# Hot Springs, Idaho

Hot Springs in Idaho. 158°F (70°C). Short Walk. Elmore County.

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

## Can you soak at Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 158°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 158°F (70°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.4 (Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 286 mg/L |
| Elevation | 3,557 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.2 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Elmore County |
| Nearest town | Mountain Home |
| Coordinates | 43.15500, -115.51800 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Spillway Campground, 14.4 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 158°F, the source water at Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Hot Springs

Plain old Hot Springs, no other name, in Elmore County about nine miles from Mountain Home. The water is scalding. At this temperature it would burn skin on contact, so whatever is here, it is off limits as found. Who owns the ground and whether the public can reach it are both missing from our records.

Low elevation, a little over thirty-five hundred feet, with a dry climate and light winters by Idaho standards. The nearest road is about a fifth of a mile away, name unknown to us. Land ownership is unrecorded. Spillway Campground, about fourteen miles off, is the only camping we list nearby.

The USGS visited in July 1957 and recorded the water as strongly alkaline with a moderate load of dissolved solids.

The driest months fall in winter. Treat the water as dangerous; it is far past the scalding threshold. There is no access status on file, so you may be looking at private land, and the chemistry and temperature come from a 1957 survey. Confirm all of it before driving out.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1957-07-30 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.4 |
| Total dissolved solids | 286 mg/L |
| Calcium | 0.4 mg/L |
| Sodium | 90 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 14 mg/L |
| Chloride | 5 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Glenns Ferry](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/glenns-ferry), 9 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Coyote Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/coyote-hot-spring): 135°F source, TDS 250 mg/L, Roadside, near Glenns Ferry, Elmore County, primitive pools, pools 100–104°F, free, may–oct
- [Latty Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/latty-hot-spring): 144°F source, TDS 250 mg/L, Short Walk, near Glenns Ferry, Elmore County
- [Towne Creek Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/towne-creek-warm-spring): 75°F source, pH 6.7, Roadside, near Mountain Home, Elmore County
- [Bat Hot Spring, Pence Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/bat-hot-spring-pence-hot-spring): 117°F source, pH 8.2, TDS 243 mg/L, Short Walk, near Mountain Home Air Force Base, Elmore County
- [Wolf Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/wolf-hot-spring): 113°F source, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County
- [Bruneau Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/bruneau-hot-spring): 106°F source, pH 8.6, Roadside, near Mountain Home Air Force Base, Elmore County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hot Springs?**
Hot Springs has a water temperature of 158°F (70°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hot Springs located?**
Hot Springs is located in Elmore County, Idaho at 3,557 feet elevation, near Mountain Home. Coordinates: 43.1550°N, 115.5180°W.

**How do I get to Hot Springs?**
Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Hot Springs?**
Yes, Spillway Campground is located nearby (14.4 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.4 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 286 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Hot Springs reaches 158°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

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