# Dagger Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Dagger Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 110°F (43°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Valley County.

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

## Can you soak at Dagger Creek Hot Spring?

Yes. Dagger Creek Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools that run from 100 to 104°F. It's open late Jul-Oct. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 110°F (43°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.9 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 5,740 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.5 mi from the nearest road (Dagger Falls Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Valley County |
| Nearest town | Cascade |
| Coordinates | 44.51600, -115.29500 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BOUNDARY CREEK CAMPGROUND, 1.1 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Season | late Jul-Oct |
| Pool temperature | 100–104°F |
| Getting there | near Dagger Falls trailhead campground on Middle Fork Salmon, silty pools |
| In winter | road closed Oct-mid May |
| Operator | US Forest Service |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://idahohotsprings.com/destinations/dagger_creek/

## About Dagger Creek Hot Spring

Dagger Creek runs at the top of soaking range, about a hundred and ten degrees, at the upper edge of what people soak in. The spring is Forest Service water in Valley County, far from town; Cascade is nearly thirty-seven miles. It is open to visit. Boundary Creek Campground sits about a mile off, close enough to walk over from a tent.

It is half a mile's walk from Dagger Falls Road. The spring sits high, near fifty-eight hundred feet, and the winter snow here runs deep, around fourteen and a half feet, so the road season is short. Precipitation is moderate. The land is Boise National Forest. The record says nothing about what the half mile looks like underfoot.

Winter is the listed best season, for what that is worth with the snow. The water is right at the temperature where a long soak gets uncomfortable, so go in slow. The pH is close to 10, strongly alkaline, and it is a June 1980 number. Camp at Boundary Creek.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1980-06-24 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.9 |
| Calcium | 2.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 59 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 32 mg/L |
| Chloride | 8.5 mg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Tied for most alkaline of the 654 US springs with a pH reading: pH 9.9 (also a US record)

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 29 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Sulphur Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sulphur-creek-hot-spring-1): Hot, pH 9.9, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Bear Valley Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/bear-valley-hot-spring): Warm, pH 9.5, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County, primitive pools, pools 104°F, free, apr-oct
- [Sheepeater Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sheepeater-hot-springs): Hot, pH 9.5, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County, primitive pools, pools 103°F, free, late may-sep (river permit season)
- [Cape Horn Warm Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/cape-horn-warm-springs): 95°F source, pH 9.6, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Sulphur Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sulphur-creek-hot-spring-2): Hot, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Pistol Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/pistol-creek-hot-springs): 115°F source, pH 9.6, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Dagger Creek Hot Spring?**
Dagger Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 110°F (43°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Dagger Creek Hot Spring located?**
Dagger Creek Hot Spring is located in Valley County, Idaho at 5,740 feet elevation, near Cascade. Coordinates: 44.5160°N, 115.2950°W.

**How do I get to Dagger Creek Hot Spring?**
Dagger Creek Hot Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Dagger Falls Road (0.5 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Dagger Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Boundary Creek Campground is located nearby (1.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Dagger Creek Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.9 (alkaline).

## Sources

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