Colgate Warm Springs
Colgate Warm Springs registers pH 9.5, placing it among the most alkaline thermal features in Idaho. The water emerges at 106 degrees Fahrenheit in Clearwater National Forest at 3,080 feet elevation near Superior, with strikingly low mineral content despite its strong alkalinity.
Reaching Colgate requires a short walk of about 715 feet through dense mixed-conifer forest in a drainage that receives nearly 49 inches of rain and over 17 feet of snow annually. The forest canopy here is thick, keeping the spring area shaded and cool even in summer. The water itself is remarkably clear and soft, with almost no calcium or magnesium. Moss and algae thrive in the warm outflow channels. The Lochsa River corridor and its wild, steep-walled canyon dominate the broader landscape.
The extreme alkalinity and near-absence of calcium and magnesium in Colgate's water indicate deep circulation through Idaho Batholith granitic rock, where sodium replaces calcium through ion exchange. At 57 mg/L sodium and just 2.2 mg/L chloride, the water has had prolonged contact with silicate minerals but minimal exposure to evaporite deposits. This chemistry is characteristic of the northern Idaho batholith thermal system.
Whitehouse Campground along the Lochsa River sits about 14 miles away on US Highway 12, the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway. The campground is first-come, first-served with 13 sites. Heavy snowfall makes this area effectively inaccessible from late fall through spring. Summer visitors should be prepared for mosquitoes in the wet forest environment. The spring's 106-degree temperature is comfortable for soaking where flow pools naturally.
Is Colgate Warm Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Colgate Warm Springs is alkaline (pH 9.5).
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Approximately an hour west of Lolo, MT at mile post 158.5 of the famous Northwest Passage Scenic Byway and All American Road (US Highway 12), directly across from the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River, rests the Whitehouse Campground. This riverside campground has 13 sites and due to its close proximity to the Lewis and Clark Trail, has much more to offer than just camping. It's an ideal location for fishing, hiking, back packing, nature viewing or as a place to stop and have a picnic while enjo...