Dagger Creek Hot Spring
Dagger Creek Hot Spring reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit at 5,740 feet in the Boise National Forest, sitting less than a mile from the put-in for one of America's premier whitewater runs on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Its pH of 9.9 makes it among the most alkaline thermal springs in Idaho.
The spring emerges in dense conifer forest near the boundary of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Snow piles deep here, averaging over 14 feet annually, and the landscape stays white well into spring. The surrounding forest of lodgepole pine and Douglas fir absorbs sound, and the only noise tends to be wind and creek water. Dagger Falls Road ends nearby at the wilderness boundary, and the walk of about 2,500 feet to the spring follows forested terrain at elevation.
The extreme alkalinity of pH 9.9 distinguishes this spring geochemically. Low calcium at 2.1 mg/L and sodium at 59 mg/L suggest the water interacts with silicate-rich rock rather than limestone, dissolving silica and driving the pH upward. This chemistry is consistent with the granitic batholith underlying the Idaho Batholith region. The forest setting preserves the spring in a near-natural state, largely unchanged from when indigenous peoples used this corridor.
Boundary Creek Campground sits just over a mile away, with five reservable sites during the June 15 through August 15 high season and ten first-come, first-served sites. The campground primarily serves rafters launching on the Middle Fork. The walk to the spring covers roughly half a mile through forest. At this elevation, snow can linger into June and return by October. Bring layers even in summer.
Is Dagger Creek Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Dagger Creek Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 9.9).
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Overview Boundary Creek Campground is located at the edge of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, adjacent to the boat launch for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. The site generally provides overnight camping for boaters waiting to launch the next day on their permit to float the Middle Fork. Of the 15 campsites, 5 can be reserved during the high-use season (June 15-Aug. 15); the remaining 10 are first-come, first-served. Outside of those dates, all 15 sites are first-...