# Council Mtn Hot Springs, Idaho

Council Mtn Hot Springs in Idaho. 154°F (68°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Adams County.

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

## Can you soak at Council Mtn Hot Springs?

Yes. Council Mtn Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. It's open Mar–Nov. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 154°F (68°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4,526 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.2 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Payette National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Adams County |
| Nearest town | Council |
| Coordinates | 44.66900, -116.30500 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | AMANITA, 8.8 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free. No permit, reservation or fee |
| Season | Mar–Nov |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | 4.5 mi out and back, about 1,246 ft gain, off NFD Rd 186 |
| In winter | Gravel road to trailhead seasonally closed, muddy in early spring |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Payette National Forest |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/council-mountain-hot-springs-idaho, https://www.10adventures.com/hikes/payette-national-forest/council-mountain-hot-springs-hike/

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 154°F, the source water at Council Mtn Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Council Mtn Hot Springs

Eight miles or so from the town of Council, on Payette National Forest ground in Adams County, Council Mtn Hot Springs puts out water that would scald you at the source. Access is open according to the record. There is no USGS site number for it and no water chemistry, so the temperature reading stands alone as the only measurement anyone has written down.

Reaching it means a walk of a few hundred yards from a road the record leaves unnamed. The country is wet, snowy forest at middling elevation, with roughly ten feet of snow over a winter and plenty of rain in the other seasons. Amanita campground, the nearest developed camping, is close to nine miles from the spring.

December to February are the best months listed, though ten feet of snow makes the forest road the real deciding factor, so ask the Payette ranger district before setting out. Water at 154 will burn skin in seconds, and with no chemistry or site record there is nothing else on file to tell you what the pools are like or whether anyone has built one. Amanita is where you would camp.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Weiser](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/weiser), 33 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [White Licks Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/white-licks-hot-spring): 140°F source, pH 7.6, Roadside, near Council, Adams County, primitive pools, free, may–oct
- [Cascade Reservoir Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/cascade-reservoir-hot-spring): Hot, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Arling Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/arling-hot-spring): 90°F source, pH 9.8, TDS 218 mg/L, Roadside, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Starkey Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/starkey-hot-springs): 131°F source, pH 8.6, Roadside, near Council, Adams County, developed pools, pools 95–105°F, day pass
- [Badley Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/badley-warm-spring): 100°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Lakey Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/lakey-hot-spring): 158°F source, pH 7.8, Short Walk, near Council, Adams County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Council Mtn Hot Springs?**
Council Mtn Hot Springs has a water temperature of 154°F (68°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Council Mtn Hot Springs located?**
Council Mtn Hot Springs is located in Adams County, Idaho at 4,526 feet elevation, near Council. Coordinates: 44.6690°N, 116.3050°W.

**How do I get to Council Mtn Hot Springs?**
Council Mtn Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).

**Is Council Mtn Hot Springs free to visit?**
Council Mtn Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Council Mtn Hot Springs?**
Yes, Amanita is located nearby (8.8 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Council Mtn Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Council Mtn Hot Springs reaches 154°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

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