# Baumgartner Hot Spring, Idaho

Baumgartner Hot Spring in Idaho. 111°F (44°C). Roadside · Public Land. Camas County.

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

## Can you soak at Baumgartner Hot Spring?

Yes. Baumgartner Hot Spring is a developed hot spring with pools from 98 to 111°F. You pay for parking or a permit. It's open late May-Sep 30.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 111°F (44°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.1 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 4,980 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 9 ft from the nearest road |
| Land | Sawtooth National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Camas County |
| Nearest town | Fairfield |
| Coordinates | 43.60300, -115.07000 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BAUMGARTNER CAMPGROUND, 0.8 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Developed pools |
| Cost | Parking or permit fee. Forest Service page lists no pool fee; one guide says $5 per vehicle day use; camping $10/night single site |
| Hours | dawn to dusk; may open at noon Tuesdays for cleaning |
| Season | late May-Sep 30 |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Pool temperature | 98–111°F |
| Clothing | Swimsuit required |
| Getting there | Forest Service concrete pool at campground, roadside parking |
| In winter | campground closed, road gated beyond Featherville |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Fairfield Ranger District, https://fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/recreation/baumgartner-campground |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/recreation/baumgartner-campground, https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/baumgartner-hot-spring-idaho

## About Baumgartner Hot Spring

Nine feet of ground separate Baumgartner Hot Spring from the road, and its own campground is under a mile off. Camas County, Idaho, 22 miles out of Fairfield, in the Sawtooth National Forest. The source runs hot, a notch past what you could sit in. The Forest Service holds the ground and access is open.

As roadside as it gets, per the record. Elevation around five thousand feet. Snow piles up more than ten feet in a year, and average temperatures sit in the mid forties. The land unit is Sawtooth National Forest and the nearest road has no name attached. Camping is under a mile off at Baumgartner Campground, and the USGS logged a tiny flow here.

Winter months top the best-months list. Hot enough at the source to need care, though short of scalding. No fee is recorded. The campground next door makes a base. The chemistry on record is from 1981 and the water is alkaline. Whatever has been built around the spring, the record does not describe it.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1981-07-15 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.1 |
| Calcium | 3.5 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 53 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 24 mg/L |
| Chloride | 8.4 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Hailey](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/hailey), 33 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Willow Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/willow-creek-hot-spring): 131°F source, pH 9.5, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, free, jun–oct
- [Lightfoot Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/lightfoot-hot-springs): 133°F source, pH 8.8, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, may–oct
- [Paradise Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/paradise-hot-springs): 126°F source, pH 9.5, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County
- [Bridge Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/bridge-hot-springs): 138°F source, pH 9.5, Roadside, near Fairfield, Camas County
- [Preis Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/preis-hot-spring): 106°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, pools 102°F, free, may-oct
- [Skillern Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/skillern-hot-springs): 140°F source, pH 9.4, Hike, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, pools 100–106°F, may–oct

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Baumgartner Hot Spring?**
Baumgartner Hot Spring has a water temperature of 111°F (44°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Baumgartner Hot Spring located?**
Baumgartner Hot Spring is located in Camas County, Idaho at 4,980 feet elevation, near Fairfield. Coordinates: 43.6030°N, 115.0700°W.

**How do I get to Baumgartner Hot Spring?**
Baumgartner Hot Spring has Roadside road access (9 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Baumgartner Hot Spring?**
Yes, Baumgartner Campground is located nearby (0.8 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Baumgartner Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.1 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Baumgartner Hot Spring?**
With care. At 111°F Baumgartner 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