# Brown Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Brown Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 122°F (50°C). Roadside · Public Land. Boise County.

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

## Can you soak at Brown Creek Hot Spring?

Yes. Brown Creek Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. It's open Aug-Oct (low water ford). You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 122°F (50°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.4 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 4,000 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 86 ft from the nearest road (Middle Fork Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Boise County |
| Nearest town | Idaho City |
| Coordinates | 43.77900, -115.48600 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Barber Flat Cabin (Boise National Forest, ID), 3.9 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | Aug-Oct (low water ford) |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | must ford Middle Fork Boise River, high-clearance road from Atlanta side |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Boise National Forest |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/browns-creek-hot-spring-idaho

## About Brown Creek Hot Spring

Brown Creek Hot Spring comes up a few steps off Middle Fork Road, Boise National Forest ground about seventeen miles from Idaho City in Boise County. The water is hot in the plain sense, hot enough that you test it with a fingertip before anything else. Access is open on Forest Service land. You can drive to it, and that is most of what there is to say about getting there.

The road does the work. You park, and the water is within about ninety feet, at around four thousand feet in the mountains. Winters here pile up ten feet of snow, which makes the road, and how far it stays plowed, the real question for a good part of the year. Rainfall is moderate. Barber Flat Cabin, a cabin inside the national forest, is the closest listed place to stay, around four miles away.

The best months in the record are the winter ones, which with this much snow means checking the road before you set out. Water this hot will sting if you get straight in, so go slowly. The pH on the page comes from a September 1981 sample and should be read as old news. Nearest camping is the Barber Flat Cabin.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1981-09-02 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.4 |
| Calcium | 1.8 mg/L |
| Sodium | 52 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 25 mg/L |
| Chloride | 1.3 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Boise](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/boise), 28 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Straight Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/straight-creek-hot-spring): 144°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Dutch Frank Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dutch-frank-hot-spring): 149°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, pools 102–104°F, free, jun–nov
- [Pool Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/pool-creek-hot-spring): 108°F source, pH 9.6, TDS 245 mg/L, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Granite Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/granite-creek-hot-spring): 131°F source, pH 9.4, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, pools 100–115°F, free, jul–nov
- [Ninemeyer Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/ninemeyer-hot-springs): 169°F source, pH 9.6, TDS 245 mg/L, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, jul–nov
- [Vaughn Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/vaughn-hot-spring): 154°F source, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, jul–nov

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Brown Creek Hot Spring?**
Brown Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 122°F (50°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Brown Creek Hot Spring located?**
Brown Creek Hot Spring is located in Boise County, Idaho at 4,000 feet elevation, near Idaho City. Coordinates: 43.7790°N, 115.4860°W.

**How do I get to Brown Creek Hot Spring?**
Brown Creek Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Middle Fork Road (86 ft from the road).

**Is Brown Creek Hot Spring free to visit?**
Brown Creek Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Brown Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Barber Flat Cabin (Boise National Forest, Id) is located nearby (3.9 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Brown Creek Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.4 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Brown Creek Hot Spring?**
With care. At 122°F Brown Creek Hot Spring is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

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