# Basin Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Basin Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 133°F (56°C). Roadside · Public Land. Custer County.

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

## Can you soak at Basin Creek Hot Spring?

Yes. Basin Creek Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools. It's open Jun–Oct. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 133°F (56°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.5 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,060 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 10 ft from the nearest road (Salmon River Scenic Byway) |
| Land | Challis National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Custer County |
| Nearest town | Challis |
| Coordinates | 44.26400, -114.81800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Pole Flat Campground, 5.6 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Season | Jun–Oct |
| Getting there | short hike from highway parking, east of Stanley |
| In winter | unknown |
| Operator | US Forest Service (Sawtooth NRA) |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://idahohotsprings.com/destinations/basin_creek/index.htm

## About Basin Creek Hot Spring

Basin Creek Hot Spring sits ten feet off the Salmon River Scenic Byway in the Challis National Forest, Custer County, Idaho. Challis itself is more than thirty miles away. The water comes out hot, hot enough to hurt, well above anything you would lie down in without cooling. Forest Service land, open.

Drive-up. The byway runs past at arm's length. Elevation is around six thousand feet, with snow totals above ten feet in an ordinary winter and an average temperature near forty. Pole Flat Campground is the nearest, about five and a half miles. Precipitation is on the low side, around two feet.

Listed best months are December through February. The byway is the nearest road, so the approach is the pull-out. Hot water warning: source temperature will burn, so do not enter it undiluted, and nothing on record shows a cooled pool. Water is strongly alkaline, sampled in 1983. Camping at Pole Flat. No fee on file.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1983-11-02 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.5 |
| Calcium | 1.8 mg/L |
| Sodium | 71 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 41 mg/L |
| Chloride | 6 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 0 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Mormon Bend Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/mormon-bend-hot-spring): 100°F source, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, free, jul-oct
- [Sunbeam Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sunbeam-hot-springs): 169°F source, pH 9.0, TDS 291 mg/L, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, pools 100–110°F, free, year-round
- [Elkhorn Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/elkhorn-hot-spring): 136°F source, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, free, year-round
- [Stanley Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/stanley-hot-spring): 106°F source, pH 8.8, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County
- [Robinson Bar Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/robinson-bar-hot-springs): 131°F source, pH 9.4, TDS 294 mg/L, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County
- [Rosalys Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/rosalys-warm-spring): 106°F source, pH 9.4, Short Walk, near Sun Valley, Blaine County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Basin Creek Hot Spring?**
Basin Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 133°F (56°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Basin Creek Hot Spring located?**
Basin Creek Hot Spring is located in Custer County, Idaho at 6,060 feet elevation, near Challis. Coordinates: 44.2640°N, 114.8180°W.

**How do I get to Basin Creek Hot Spring?**
Basin Creek Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Salmon River Scenic Byway (10 ft from the road).

**Is Basin Creek Hot Spring free to visit?**
Basin Creek Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Basin Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Pole Flat Campground is located nearby (5.6 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Basin Creek Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.5 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Basin Creek Hot Spring?**
With care. At 133°F Basin Creek Hot Spring is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

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