Big Spring
Big Spring surfaces at 73 degrees Fahrenheit on BLM land in Clark County, making it one of Idaho's cooler thermal features. At 6,900 feet elevation near Dubois, it runs about 36 degrees warmer than the local average air temperature, confirming a genuine geothermal source despite water that feels barely tepid. A short walk of roughly 675 feet from the road reaches the spring.
The spring emerges in high desert terrain typical of the upper Snake River Plain. Sagebrush stretches in every direction under a wide sky, with the Beaverhead Mountains visible to the north and the Snake River Plain dropping away to the south. Winters are long here, with average annual temperatures around 37 degrees Fahrenheit and 64 inches of snow. The spring itself is a quiet feature in an otherwise dry, wind-swept landscape.
The spring is about 200 meters from the road and easy to reach on foot. No facilities exist at the site. Stoddard Creek Campground, roughly 38 miles north off I-15, has a reservable group site. The town of Dubois offers basic services. This is open rangeland, so watch for cattle and be prepared for exposure to wind and sun.
Big Spring sits near the boundary between the Snake River Plain and the Basin and Range province, a geologically active transition zone. The Snake River Plain's volcanic history, driven by the Yellowstone hotspot's track across southern Idaho, heats groundwater that surfaces along faults and fractures at the plain's margins. This spring represents the cooler end of that thermal gradient, where water circulates through shallower or more diffuse pathways.
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Overview Stoddard Creek Campground is located just 1 mile off I-15 and 17 miles north of the town of Dubois, Idaho. Visitors come to the area to enjoy the abundance of trails, wildlife viewing opportunities and scenic beauty. Recreation Fishing, hiking, mountain biking, motorcycling and ATV riding are popular activities in the area. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail can be accessed 8 miles away, where it crosses I-15. Facilities The campground contains one accessible group site tha...
Big Spring sits at 6,900 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 28% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Big Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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