Fairchild Hot Spring
Fairchild Hot Spring rises at 126 degrees F near the town of Weiser in Washington County, sitting at just 2,700 feet elevation, which makes it one of the lower-elevation thermal springs in Idaho. A short 380-foot walk from Reeds Grove Road reaches the spring, whose water carries notably high sulfate levels at 110 mg/L alongside 80 mg/L sodium.
The spring emerges in the rolling foothills of western Idaho where dry grassland gives way to scattered ponderosa pine at higher elevations. The Weiser River drainage shapes this landscape, and the terrain has a warmer, drier character than central Idaho's mountain springs. Annual snowfall averages just 37 inches compared to 100-plus inches in the higher ranges. The mineral-laden outflow stains the surrounding rock and soil, and a faint sulfur smell hangs in the air near the source. Views extend across agricultural bottomland toward the Seven Devils Mountains.
Spring Creek Campground in the Hitt Mountains is about 10 miles away and accepts reservations. The spring requires a short walk from Reeds Grove Road. At 126 degrees F, the source is dangerously hot and must cool before any contact. The lower elevation means earlier seasonal access than Idaho's mountain springs, with snow clearing by March most years. Weiser, a few miles away, offers full services.
Western Idaho's geothermal activity traces to Basin and Range faulting that created north-south trending valleys with deep fracture systems. Fairchild's chemistry, with elevated sulfate and moderate chloride at 15 mg/L, suggests the water interacts with volcanic rock at depth before rising along fault planes. The USGS has recorded the source at 50 degrees C. The Weiser area was settled in the 1860s during Idaho's gold rush period, and ranching families have used local hot springs for generations.
The water at Fairchild Hot Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 8.5).
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Overview Spring Creek Campground is located along the peaceful Spring Creek in the Hitt Mountains of western Idaho. Visitors enjoy relaxing along the gentle creek, fishing and exploring local trails. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your...
Fairchild Hot Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water runs hot, so extra hydration is key.
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Slightly Alkaline Springs (pH ~8.5)
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