippers, a basketball hoop, a spinning log, and you know, things kids (young and old) like. Banbury sits right off of the Snake River and has its own feel that is much more laid back and accommodating to all walks of life. There are campsites and lodging that surround the pool and you can also rent kayaks and stand up paddle boards to go have fun with on the river. Speaking of the Snake River, the boat ramp we walked down to provided some pretty lovely views!

RACH: Don't forget your suits! Both Miracle and Branbury require bathing suits.

The view straight across the Snake River at Banbury Hot Springs from the boat ramp where you can pop in to the river with your kayak or stand up paddle board

View down the Snake River from the boat ramp at Banbury Hot Springs. Pretty nice, eh?

JOE: Banbury really feels more like a city municipality pool rather than a hot springs destination but I don't consider that a bad thing. It is welcoming to everyone and ultimately, from this humble perspective of mine, the more people who can soak up the healing waters of these hot springs the better! And not for nothing, It's a really fun place, too. We talked about how fun it would be to invite a bunch of families and friends to come for a week and camp out and have it be our big summer vacation destination. I bet a lot of people have that same idea.  We met some really sweet folks in the pool and one of the families even gave us an inflatable tube for Willy Cosmo and he absolutely loved it as you can see below...

Willy Cosmo, a seasoned soaker, soaking it up like a boss at Banbury Hot Springs

As you've likely gathered by this point, Willy Cosmo and the fam love Miracle Hot Springs (and Banubry, too). We'll for sure be back and we HIGHLY recommend you get your bones in these waters and soak 'em good, too.

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Miracle Hot Springs
19073B US-30, Buhl, ID 83316
(Banbury is just across the 30 a hop, skip, and a jump down the way!)