Latty Hot Spring
Latty Hot Spring flows at 144 degrees Fahrenheit from BLM land in Elmore County's high desert, about 20 miles north of Glenns Ferry. The water has remarkably low mineral content for such a hot spring, with just 54 milligrams per liter of sodium and minimal calcium, producing unusually soft thermal water.
The spring surfaces in rolling sagebrush country at 3,885 feet elevation, where the semi-arid landscape receives barely 13 inches of rain and 27 inches of snow per year. Views extend across the brown and olive tones of the high desert toward distant mountain ranges. The air is dry and often windy, and the spring's discharge creates a small green oasis of vegetation that stands out sharply against the surrounding terrain. A faint mineral smell drifts from the source.
BLM's Four Rivers Field Office manages this thermal feature on public lands. The spring's chemistry is unusual: despite emerging at 55 degrees Celsius, it carries almost no dissolved minerals, with calcium and magnesium both at just 0.1 milligrams per liter. This suggests the water circulates through relatively insoluble rock and returns to the surface quickly. The region's geothermal activity relates to deep faulting along the northern margin of the Snake River Plain.
Access is a short walk of about 136 meters from North Brimson Lane. The water is far too hot for direct contact at the source. Spillway Campground, the nearest developed site, sits 29 miles away along Anderson Ranch Reservoir with first-come-first-served sites. Glenns Ferry offers basic services. This is remote BLM desert, so bring water, sun protection, and be aware of rattlesnakes during warmer months.
Is Latty Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
- Overnight camping trips
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking
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Overview: Spillway Campground is a small campground with 3 campsites along Anderson Ranch Reservoir. The reservoir is a popular destination for fishing, boating, waterskiing and riding personal watercraft. There is excellent fishing in the reservoir for smallmouth bass and kokanee. Also try your luck at fly fishing just below the dam for a trout!Rafting access is at Reclamation Village, just south of the campground.