# Hot Creek Warm Spring, Idaho

Hot Creek Warm Spring in Idaho. 97°F (36°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Valley County.

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

## Can you soak at Hot Creek Warm Spring?

The water leaves the ground at 97°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. It's a short walk from the road. It's on US Forest Service land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 97°F (36°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.7 (Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 252 mg/L |
| Elevation | 5,575 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.6 mi from the nearest road (Johnson Creek Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Valley County |
| Nearest town | McCall |
| Coordinates | 44.90000, -115.50500 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | JOHNSON CREEK GUARD STATION, 2.4 mi |

## About Hot Creek Warm Spring

Hot Creek Warm Spring is a Boise National Forest source in Valley County, about thirty miles from McCall as the crow flies. Water comes out at roughly body temperature, soaking warm without being hot, and the land is open to the public. The closest camping is the Johnson Creek Guard Station, only a couple of miles off.

Johnson Creek Road is the nearest road, and the spring is a bit over half a mile from it, so count on a walk. The elevation is mid-mountain, around fifty-five hundred feet. Snowfall here is heavy, roughly fourteen feet a year, and the area gets a fair amount of rain besides. National Forest ground, no added designation.

The USGS sampled this water in September 1958, so the chemistry shown on the page is nearly seventy years old.

Midwinter shows up as the best window in our climate data, which is odd for a place with this much snow, so read that as the driest months and plan the approach with snow in mind. The guard station sits a couple of miles off. The only water sample we have dates to 1958. No fee on record.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1958-09-09 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.7 |
| Total dissolved solids | 252 mg/L |
| Calcium | 3.2 mg/L |
| Sodium | 63 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 45 mg/L |
| Chloride | 10 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Grangeville](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/grangeville), 44 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Sheep Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sheep-creek-hot-spring): 136°F source, Hike, near McCall, Valley County
- [Holdover Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/holdover-hot-spring): 117°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near McCall, Valley County
- [Teapot Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/teapot-hot-spring): 142°F source, pH 9.3, Roadside, near McCall, Valley County, primitive pools, pools 107°F, year-round
- [Billy Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/billy-hot-spring): Hot, pH 9.7, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Kwiskwis Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/kwiskwis-hot-spring): 156°F source, pH 9.0, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Dollar Creek Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dollar-creek-warm-spring): 68°F source, pH 7.7, Roadside, near Cascade, Valley County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hot Creek Warm Spring?**
Hot Creek Warm Spring has a water temperature of 97°F (36°C). This is a warm thermal spring.

**Where is Hot Creek Warm Spring located?**
Hot Creek Warm Spring is located in Valley County, Idaho at 5,575 feet elevation, near McCall. Coordinates: 44.9000°N, 115.5050°W.

**How do I get to Hot Creek Warm Spring?**
Hot Creek Warm Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Johnson Creek Road (0.6 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Hot Creek Warm Spring?**
Yes, Johnson Creek Guard Station is located nearby (2.4 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Hot Creek Warm Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.7 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 252 mg/L.

## Sources

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