Wild Rose is a location that doesn't make sense to miss. These natural hot springs are right off the road between Carey and Arco, Idaho and known to many as Carey Hot Springs.

The hot springs consist of 3 pools naturally fed from the spring up the hill. Even so close to the road, you'll find these springs to be more natural than most. You won't see any cement bags, bath tubs, or pvc pipe to direct or capture the water. The biggest of the pools is surrounded by large lava rock. Tiny gravel covers the bottom and is actually soothing to walk on. It's fairly spacious measuring about 50ft x 20ft at the widest points.  The water is usually about 4 feet deep and there are rocks that stick out around some of the edges that make great seats or steps.

The main area has a second rock pool which is much smaller and warmer. It's divided only by the rock walkway between where the hot water flows through. If you pass by the main pools and continue up the hill, you'll find one more pool that's just big enough for a couple of people to sit and enjoy the hot water with a view of the valley below. This upper pool is dug out of the hill and is not paved with rock and gravel so the disturbed water will get murky and you'll probably leave with some of the unsettled grit.

Wild Rose sits on public land right along the highway between Carey and Arco, on the way to Craters of the Moon, which makes it an easy and popular stop — but that roadside ease is also its challenge. Because it's so accessible and free, it can get busy on weekends and has struggled with litter and the odd broken bottle over the years. Do your part: pack out everything (and maybe a little extra), skip the glass entirely, and leave the pools cleaner than you found them so this natural gem stays that way for the next soaker.

A few practical notes for a good soak. Temperatures vary from pool to pool as the spring water mixes and cools, so test before you settle in and move between pools to dial in your ideal warmth. There's no changing area or restroom on site, so plan accordingly; bring water to stay hydrated while you soak, and wear sandals for the short walk over the rocks. Wild Rose is soakable year-round — a snowy winter soak here is genuinely magical, with steam rising against the white foothills — though spring and fall generally offer the most comfortable air temperatures.

At a mere 240 feet from the road, you won't want to just drive by this hot spot. May through July, the sun will set behind the foothills but come any other time of the year to enjoy a beautiful sunset while you soak in these natural hot springs.