# Boulder Creek Spring, Idaho

Boulder Creek Spring in Idaho. 82°F (28°C). Roadside. Valley County.

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

## Can you soak at Boulder Creek Spring?

The water leaves the ground at 82°F, about as warm as a heated pool. You can drive right up to it. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 82°F (28°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.9 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 3,080 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 52 ft from the nearest road (Boulder Creek Road) |
| County | Valley County |
| Nearest town | McCall |
| Coordinates | 45.20100, -116.31200 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | GROUSE CAMPGROUND, 11.6 mi |

## About Boulder Creek Spring

A warm spring, and only warm. Boulder Creek Spring in Valley County measures in the low eighties, which passes for bath temperature on a summer day and does nothing for you in the cold. It sits off Boulder Creek Road about 22 miles from McCall. There is no record of an owner and none of whether the public may go. A photo exists, which is more than most of the small Idaho springs can claim.

The spring is a few dozen feet off the road, close enough that you would see it from the driver's seat if you knew where to look. Elevation is low by Idaho standards, about three thousand feet, but the snow still comes in hard, over twelve feet in a normal winter. Annual precipitation is high too. Expect a wet green valley with a muddy shoulder season.

The winter months get the best-time nod on file, yet with this much snow the road may be the limiting factor, so ask locally. Grouse Campground is the nearest developed camping, a little under twelve miles away. The water chemistry, which leans very alkaline, was sampled in 1980 and has not been updated since. Landownership and access both need checking.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1980-06-03 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.9 |
| Calcium | 1.6 mg/L |
| Sodium | 48 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 39 mg/L |
| Chloride | 4.4 mg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Tied for most alkaline of the 654 US springs with a pH reading: pH 9.9 (also a US record)

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Grangeville](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/grangeville), 21 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Stinky Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/stinky-warm-spring): 88°F source, pH 8.8, Roadside, near McCall, Valley County
- [Zims Resort Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/zims-resort-hot-springs): 144°F source, pH 9.4, Roadside, near McCall, Valley County, developed pools, pools 90–105°F, $13 day pass, year-round
- [Riggins Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/riggins-hot-springs): 106°F source, pH 9.4, Short Walk, near McCall, Valley County
- [Krigbaum Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/krigbaum-hot-springs): 109°F source, pH 9.2, Short Walk, near McCall, Valley County, private, no public access
- [Burgdorf Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/burgdorf-hot-springs): 113°F source, Roadside, near McCall, Valley County, developed pools, pools 99–113°F, $20 day pass, year_round (short closures)
- [Cow Flats Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/cow-flats-hot-spring): 138°F source, Roadside, near Grangeville, Idaho County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Boulder Creek Spring?**
Boulder Creek Spring has a water temperature of 82°F (28°C). This is a warm thermal spring.

**Where is Boulder Creek Spring located?**
Boulder Creek Spring is located in Valley County, Idaho at 3,080 feet elevation, near McCall. Coordinates: 45.2010°N, 116.3120°W.

**How do I get to Boulder Creek Spring?**
Boulder Creek Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Boulder Creek Road (52 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Boulder Creek Spring?**
Yes, Grouse Campground is located nearby (11.6 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Boulder Creek Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.9 (alkaline).

## Sources

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