# Bear Lake Hot Springs, Idaho

Bear Lake Hot Springs in Idaho. 118°F (48°C). Roadside. Bear Lake County.

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

## Can you soak at Bear Lake Hot Springs?

Yes. Bear Lake Hot Springs is a developed hot spring. It's open closed in winter.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 118°F (48°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Total dissolved solids | 1,560 mg/L |
| Elevation | 5,994 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 156 ft from the nearest road (Merkley Lake Road) |
| County | Bear Lake County |
| Nearest town | Paris |
| Coordinates | 42.11500, -111.26400 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | ST. CHARLES CAMPGROUND, 9.3 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Developed pools |
| Season | closed in winter |
| Getting there | on the beach at northeast corner of Bear Lake near North Beach State Park |
| In winter | closed |
| Operator | Epic Rentals / Epic Hot Springs |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://visitidaho.org/things-to-do/hot-springs/bear-lake-hot-springs/, https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/bear-lake/bear-lake-north-beach

## About Bear Lake Hot Springs

Ten miles out of Paris, in Bear Lake County, Idaho, Bear Lake Hot Springs surfaces hot and heavy with minerals a short way off Merkley Lake Road. Straight from the source the water sits above comfortable soaking heat, going by a reading taken decades back. Who owns it is unknown. So is public access. Nothing in the record describes what has been built at the site.

Roadside, a couple hundred feet from Merkley Lake Road, at a little under six thousand feet. The climate is cold and dry, about five feet of snow on eighteen inches of precipitation. Mean temperature is mid-forties. St. Charles Campground is the campground on record, nine miles and a bit. No land unit on file.

December through February appear as the best months. Getting to the roadside is the whole approach. The water is hot enough to need cooling before anyone sits in it, and no pool is described. Access is unrecorded, so watch for posting. The chemistry was sampled in 1972 and no pH was taken.

## Water chemistry

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

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Total dissolved solids | 1,560 mg/L |
| Calcium | 210 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 55 mg/L |
| Sodium | 180 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 800 mg/L |
| Chloride | 79 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Paris](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/paris), 0 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Pescadero Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/pescadero-warm-spring): 79°F source, Roadside, near Montpelier, Bear Lake 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
- [Cleveland Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/cleveland-hot-springs): 151°F source, pH 7.3, Short Walk, near Preston, Franklin County
- [Treasureton Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/treasureton-hot-springs): 95°F source, pH 7.3, Short Walk, near Preston, Franklin County
- [Mound Valley Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/mound-valley-warm-spring): Warm, Short Walk, near Soda Springs, Caribou County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Bear Lake Hot Springs?**
Bear Lake Hot Springs has a water temperature of 118°F (48°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Bear Lake Hot Springs located?**
Bear Lake Hot Springs is located in Bear Lake County, Idaho at 5,994 feet elevation, near Paris. Coordinates: 42.1150°N, 111.2640°W.

**How do I get to Bear Lake Hot Springs?**
Bear Lake Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Merkley Lake Road (156 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Bear Lake Hot Springs?**
Yes, St. Charles Campground is located nearby (9.3 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Bear Lake Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. Total dissolved solids measure 1,560 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Bear Lake Hot Springs?**
With care. At 118°F Bear Lake Hot Springs 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