Dan Hodges Hot Spring
Dan Hodges Hot Spring emerges at 140 degrees Fahrenheit right along Riverview Way in Boise County, just 90 feet from the road. That extreme heat and roadside proximity make this one of the hottest easily reached thermal features near Idaho City, a former gold rush boomtown that still draws visitors to its mountain surroundings.
At 3,200 feet elevation, the spring sits in the South Fork Payette River drainage where ponderosa pine and mixed conifers line the canyon. The river corridor stays green through summer while hillsides turn gold and brown. Annual snowfall exceeds eight feet, but the hot spring steams through every season. The sound of moving water from nearby creeks mixes with birdsong in the forest. Mineral deposits mark the outflow path with pale mineral crusts against dark river cobbles.
The South Fork Payette corridor hosts a concentration of thermal springs reflecting the Idaho Batholith's deep heat. Dan Hodges Hot Spring's alkaline chemistry, pH 9.1 with 78 mg/L sodium and very low calcium, points to water that has circulated through granitic rock at depth. Idaho City, established during the 1862 gold rush, sits nearby, and early miners noted these thermal features while working placer claims throughout the drainage.
At 140 degrees Fahrenheit, this water is dangerously hot at the source. Do not attempt to soak directly in the outflow. Look for areas downstream where mixing with cooler water brings temperatures to a tolerable range. Hot Springs Campground, about 4.5 miles away along the Banks-Lowman Highway, accepts reservations and offers river access. The road is paved and accessible year-round with winter maintenance.
Is Dan Hodges Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking
The water at Dan Hodges Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 9.1).
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Overview Hot Springs Campground is located just east of Garden Valley, Idaho along the Banks-Lowman Highway at an elevation of 3169 feet. Visitors enjoy rafting, kayaking, fishing on the South Fork Payette River, and soaking in the hot springs at the river's edge. Recreation The South Fork Payette River is across the road from the campground, offering fishing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking. A natural hot springs soaking pool is located on the river directly across the road and down a...