Blm Well (Frazier Hot Spring)
BLM Well, also known as Frazier Hot Spring, produces water at a near-boiling 203 degrees Fahrenheit in Minidoka County, making it one of the hottest thermal features in Idaho. This is not a soaking spring. At 4,904 feet elevation near Heyburn, the water emerges 153 degrees above the local average air temperature, indicating an exceptionally deep and powerful heat source.
The well sits in the flat, arid sagebrush country south of the Snake River Plain. At just under 5,000 feet, the terrain is open and exposed, with little tree cover and wide views across the high desert. Annual rainfall barely reaches 15 inches, and summer temperatures are the warmest along this stretch of southern Idaho. Steam may be visible rising from the well site, particularly in cooler weather. The surrounding landscape is sparse and utilitarian, far from the forested mountains to the north.
The extreme temperature reflects the Snake River Plain's volcanic plumbing. The Yellowstone hotspot's ancient track underlies this region, and residual heat from cooling magma chambers superheats groundwater that reaches the surface along faults and through wells. USGS water chemistry shows elevated chloride at 85 mg/L and a pH of 9.2, consistent with deep geothermal reservoir water. The well likely intersects a fracture zone tapping this deep heat.
This site is dangerously hot and not suitable for bathing under any circumstances. Water at 203 degrees Fahrenheit causes instant scalding. Approach with extreme caution and keep children and pets well back. Clear Creek Campground, about 18 miles away, has 12 first-come, first-served sites suitable for tents and RVs. The site itself is roadside on BLM land managed by the Burley Field Office.
Is Blm Well (Frazier Hot Spring) worth visiting?
Best for
- Viewing dramatic geothermal features
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Not ideal for
- Swimming or soaking
The water at Blm Well (Frazier Hot Spring) is alkaline (pH 9.2).
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Clear Creek Campground is a non-fee campground and picnic area composed of 12 individual units and reservations are not required. This area is accessible for a season that varies usually between June through October. Campground amenities include toilets and the campground is well suited for tent and RV camping. Sites are handicapped accessible. Bull Flat (#001) and Lake Fork (#004) trails are popular with horseback riders, and hikers.