# Deer Hot Springs, Idaho

Deer Hot Springs in Idaho. 176°F (80°C). Short Walk. Boise County.

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

## Can you soak at Deer Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 176°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 176°F (80°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.2 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 3,120 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 359 ft from the nearest road (Banks Lowman Road) |
| County | Boise County |
| Nearest town | Idaho City |
| Coordinates | 44.09200, -116.05200 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | SWINGING BRIDGE, 6.5 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 176°F, the source water at Deer 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 Deer Hot Springs

Deer Hot Springs in Boise County comes out scalding at 176 degrees, well above anything skin can take. It sits near Banks Lowman Road some 21 miles out of Idaho City. OpenStreetMap calls it Skinny Dipper's Hot Springs, which suggests people do get in somewhere, though nothing on record explains how the water is cooled. Ownership goes unrecorded, and so does access. Swinging Bridge campground is six and a half miles away.

From Banks Lowman Road it is a walk of about 360 feet. The elevation is low for the area, a little over three thousand feet, which does not stop the snow: around six and a half feet of it in a typical winter, in a moderately wet climate. There is no photo, and the terrain goes undescribed.

The spring carries a second name on OpenStreetMap, Skinny Dipper's Hot Springs. Nothing on record says which name is older or where the second one came from.

The listed best season is winter. Six feet of snow beside a named road is usually workable, but the road is still the thing to check. The water will scald; any soaking depends on cooling the record does not describe. The chemistry sample is from 1982. Ask about access before you go; it is not on record.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1982-07-21 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.2 |
| Calcium | 6.1 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 120 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 88 mg/L |
| Chloride | 39 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Emmett](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/emmett), 25 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Warm Springs Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/warm-springs-creek-hot-springs): 167°F source, pH 8.4, TDS 307 mg/L, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Hot Spring Campground, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/hot-spring-campground): 124°F source, pH 9.0, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools
- [Donlay Ranch Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/donlay-ranch-hot-spring): 131°F source, pH 9.2, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Corder Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/corder-hot-spring): 131°F source, pH 9.2, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Dan Hodges Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dan-hodges-hot-spring): 140°F source, pH 9.1, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Danskin Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/danskin-creek-hot-spring): 106°F source, pH 8.8, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Deer Hot Springs?**
Deer Hot Springs has a water temperature of 176°F (80°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Deer Hot Springs located?**
Deer Hot Springs is located in Boise County, Idaho at 3,120 feet elevation, near Idaho City. Coordinates: 44.0920°N, 116.0520°W.

**How do I get to Deer Hot Springs?**
Deer Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Banks Lowman Road (359 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Deer Hot Springs?**
Yes, Swinging Bridge is located nearby (6.5 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Deer Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.2 (slightly alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Deer Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Deer Hot Springs reaches 176°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