# Barney Hot Springs, Idaho

Barney Hot Springs in Idaho. 82°F (28°C). Roadside · Public Land. Butte County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/barney-hot-springs
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Barney Hot Springs?

The water leaves the ground at 82°F, about as warm as a heated pool. You can drive right up to it. It's on Bureau of Land Management land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 82°F (28°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.2 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,435 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 5 ft from the nearest road (Pahsimeroi Road) |
| Land | Challis Field Office, Bureau of Land Management |
| County | Butte County |
| Nearest town | Arco |
| Coordinates | 44.26900, -113.44900 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | MEADOW LAKE CAMPGROUND, 13.2 mi |

## About Barney Hot Springs

Barney Hot Springs sits beside Pahsimeroi Road in Butte County, Idaho, on BLM land under the Challis Field Office. Arco is the nearest town and it is forty-five miles away. The water is warm, in the low eighties, under body temperature, so it is a warm spring in practice despite the name. Access is open.

High valley, around sixty-four hundred feet, cold on average, with five feet of snow over a winter and not much rain. The spring is five feet from the road. Meadow Lake Campground is the nearest on record, thirteen miles off. Public land, open, no designation beyond that.

Our climate ranking likes winter here. Pahsimeroi Road runs right past, so winter access depends on the road. The camping option listed is Meadow Lake, some distance away. Water chemistry comes from 1983 and runs alkaline. Warm water only; nobody is going to overheat in it. No fee is recorded.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1983-11-17 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.2 |
| Calcium | 36 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 19 mg/L |
| Sodium | 8.7 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 35 mg/L |
| Chloride | 4.5 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Arco](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/arco), 0 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Whittaker Warm Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/whittaker-warm-springs): 75°F source, pH 8.0, Roadside, near Salmon, Lemhi County
- [Big Eightmile Creek Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/big-eightmile-creek-warm-spring): 91°F source, Short Walk, near Salmon, Lemhi County
- [Little Antelope Flat Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/little-antelope-flat-warm-spring): 93°F source, pH 7.4, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County
- [Big Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/big-spring): 73°F source, Short Walk, near Dubois, Clark County
- [Beardsley Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/beardsley-hot-springs): 109°F source, pH 7.0, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County, developed pools, pools 96–105°F, mid-march-nov
- [Warm Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/warm-springs-clark-county): 84°F source, pH 7.1, Short Walk, near Dubois, Clark County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Barney Hot Springs?**
Barney Hot Springs has a water temperature of 82°F (28°C). This is a warm thermal spring.

**Where is Barney Hot Springs located?**
Barney Hot Springs is located in Butte County, Idaho at 6,435 feet elevation, near Arco. Coordinates: 44.2690°N, 113.4490°W.

**How do I get to Barney Hot Springs?**
Barney Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Pahsimeroi Road (5 ft from the road).

**Is Barney Hot Springs free to visit?**
Barney Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.

**Can I camp near Barney Hot Springs?**
Yes, Meadow Lake Campground is located nearby (13.2 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Barney Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.2 (slightly alkaline).

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals