# Bear Valley Hot Spring, Idaho

Bear Valley Hot Spring in Idaho. Warm. Hike · Public Land. Valley County.

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

## Can you soak at Bear Valley Hot Spring?

Yes. Bear Valley Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools that run at 104°F. Soaking is free. It's open Apr-Oct. Reaching it takes a hike.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | Warm (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.5 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,210 ft |
| Access | Hike · Public Land, 2.5 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Valley County |
| Nearest town | Cascade |
| Coordinates | 44.44500, -115.23900 |
| Nearest campground | Banner Creek  Campground, 6.5 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | Apr-Oct |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Pool temperature | 104°F |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | about 3.5 mi one way from Fir Creek Campground, 564 ft gain, narrow section with drop-off; high clearance road |
| In winter | road closed; trailhead often unreachable until mid-late May |
| Operator | US Forest Service (Boise National Forest) |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/bear-valley-hot-spring-idaho

## About Bear Valley Hot Spring

Bear Valley Hot Spring lies in the Boise National Forest, Valley County, Idaho, forty miles from Cascade. The record tags it warm and gives no temperature, so no soak can be promised. What is on file is a 1979 sample with a very alkaline pH. Access is open. You hike in, about two and a half miles beyond the nearest road.

High, over six thousand feet, and buried in winter: the snow total is near fifteen feet. Average temperature is cold. Rain and snow together make this a wet part of the state by inches. The approach is a two-and-a-half-mile hike on Forest Service land. Banner Creek Campground is six or seven miles away by the record.

There is no season ranking to give, since the temperature was never measured. Fifteen feet of snow means the hike will be snowbound much of the year. Banner Creek is the listed campground. The only chemistry is a 1979 sample, strongly alkaline. Do not plan around a warm soak.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1979-08-01 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.5 |
| Calcium | 2 mg/L |
| Sodium | 76 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 54 mg/L |
| Chloride | 12 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 24 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Cape Horn Warm Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/cape-horn-warm-springs): 95°F source, pH 9.6, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Dagger Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dagger-creek-hot-spring): 110°F source, pH 9.9, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County, primitive pools, pools 100–104°F, late jul-oct
- [Sulphur Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sulphur-creek-hot-spring-1): Hot, pH 9.9, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Sulphur Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sulphur-creek-hot-spring-2): Hot, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Sheepeater Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sheepeater-hot-springs): Hot, pH 9.5, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County, primitive pools, pools 103°F, free, late may-sep (river permit season)
- [Pistol Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/pistol-creek-hot-springs): 115°F source, pH 9.6, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Bear Valley Hot Spring?**
Bear Valley Hot Spring is classified as warm. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.

**Where is Bear Valley Hot Spring located?**
Bear Valley Hot Spring is located in Valley County, Idaho at 6,210 feet elevation, near Cascade. Coordinates: 44.4450°N, 115.2390°W.

**How do I get to Bear Valley Hot Spring?**
Bear Valley Hot Spring has Hike road access (2.5 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Bear Valley Hot Spring?**
Yes, Banner Creek  Campground is located nearby (6.5 miles away).

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

## Sources

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