# Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs, Idaho

Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs in Idaho. 108°F (42°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Elmore County.

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

## Can you soak at Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs?

Yes. Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools that run at 102°F. Soaking is free. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 108°F (42°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.7 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 2,645 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.7 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Jarbidge Field Office, Bureau of Land Management |
| County | Elmore County |
| Nearest town | Mountain Home Air Force Base |
| Coordinates | 42.76700, -115.72500 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free. No day-use fee listed |
| Season | Year-round |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Pool temperature | 102°F |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | Rough canyon rim road, high clearance 4WD; or park above and walk last 0.75 mi; steep 0.15 mi trail down |
| In winter | Avoid wet or snowy conditions; best late spring through fall |
| Operator | Bureau of Land Management |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://hotspringslocator.com/lower-indian-bathtub-hot-spring, https://idahohotsprings.com/destinations/lower_indian_bathtub/index.htm

## About Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs

Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs lies on BLM land in Elmore County, Idaho, a couple of miles from Mountain Home Air Force Base. Access is open. The recorded temperature lands in soaking range, warm enough to get into as it comes from the source, and the USGS measured a respectable flow, a full cubic foot per second.

Getting there means walking about seven tenths of a mile in from the closest road, which the record leaves unnamed. Bureau of Land Management ground in the Jarbidge Field Office, plain public land carrying no special designation. This is low, dry ground. Snow is scant, a foot a year on average, and the climate is dry and mild.

Midwinter is the recorded best time, and with so little snow a winter visit is reasonable. The record lists no campground near here. The water is at a temperature most people find comfortable, so there is no burn risk to speak of. The land is BLM and open. The road in is not named, so you will need your own directions. Chemistry on record dates to 1989.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1989-03-28 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.7 |
| Calcium | 6.1 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.43 mg/L |
| Sodium | 56 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 17 mg/L |
| Chloride | 8.3 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Mountain Home Air Force Base](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/mountain-home-air-force-base), 2 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Indian Bathtub Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/indian-bathtub-hot-springs): 99°F source, pH 8.6, TDS 248 mg/L, Short Walk, near Mountain Home Air Force Base, Elmore County, primitive pools, pools 93–96°F, free
- [Buckaroo Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/buckaroo-hot-spring): 109°F source, pH 8.2, Roadside, near Mountain Home Air Force Base, 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
- [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
- [Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/hot-springs-elmore-county): 158°F source, pH 9.4, TDS 286 mg/L, Short Walk, near Mountain Home, Elmore County
- [Indian Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/indian-hot-springs-2): 160°F source, pH 9.4, TDS 286 mg/L, Short Walk, near Glenns Ferry, Elmore County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs?**
Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs has a water temperature of 108°F (42°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs located?**
Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs is located in Elmore County, Idaho at 2,645 feet elevation, near Mountain Home Air Force Base. Coordinates: 42.7670°N, 115.7250°W.

**How do I get to Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs?**
Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.7 mi from the road).

**Is Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs free to visit?**
Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.

**What minerals are in the water at Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.7 (alkaline).

## Sources

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