# Hospital Hot Spring, Idaho

Hospital Hot Spring in Idaho. 115°F (46°C). Hike · Public Land. Custer County.

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

## Can you soak at Hospital Hot Spring?

Yes. Hospital Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools. You pay for parking or a permit. It's open late May-Sep (river permit season). Reaching it takes a hike.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 115°F (46°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.9 (Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 278 mg/L |
| Elevation | 4,000 ft |
| Access | Hike · Public Land, 2.1 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Custer County |
| Nearest town | Challis |
| Coordinates | 44.83600, -114.79000 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION, 18.6 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Parking or permit fee |
| Season | late May-Sep (river permit season) |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Getting there | Middle Fork Salmon river-side, reached by permitted float |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Fork_Salmon_River, https://www.rowadventures.com/rafting/hot-springs-along-salmon-river-idaho

## About 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.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1980-06-29 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.9 |
| Total dissolved solids | 278 mg/L |
| Calcium | 3.4 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0 mg/L |
| Sodium | 90 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 41 mg/L |
| Chloride | 14 mg/L |
| Iron | 0 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 40 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/lower-loon-creek-hot-spring): 120°F source, pH 9.0, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, parking or permit fee, late may-sep (river permit season)
- [Cox Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/cox-hot-springs): 131°F source, pH 8.9, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Mormon Ranch Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/mormon-ranch-warm-spring): Hot, pH 9.4, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Forge Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/forge-creek-hot-springs): Hot, pH 8.7, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Sunflower Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sunflower-hot-springs): 149°F source, pH 9.3, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools
- [Owen Cabin Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/owen-cabin-hot-spring): 133°F source, pH 9.3, Hike, near Challis, Custer County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hospital Hot Spring?**
Hospital Hot Spring has a water temperature of 115°F (46°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hospital Hot Spring located?**
Hospital Hot Spring is located in Custer County, Idaho at 4,000 feet elevation, near Challis. Coordinates: 44.8360°N, 114.7900°W.

**How do I get to Hospital Hot Spring?**
Hospital Hot Spring has Hike road access (2.1 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Hospital Hot Spring?**
Yes, Yellowjacket Guard Station is located nearby (18.6 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Hospital Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 8.9 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 278 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Hospital Hot Spring?**
With care. At 115°F Hospital 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