# Horse Creek Hot Springs, Idaho

Horse Creek Hot Springs in Idaho. 109°F (43°C). Roadside · Public Land. Lemhi County.

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

## Can you soak at Horse Creek Hot Springs?

Yes. Horse Creek Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 109°F (43°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 6.4 (Slightly Acidic) |
| Elevation | 6,080 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 64 ft from the nearest road |
| Land | Salmon National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Lemhi County |
| Nearest town | Salmon |
| Coordinates | 45.50300, -114.46300 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | ALTA CAMPGROUND, 11.4 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Getting there | semi-developed, off Salmon River Road, USFS map needed |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Salmon-Challis National Forest |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://visitsalmonvalley.com/trails-hot-springs, https://campendium.com/horse-creek-hot-spring

## About Horse Creek Hot Springs

Horse Creek Hot Springs sits in the Salmon National Forest, Lemhi County, thirty-some miles from the town of Salmon. The temperature is right in the range people look for, soaking warm, about what a hot bath feels like. Access is open according to our records. The water tested slightly acidic when it was sampled in 1980.

You can see the road from the spring; the gap is about twenty yards. Its name did not make it into our records. The elevation is around six thousand feet, so winters bring real snow, nine or ten feet of it in an average year. Alta Campground, about eleven miles distant, is where our data puts the closest camping. The land is plain National Forest with no wilderness or other designation attached.

Midwinter rates best in our climate numbers, but that is a high-country road in winter and nothing in our record says it gets plowed. Roadside access means no walking to speak of. No fee is listed. Temperature comes from a 1980 USGS survey, so expect some drift from the figure in the table.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1980-08-06 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 6.4 |
| Calcium | 4.2 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 1.4 mg/L |
| Sodium | 3.1 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 4.1 mg/L |
| Chloride | 0.3 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Kamiah](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/kamiah), 68 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Owl Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/owl-creek-hot-springs): 122°F source, pH 8.4, Hike, near Salmon, Lemhi County, private, no public access
- [Blue Joint Hot Spring 1, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/blue-joint-hot-spring-1): 84°F source, Short Walk, near Hamilton, Ravalli County
- [Blue Joint Hot Springs 2, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/blue-joint-hot-springs-2): 84°F source, Roadside, near Hamilton, Ravalli County
- [Big Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/big-creek-hot-springs): 199°F source, pH 7.6, Short Walk, near Salmon, Lemhi County, primitive pools, free, year-round
- [Barth Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/barth-hot-springs): 140°F source, Backcountry, near Hamilton, Ravalli County, primitive pools, parking or permit fee, jun–sep
- [Gallogly Spring, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/gallogly-spring): 100°F source, Short Walk, near Hamilton, Ravalli County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Horse Creek Hot Springs?**
Horse Creek Hot Springs has a water temperature of 109°F (43°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Horse Creek Hot Springs located?**
Horse Creek Hot Springs is located in Lemhi County, Idaho at 6,080 feet elevation, near Salmon. Coordinates: 45.5030°N, 114.4630°W.

**How do I get to Horse Creek Hot Springs?**
Horse Creek Hot Springs has Roadside road access (64 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Horse Creek Hot Springs?**
Yes, Alta Campground is located nearby (11.4 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Horse Creek Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 6.4 (slightly acidic).

## Sources

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