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Bull Creek Hot Springs

Valley County, Idaho · Near Cascade

44.4300°N, 115.7620°W · 5,200 ft

Hot 43°F air · Good soaking weather 5,200 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (5.3 mi)

Researched & maintained by Armen Suny · Updated August 2026

Out past Cascade in Valley County, Bull Creek Hot Springs has a hole in its record: the survey calls the water hot and gives no temperature at all. Nobody can tell you from this page if it soaks. The file marks access as open. The water surfaces a few hundred feet from the Bull Creek trail, which the record treats as the nearest road, at something over five thousand feet within Boise National Forest boundaries.

Location

48 miles from Challis, ID

Get Directions → All springs near Challis →

Reaching it means a short walk once the driving ends. The country is high and the winters are serious, close to fifteen feet of snow in an average year, and this corner of the forest is wet, close to forty inches a year. Peace Valley Campground is the nearest developed camping, around five miles off. What the walk itself is like is not written down anywhere.

No season is rated best for this spring. Take the temperature gap seriously: the only chemistry on hand is a 1979 sample, strongly alkaline, and it says nothing about heat beyond the single word hot. Go expecting to look before you decide anything. Peace Valley is the campground to aim for, and the Forest Service is the landlord.

Monthly Climate

23°

Jan

25°

Feb

32°

Mar

36°

Apr

44°

May

56°

Jun

67°

Jul

66°

Aug

56°

Sep

42°

Oct

29°

Nov

21°

Dec

Annual Precip: 37.8 in Annual Snow: 175.7 in

Current Conditions

43°F

SW 4.8 mph 92% Good soaking weather

Sunday 68° Low 49° Chance Rain Showers 30% precip

Labor Day 57° Low 45° Showers And Thunderstorms 86% precip

Tuesday 69° Low 42° Sunny

Wednesday 74° Low 46° Sunny

Thursday 74° Low 52° Sunny 1% precip

Data from National Weather Service

Water Chemistry Sampled 1979-07-07

The water at Bull Creek Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.5).

pH 9.5 Alkaline

pH influences mineral absorption through skin

Calcium 2 mg/L

May support bone density and joint health

Magnesium 0 mg/L

Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief

Sodium 64 mg/L

Supports circulation and skin hydration

Sulfate 31 mg/L

Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation

Chloride 8 mg/L

Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits

Compare with other alkaline springs →

Where to Stay

Hotels & Lodges Booking.com

Cabins & Rentals VRBO

Glamping Hipcamp

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

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Nearby Camping

Peace Valley Campground 5.3 mi away

Overview Peace Valley Campground sits just 27 miles north of Garden Valley, Idaho, at an elevation of 4591 feet. The beautiful Peace Valley offers excellent hiking, motorcycle riding, fishing, and hunting opportunities. Recreation Peace Valley offers several trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and OHV use. Peace Creek Trail and Bitter Creek Trail (both motorcycle trails) begin nearby. The Rattlesnake Trail and 465 ATV Trail are in the vicinity of the campground. Peace...

Reservable Yes

Reserve on Recreation.gov →

What to Bring

Bull Creek Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.