Hospital Hot Spring
Hospital Hot Spring is a backcountry source on Forest Service land in Custer County, Idaho, part of the Boise National Forest and a long way from anything. Challis is the nearest town listed, nearly thirty-six miles off. Public access is listed as open. The water runs hot, beyond what most people would sit in straight from the ground, and a 1980 sample found fairly low dissolved solids with some iron in it.
Reaching the source means a hike of about two miles from a road the record leaves unnamed. National Forest land with no wilderness or other special designation noted. The elevation is modest for central Idaho. Snow is another matter, over eight feet in a typical year. Summers are on the dry side.
Winter is the recorded best season, deep snow or no. Yellowjacket Guard Station is the one campground on file, close to nineteen miles away. Hot enough to burn with prolonged contact, so test it first. The chemistry sample dates from 1980, and with no road named, the hike in is yours to navigate.
The water at Hospital Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 8.9) with 278 mg/L total dissolved solids.
Overview Yellowjacket Guard Station is a historic Forest Service Ranger Station and Work Center. Originally constructed in 1925 and remodeled in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Recreation Hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers and off-road enthusiasts will find many trails in the surrounding area. Hunting is also a popular activity. Click here for an Idaho OHV safety messageFacilities The spacious...
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