Lidy Hot Springs
Lidy Hot Springs runs at 124 degrees Fahrenheit in Idaho's high desert near Dubois, where Clark County's dry basin country averages just 12 inches of rain annually. At 5,300 feet, the spring pushes 80 degrees above ambient air temperature, delivering serious heat that demands mixing with cooler water before soaking.
The landscape here is open and spare -- sagebrush flats stretching toward distant ranges under a wide eastern Idaho sky. The spring sits at the edge of this transition zone where the Snake River Plain meets the Beaverhead Mountains. Wind moves freely across the basin, carrying the faint mineral smell of hot water. In winter, snow dusts the ground while steam rises thick from the source, visible from the nearby road just 175 meters away.
The spring is a short walk from the road, under 200 meters. Water at 124 degrees requires cooling before body contact -- look for pools where cooler runoff mixes in. The nearest campground at Birch Creek has flood damage and no guaranteed amenities, so plan to be self-sufficient. Summers are warm but brief; winters drop well below freezing with moderate snowfall.
This section of eastern Idaho sits along the northern margin of the Snake River Plain, where deep-seated faults channel geothermally heated groundwater to the surface. The spring emerges in a region shaped by Basin and Range extension and Yellowstone hotspot volcanism. Birch Creek, the nearest established camping area 28 kilometers away, suffered severe flood damage that washed out roads and carved gaps over three feet deep.
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
***An intense precipitation event occurring in southeastern Idaho resulted in the flooding of the popular Birch Creek campground. Fast moving water washed out many of the roads, leaving eroded gaps as deep as 3 Ѕ feet. While the area is still open to the public, the Bureau of Land Management Upper Snake Field Office urges the public to remain cautious, as the site has significantly changed.***This campground includes approximately 25 campsites with amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings,...
Lidy Hot Springs sits at 5,300 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 21% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Lidy Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water runs hot, so extra hydration is key. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.