Bat Hot Spring, Pence Hot Spring
Bat Hot Spring, also called Pence Hot Spring, surfaces at 117 degrees Fahrenheit in the desert canyons of Elmore County. Its alkaline water carries 243 mg/L dissolved solids with a pH of 8.2, producing a clean, mineral-light soak at 2,590 feet elevation.
A short walk of roughly a quarter mile from Hot Springs Road drops into dry canyon country carved through sagebrush and basalt. The air is thin and warm here, averaging 56 degrees Fahrenheit annually, with less than ten inches of rain. Desert varnish streaks the rock walls. The spring pools among boulders at the canyon floor, its thermal output a stark contrast to the arid landscape surrounding it.
The short walk from Hot Springs Road takes under ten minutes over uneven terrain. Water emerges hot enough to scald at the source, so test temperature carefully before entering any pools. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in this desert. Carry water and sun protection. No facilities or shade at the spring.
This spring rises along fault lines in the western Snake River Plain, where volcanic activity and deep crustal fractures drive geothermal circulation. The water chemistry, dominated by sodium at 49 mg/L with low calcium and magnesium, points to deep circulation through silicate rock rather than limestone. Mountain Home Air Force Base, established during World War II, sits as the nearest population center.
The water at Bat Hot Spring, Pence Hot Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 8.2) with 243 mg/L total dissolved solids.
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Bat Hot Spring, Pence Hot Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water runs hot, so extra hydration is key.
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