# Granite Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Granite Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 131°F (55°C). Roadside · Public Land. Boise County.

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

## Can you soak at Granite Creek Hot Spring?

Yes. Granite Creek Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools that run from 100 to 115°F. Soaking is free. It's open Jul–Nov. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 131°F (55°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.4 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 4,205 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 237 ft from the nearest road (Middle Fork Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Boise County |
| Nearest town | Idaho City |
| Coordinates | 43.80300, -115.40100 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Barber Flat Cabin (Boise National Forest, ID), 6.9 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free. No entrance fee |
| Season | Jul–Nov |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Pool temperature | 100–115°F |
| Clothing | Swimsuit required |
| Getting there | roadside on Middle Fork Boise road, high clearance |
| In winter | road impassable winter and spring; snowmobile |
| Operator | US Forest Service (Boise NF) |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/granite-creek-hot-spring-idaho, https://idahohotsprings.com/destinations/granite_creek/index.htm

## About Granite Creek Hot Spring

Granite Creek Hot Spring is Forest Service land in Boise County, part of the Boise National Forest, a 21 mile run from Idaho City off Middle Fork Road. Low 130s at the source, hot. Access is recorded as open. Barber Flat Cabin, about seven miles off, is the closest camping on record. An image is on record, though nothing on file describes how or whether the water is pooled.

You can see the spring from the road; it is about 240 feet off Middle Fork Road at a little over four thousand feet. Winters drop around ten feet of snow; the climate is wet year round. That is the extent of what the record says about the site.

December into February is the window the best-months note favors. With ten feet of snow the drive becomes the variable, since the spring itself is roadside. The water needs cooling. A 1981 sample is the only chemistry on file and it read alkaline. Barber Flat Cabin is where the record points for camping.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1981-05-28 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.4 |
| Calcium | 1.9 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0 mg/L |
| Sodium | 52 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 26 mg/L |
| Chloride | 1.7 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Boise](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/boise), 33 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Dutch Frank Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dutch-frank-hot-spring): 149°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, pools 102–104°F, free, jun–nov
- [Straight Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/straight-creek-hot-spring): 144°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Weatherby Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/weatherby-hot-spring): 113°F source, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Brown Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/brown-creek-hot-spring): 122°F source, pH 9.4, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, free, aug-oct (low water ford)
- [Pool Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/pool-creek-hot-spring): 108°F source, pH 9.6, TDS 245 mg/L, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Ninemeyer Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/ninemeyer-hot-springs): 169°F source, pH 9.6, TDS 245 mg/L, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, jul–nov

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Granite Creek Hot Spring?**
Granite Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 131°F (55°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Granite Creek Hot Spring located?**
Granite Creek Hot Spring is located in Boise County, Idaho at 4,205 feet elevation, near Idaho City. Coordinates: 43.8030°N, 115.4010°W.

**How do I get to Granite Creek Hot Spring?**
Granite Creek Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Middle Fork Road (237 ft from the road).

**Is Granite Creek Hot Spring free to visit?**
Granite Creek Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Granite Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Barber Flat Cabin (Boise National Forest, Id) is located nearby (6.9 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Granite Creek Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.4 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Granite Creek Hot Spring?**
With care. At 131°F Granite 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