# Lightfoot Hot Springs, Idaho

Lightfoot Hot Springs in Idaho. 133°F (56°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Camas County.

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

## Can you soak at Lightfoot Hot Springs?

Yes. Lightfoot Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools. It's open May–Oct. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 133°F (56°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.8 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 5,802 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.2 mi from the nearest road (Carrie Creek Road) |
| Land | Sawtooth National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Camas County |
| Nearest town | Fairfield |
| Coordinates | 43.60500, -114.94800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Bowns Campground, 3.3 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Season | May–Oct |
| Getting there | dirt road, pack bridge and short hike, or ford the river |
| In winter | forest road closed Oct to mid-May |
| Operator | US Forest Service (Sawtooth NF) |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://idahohotsprings.com/destinations/lightfoot/index.htm

## About Lightfoot Hot Springs

Lightfoot Hot Springs is on the Sawtooth National Forest in Camas County, nineteen miles from Fairfield. Hot water, above the comfortable range. The USGS measured the flow at a hundredth of a cubic foot a second, which is tiny. Access is open and Bowns Campground is about three miles away.

Carrie Creek Road runs about 0.2 miles from the spring, so the approach is a short walk. Elevation is fifty-eight hundred feet, high enough for heavy snow, around eleven feet a year. Moderate precipitation otherwise. National Forest land, no other designation, with nothing stricter than ordinary Forest Service rules on record. Bowns Campground, three miles or so off, is the closest camping our records show.

Winter comes up as the dry season, with the usual caveat about snow at this elevation. Careless contact could scald; check the water first. No fee listed. The chemistry is from an October 1977 survey, and the flow measurement is from the same agency, so both are decades old.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1977-10-14 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.8 |
| Calcium | 1.7 mg/L |
| Sodium | 82 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 26 mg/L |
| Chloride | 16 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Hailey](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/hailey), 27 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Baumgartner Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/baumgartner-hot-spring): 111°F source, pH 9.1, Roadside, near Fairfield, Camas County, developed pools, pools 98–111°F, parking or permit fee, late may-sep 30
- [Preis Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/preis-hot-spring): 106°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, pools 102°F, free, may-oct
- [Skillern Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/skillern-hot-springs): 140°F source, pH 9.4, Hike, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, pools 100–106°F, may–oct
- [Worswick Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/worswick-hot-springs): 180°F source, pH 9.0, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, free, jul–oct
- [Willow Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/willow-creek-hot-spring): 131°F source, pH 9.5, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, free, jun–oct
- [Big Smokey Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/big-smokey-hot-spring): Hot, Hike, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, pools 102°F, free, jun-oct

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Lightfoot Hot Springs?**
Lightfoot Hot Springs has a water temperature of 133°F (56°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Lightfoot Hot Springs located?**
Lightfoot Hot Springs is located in Camas County, Idaho at 5,802 feet elevation, near Fairfield. Coordinates: 43.6050°N, 114.9480°W.

**How do I get to Lightfoot Hot Springs?**
Lightfoot Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Carrie Creek Road (0.2 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Lightfoot Hot Springs?**
Yes, Bowns Campground is located nearby (3.3 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Lightfoot Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.8 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Lightfoot Hot Springs?**
With care. At 133°F Lightfoot Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

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