# Elk Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Elk Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 126°F (52°C). Short Walk. Camas County.

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

## Can you soak at Elk Creek Hot Spring?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 126°F, hotter than any hot tub. It's a short walk from the road. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 126°F (52°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.0 (Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 302 mg/L |
| Elevation | 5,660 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 355 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Camas County |
| Nearest town | Fairfield |
| Coordinates | 43.42300, -114.62700 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Bowns Campground, 18.0 mi |

## About Elk Creek Hot Spring

Elk Creek Hot Spring is in Camas County, ten miles from Fairfield, with hot water in the mid hundred-and-twenties that would need cooling before a soak. The record is silent on who owns it and on public access. A short walk separates it from the nearest road, under four hundred feet, at a little over fifty-six hundred feet of elevation.

High and comparatively dry. Winters drop about seven feet of snow. Annual precipitation is on the low side at around twenty-one inches. From the unnamed road it is a few hundred feet on foot. Bowns Campground is the nearest listed camping, eighteen miles away, so not close. Who manages the land is not recorded.

Best months in the file are the winter three. Hot at the source; test before contact. A dissolved-solids reading exists here, moderate at 302 mg/L, sampled in 1989 along with a high pH. No access or ownership on record. Bowns is a long way for camping.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1989-05-03 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9 |
| Total dissolved solids | 302 mg/L |
| Calcium | 2.1 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.01 mg/L |
| Sodium | 92 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 42 mg/L |
| Chloride | 22 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Hailey](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/hailey), 14 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Worswick Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/worswick-hot-springs): 180°F source, pH 9.0, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, free, jul–oct
- [Magic Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/magic-hot-springs-2): 163°F source, pH 7.3, Roadside, near Bellevue, Blaine County
- [Clarendon Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/clarendon-hot-springs): 126°F source, pH 9.1, TDS 318 mg/L, Roadside, near Hailey, Blaine County
- [Preis Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/preis-hot-spring): 106°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, pools 102°F, free, may-oct
- [Hailey Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/hailey-hot-springs): 131°F source, pH 9.6, TDS 268 mg/L, Short Walk, near Hailey, Blaine County, closed
- [Mormon Reservoir Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/mormon-reservoir-warm-spring): Warm, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Elk Creek Hot Spring?**
Elk Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 126°F (52°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Elk Creek Hot Spring located?**
Elk Creek Hot Spring is located in Camas County, Idaho at 5,660 feet elevation, near Fairfield. Coordinates: 43.4230°N, 114.6270°W.

**How do I get to Elk Creek Hot Spring?**
Elk Creek Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (355 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Elk Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Bowns Campground is located nearby (18.0 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Elk Creek Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.0 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 302 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Elk Creek Hot Spring?**
With care. At 126°F Elk Creek Hot Spring is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

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