Belvidere Hot Spring
Belvidere Hot Spring emerges at 111 degrees Fahrenheit along Cabarton Road in Valley County, a short 650-foot walk from the road. Its highly alkaline water registers pH 9.3 with almost no calcium, just 1.2 mg/L, producing an unusually soft, silky-feeling soak.
The spring sits at 4,780 feet in the forested mountains west of Cascade, where the North Fork Payette River drainage gathers snowmelt from peaks receiving nearly 13 feet of snow annually. Tall conifers shade the approach trail. The water is clear with a faint mineral smell, and the surrounding forest floor is carpeted in needles and moss. In winter, the steam rising through snow-laden branches creates a striking scene.
Belvidere's sodium-dominated chemistry with negligible calcium points to deep circulation through the granitic Idaho Batholith, dissolving silica and sodium while bypassing carbonate rock entirely. The 67-degree temperature differential between the spring and mean annual air temperature indicates a substantial underground heat source. This section of Valley County sits along a productive geothermal corridor that feeds dozens of thermal features.
The 650-foot walk from Cabarton Road crosses uneven forested terrain. Water at 111 degrees Fahrenheit needs to cool before comfortable soaking. French Creek Campground on Lake Cascade, 9 miles away, accepts reservations and offers access to boating and fishing. Best visited June through October. Bring footwear suitable for a muddy forest path.
Is Belvidere Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Belvidere Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 9.3).
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Overview French Creek Campground is located next to scenic Lake Cascade in west-central Idaho. It is near the town of Donnelly, at an elevation of 4,850 feet. Boating, fishing, swimming and hiking are popular activities in this scenic region.Recreation Lake Cascade offers excellent opportunities for boating, water skiing, canoeing, windsurfing and sailing. Anglers enjoy casting for rainbow trout, coho salmon, smallmouth bass and perch. Many hiking and biking trails are in the area as well.Fac...