Bridge Hot Springs
Bridge Hot Springs surfaces at 138 degrees Fahrenheit right alongside East Hot Springs Drive in central Idaho, making it one of the most accessible thermal features in Camas County. The highly alkaline water, with a pH of 9.5, indicates deep geothermal circulation through the region's volcanic bedrock beneath this 4,358-foot valley near Fairfield.
Steam curls off the channel where mineral-laden water meets cool high-desert air. At this elevation the surrounding Camas Prairie stretches wide and treeless, ringed by distant snow-dusted mountains. The water runs clear with a faintly slick, soapy texture characteristic of its high alkalinity. Sagebrush and dry grass line the banks, and the smell of sulfur is mild. Winter brings nearly eight feet of snow to this valley, blanketing the landscape while the spring keeps flowing at its steady 138 degrees.
The spring taps into a geothermal system that runs beneath much of the South Fork Boise River drainage. USGS measurements confirm source temperatures of 59 degrees Celsius. Elks Flat Campground sits less than half a mile away along the South Fork Boise River, a corridor that early miners and ranchers used heavily in the 1860s, drawn by both gold prospects and the reliable hot water flowing from fractures in the Idaho Batholith.
The spring sits just 113 feet from East Hot Springs Drive, so no hiking is required. Elks Flat Campground is under a mile away and offers reservable sites along the South Fork Boise River. Water emerges dangerously hot at 138 degrees; test carefully before any contact. The area sees heavy snow through winter, so check road conditions from November through April.
Is Bridge Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Bridge Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.5).
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Overview Elks Flat Campground is situated on the banks of the South Fork Boise River, at the foot of the Trinity Mountain Range in Idaho. It is five miles north of the town of Pine. Visitors enjoy fishing, swimming and exploring trails in the surrounding area. Recreation The South Fork Boise River runs along the eastern edge of the campground, offering rafting, swimming and fishing for rainbow trout. Paradise Hot Springs is nearby. Green Creek Trail 270, a 4.5-mile trail for hiking, horsebac...