# Battle Creek Hot Springs, Idaho

Battle Creek Hot Springs in Idaho. 183°F (84°C). Short Walk. Franklin County.

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

## Can you soak at Battle Creek Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 183°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 183°F (84°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.0 (Neutral) |
| Total dissolved solids | 9,180 mg/L |
| Elevation | 4,480 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.1 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Franklin County |
| Nearest town | Preston |
| Coordinates | 42.13300, -111.92800 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | THIRD CREEK GROUP SITE, 10.7 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 183°F, the source water at Battle Creek Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Battle Creek Hot Springs

Battle Creek Hot Springs is a big, scalding flow outside Preston in Franklin County, Idaho, a few miles from town. The water comes up well above the danger line and carries a very heavy mineral load. A short walk in from the road. No owner or access record. The USGS keeps a site record for it.

Around forty-five hundred feet, in country with something under five feet of snow each year and around twenty inches of precipitation. The road is a few hundred feet off and the record gives it no name. Third Creek Group Site is the closest camping listed, ten or eleven miles away. The USGS measured discharge at three cubic feet per second, a real stream of hot water.

Stay out of the source. At this temperature skin burns in seconds, and the record shows no pool where it cools. The listed best months run December through February. Public access is not recorded and there is no named landowner, so ask locally in Preston. The chemistry is from a 1972 sample.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1972-05-09 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7 |
| Total dissolved solids | 9,180 mg/L |
| Calcium | 160 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 16 mg/L |
| Sodium | 3,100 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 50 mg/L |
| Chloride | 5,400 mg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Tied for most minerals of Idaho's 41 springs with a dissolved minerals reading: 9,180 mg/L

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Paris](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/paris), 34 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Squaw Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/squaw-hot-springs): 163°F source, pH 7.0, TDS 9,180 mg/L, Short Walk, near Preston, Franklin County
- [Gancheff Spring, UT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/utah/gancheff-spring): 88°F source, pH 7.7, TDS 4,530 mg/L, Roadside, near Lewiston, Cache County
- [Malad Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/malad-warm-spring): 77°F source, pH 6.5, TDS 4,500 mg/L, Short Walk, near Malad City, Oneida County
- [Maple Grove Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/maple-grove-hot-springs): 172°F source, pH 7.3, Roadside, near Preston, Franklin County, developed pools, pools 100–107°F, $18 day pass, year-round
- [Hopkins Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/hopkins-hot-springs): pH 7.3, Short Walk, near Preston, Franklin County, developed pools, pools 95–107°F, $18 day pass, year-round
- [Prices Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/prices-warm-spring): 77°F source, Short Walk, near Malad City, Oneida County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Battle Creek Hot Springs?**
Battle Creek Hot Springs has a water temperature of 183°F (84°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Battle Creek Hot Springs located?**
Battle Creek Hot Springs is located in Franklin County, Idaho at 4,480 feet elevation, near Preston. Coordinates: 42.1330°N, 111.9280°W.

**How do I get to Battle Creek Hot Springs?**
Battle Creek Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Battle Creek Hot Springs?**
Yes, Third Creek Group Site is located nearby (10.7 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Battle Creek Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.0 (neutral). Total dissolved solids measure 9,180 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Battle Creek Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Battle Creek Hot Springs reaches 183°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

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