I’ve heard of people kayaking to Blue Heart Springs in Southern Idaho my entire life. However, I have never made it there because honestly, I didn’t know how. People kept saying it was easy and just to put in by Banbury Hot Springs but then what? I did a ton of research and honestly couldn’t find much about it! So I took what knowledge I did have and figured out the best path for us to take. Hopefully my experience will make this a breeze for you to do the same river path!
If you already know you want to go and just need easy step by step directions, go ahead and scroll to the bottom of this post to our Quick Overview section and get the Sparks Notes version of our path.
Getting There
Thanks to a few suggestions from friends we decided to take two cars and park one at the beginning and one at the end of our river path. What we did was leave one car at 1000 Springs Resort and then all piled into the truck and drove back to Banbury Hot Springs to start our kayaking adventure. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Southern Idaho, Banbury is in Buhl, ID and 1000 Springs is in Hagerman, ID about 5 miles down the road. Both of them pull up accurately on Maps so you shouldn’t have a problem finding them!
Once we had parked the cars in their respective locations it was time to get in the river! All I knew about getting to Blue Heart Springs is that it was on the right side of the river about 1.5 river miles North from Banbury. That seems pretty easy to find but along the Snake River you just never know. We kept to the right and eventually we saw some boats coming out of a little cover. Sure enough we followed those boaters and there we found the water I’d been hearing about my whole life!
If there are no boats directing you just look for a cove with black rocks. Please see the images below and just follow the river to the rocks that look like this! This cove is visible from the river so just head towards it.
Blue Heart Springs
You know when you see pictures of the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean meeting and it is a straight line of different waters? That same effect happens when you pull off of the Snake River and into Blue Heart Springs. The water completely changes and there is a line in the water that you can see the difference!
Blue Heart had to be some of the clearest and bluest water I have ever seen in my entire life. I could have spent hours literally just staring into the water. It was definitely one of those moments in life that I became very aware and very thankful of this world we live in.
While at Blue Heart we parked our kayaks in the rocks and ate some lunch. It was the perfect little spot to take a break and enjoy the view before heading down the rest of the river.
Continuing to Ritter Island
The next stop on our path was Ritter Island. To get there from Blue Heart you continue North on the river for about 5 River Miles. You will most likely be paddling against the wind so be prepared! Southern Idaho is almost always windy and although you are going downstream on the river it sure doesn’t feel like it competing with the wind. Just know that it is totally normal and does not last the entire way!
Once you power through the windy part of the path you will be able to see 1000 Springs Resort (Where you left one car) on your left and Ritter Island on your right! The river path around the island is about 2 miles long and you see some beautiful springs and trees along the way. If you haven’t had lunch yet there are a few picnic tables you can dock your kayak and eat lunch at!
The best part of Ritter Island is definitely the water. You see one of the last natural springs left in 1000 Springs but also you can find very clear water to be able to see the bottom of the river! It is one of my favorite places to spend a couple of hours exploring in the kayak. It seems like every time we go I notice something new. You can also fish here so make sure to bring your poles if that is something you are into!
Getting to 1000 Springs
Once you have explored Ritter Island it is time to get back across the river and to your end car. Depending on which way you come out of Ritter Island you either have to paddle up stream or straight across the river. Both are pretty easy to do and it is easy to see where you are going. Once you dock at 1000 Springs there is a $5 docking fee for your group but we are always happy to pay it as we use there docks so often! This fee is waved if you are camping there I believe.
What we did next was send two people to get the truck while the other two waited with the kayaks. We then brought the truck back to 1000 Springs Resort and loaded up! On our way home all we could talk about were all of the beautiful new sights we saw this day! I honestly cannot believe it took me 25 years of my life to finally go on this river path.
Quick Overview
If you have already made up your mind that you are going and don’t need me to convince you, here is a quick over view of the best way to do this path!
- Drive two cars — Park one at the end of your path at 1000 Springs Resort and one at the beginning at Banbury Hot Springs.
- Put in at Banbury and head North for about 1 mile
- Stay on the right side of the river until you see the cove of rocks and go into the outlet until you reach Blue Heart Springs
- Enjoy Blue Heart for a while before continuing
- Continue North from Blue Heart for about 5 miles until reaching Ritter Island
- 1000 Springs will be on your left, Ritter Island will be on your right
- Kayak the 2 mile path around Ritter Island to check out all of the springs and greenery
- Kayak back across the river to 1000 Springs to get your car
- Pay the $5 docking fee
- Load up and head back home!
- Total time we spent over 5 hours on the river between lunch and exploring but actual paddle time was close to 3 hours!
We travel full time with a truck and a 5th wheel. So only one vehicle. Would it be feasible to put in at Banbury, kayak to Blue Heart, and go back to Banbury? Or is the current too bad to get back to Banbury? Thanks so much for the information!
People definitely do it all the time! If you feel comfortable with it you should be fine! It isn’t easy but it is doable for sure. 🙂
Would it be a terrible idea to go this weekend? I know it’s late in the year… it should be about 73 degrees though.
I’ve actually done it late in the year before and loved it! Just make sure to check to see how windy it is supposed to be and bring a sweatshirt just in case!
Are there kayak rentals near by?
Yes! You can rent a kayak from Banbury Hot Springs 🙂
My husband and I are planning our 10 year anniversary to Banbury Hot Springs. Looking forward to kayaking, but I’m concerned how we’ll get back. We will only have one vehicle! We’re new at kayaking too! Will we need to paddle back to Banbury Hot Springs or is there a paid transportation at Thousand Springs?
You will have to paddle back! My suggestion would be to only go to blue heart and possibly Ritter Island but not all the way to Thousand Springs. The first time we went we thought there was an option to rent ATV’s to haul our kayaks back but there wasn’t so we ended up having to beg one of the employees to give us a ride on his lunch break lol
Can you only kayak from Banbury to Thousand Springs is the current too strong just go back to Banbury from blue heart Springs?
The correct is pretty strong! And the winds can get pretty gusty in the canyon which also adds to the difficulty. I know people that have kayaked back but you need to be prepared for a more difficult trek!
There is a current, but if you have a kayak with paddles, or another craft that rides on top of the water, it’s doable, even easy to row back upstream to Banbury from Blue Heart. In the river, the water is wide and slow there. At a glance you may question if it’s a river or a lake. We went in a rowboat with an electric motor and oars. Our battery was expended so I had to row. The people who had a kayak shot past us with ease back to Banbury. I come from Boise where having a second vehicle is part of this kind of adventure. Not here. You don’t need an extra vehicle. There doesn’t seem to be a place to put your extra vehicle downstream that I can find anyway. The canyon is deep and with few roads that go down into it in this beautiful but remote area. In a 12 foot rowboat, it took me about a half an hour to row upstream to Banbury from Blue heart. I didn’t have to stop or row as hard as I could, just had to keep going. I like to row. It really felt like the same exertion I use when I row across a lake.
I’ve always wanted to try kayaking and this looks like the perfect place to do it. That water is so crystal clear!
What an incredible spot to kayak. And all those waterfalls!! Sign me up.
Yes!! It is sooo amazing!
This place looks so beautiful! And it looks like a ton of fun as well! I want to check this place out!!
Kileen
cute & little
Our family enjoys kayaking too and this looks like such a beautiful place to go…even if it is a little out of the way.
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Kayaking is such a great family activity and just a great way to get out and explore nature. It sounds like it can be a little out of the way to get to Blue Heart Springs, but it looks like it was totally worth it!
Wow, the view is so beautiful! One day I will be able to experience this with the hubby.
Yes yes yes 🙂 It is amazing!
This looks absolutely amazing. I would love to do this sometime. It would be a checkbox for life!
Oh wow, this looks like such a pretty route! I haven’t done much kayaking but the little bit I’ve done I’ve really enjoyed.
My kids just had their first kayaking experience on the fourth of July, they loved it so much! I’m saving up for kayaks for the family now. It looks like so much fun!
That is awesome! We absolutely love our kayaks, they are a great investment!
Oh my gosh, what a stunning place to kayak!! I would love to go there someday.
Gorgeous pics! Love the color of the water. I would love to do this.
This looks like an absolutely amazing location! your pictures are so amazing! Thank you so much for sharing <3
Thank you! I highly recommend it 🙂
Wow! This is such a stunning location for kayaking. The water is so clear and the view is beautiful.
SO pretty! Looks like a great spot 🙂
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One of my favorites 🙂
That looks amazing! I’d love to try it, what a view
Definitely give it a try if you are ever in the area!
I have a couple of friends that love kayaking but I’ve never been, I’m not sure I’m coordinated enough LOL. This looks like a beautiful place to go.
Lol trust me it is way easier than it looks! I definitely recommend trying it at least once!
That is so beautiful! I can’t believe how clear the water is.
The water is amazing!