Durfee Spring
Durfee Spring surfaces at 102 degrees F right beside the Elba-Almo Road in southern Idaho's Cassia County, less than 100 feet from the pavement. At 5,383 feet elevation near Burley, it sits in high-desert terrain at the base of the Albion Mountains, where granitic geology drives a modest but consistent thermal output running 55 degrees above ambient air.
The spring emerges in open sagebrush country where the Albion Range rises sharply to the south. Dry bunchgrass and rabbitbrush frame the source, and the air carries the faint mineral smell common to geothermal seeps in this region. Views stretch across the Raft River Valley floor toward distant fault-block ridges. In winter, snow dusts the surrounding hills while the warm water keeps the immediate area green and steaming in the cold morning air.
Independence Lakes Campground sits about 8 miles away with five free, first-come sites open roughly July through October. No drinking water or trash service at the campground. The spring is immediately roadside on Elba-Almo Road, requiring no walk. Snow accumulation averages 50 inches annually, so access may be limited in winter months.
The Albion Mountains host a complex of metamorphic core formations where deep faulting allows heated groundwater to reach the surface. Durfee Spring is one of several thermal features scattered along this range front. The area's geothermal activity relates to Tertiary extensional tectonics that thinned the crust and created pathways for deep circulation. Nearby City of Rocks National Reserve preserves some of the same granitic formations that define this landscape.
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Independence Lake Campground and Picnic Area is a non-fee campground and picnic area where reservations are not required. There are 5 single sites. This area is accessible for a season that varies usually between July through October. Sites are handicapped accessible. Campground amenities include 9 tables and grills, toilets, and livestock facilities. No drinking water or trash service is available. Nearby Independence Lakes Trail (#35) is 3.1 miles to the Lake. Only non-motorized travel is...
Durfee Spring sits at 5,383 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 22% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Durfee Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear.
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