# Kirkham Hot Springs, Idaho

Kirkham Hot Springs in Idaho. 149°F (65°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Boise County.

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

## Can you soak at Kirkham Hot Springs?

Yes. Kirkham Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools. You pay $5 for parking or a permit as of October 2026. It's open May–Sep. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 149°F (65°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.1 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 4,000 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 346 ft from the nearest road (Kirkham Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Boise County |
| Nearest town | Idaho City |
| Coordinates | 44.07200, -115.54300 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | KIRKHAM, 0.1 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | $5 parking or permit. $5 per vehicle per day, required even if parking on Hwy 21 outside gate; annual Boise NF Day Use Pass on recreation.gov |
| Hours | 7am–9pm daily, gate closes 9pm; no overnight |
| Season | May–Sep |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Swimsuit required |
| Getting there | Short paved path and stairs from lot to pools, Hwy 21 |
| In winter | Closed for season after September; site not described as open in winter |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Boise National Forest (Lowman Ranger District), https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/boise/recreation/kirkham-hot-springs |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/boise/recreation/kirkham-hot-springs, https://www.recreation.gov/activitypass/AP23360, https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/kirkham-hot-springs-idaho-united-states

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 149°F, the source water at Kirkham 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 Kirkham Hot Springs

Kirkham Hot Springs sits beside a Forest Service campground of the same name, Boise National Forest, Boise County, Idaho, twenty-two miles or thereabouts from Idaho City. The record marks access open. At the source the temperature on record is scalding. Any soaking here relies on water that has lost heat between the vent and wherever people get in, and no pools are described on record.

Kirkham Road ends a few hundred feet short of the source; the last bit is on foot. Forest Service ground with nothing beyond National Forest in the way of designation. Snow piles up here in winter, well over a hundred inches most years, and the year is wet for Idaho. Elevation is middling.

The record points to winter. The Kirkham campground is right there, a tenth-mile off, about as close as camping gets. The water at the vent is hot enough to cause serious burns on contact, so find out where it has cooled before you touch anything. Chemistry was sampled in 1979 and the record shows nothing newer.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1979-02-27 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.1 |
| Calcium | 1.9 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 70 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 39 mg/L |
| Chloride | 3.9 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 38 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Haven Lodge Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/haven-lodge-hot-spring): 147°F source, pH 9.2, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, developed pools, pools 85–104°F, $20 day pass, year-round
- [Pine Flat Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/pine-flat-hot-springs): 138°F source, pH 9.2, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools
- [Bonneville Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/bonneville-hot-springs): 185°F source, pH 9.3, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, pools 104°F, $5 parking or permit, apr–oct
- [Danskin Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/danskin-creek-hot-spring): 106°F source, pH 8.8, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools
- [Dan Hodges Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dan-hodges-hot-spring): 140°F source, pH 9.1, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Corder Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/corder-hot-spring): 131°F source, pH 9.2, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Kirkham Hot Springs?**
Kirkham Hot Springs has a water temperature of 149°F (65°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Kirkham Hot Springs located?**
Kirkham Hot Springs is located in Boise County, Idaho at 4,000 feet elevation, near Idaho City. Coordinates: 44.0720°N, 115.5430°W.

**How do I get to Kirkham Hot Springs?**
Kirkham Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Kirkham Road (346 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Kirkham Hot Springs?**
Yes, Kirkham is located nearby (0.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Kirkham Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.1 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Kirkham Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Kirkham Hot Springs reaches 149°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