# Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 120°F (49°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Custer County.

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

## Can you soak at Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring?

Yes. Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools. You pay for parking or a permit. It's open late May-Sep (river permit season). It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 120°F (49°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.0 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 4,094 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.4 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Challis National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Custer County |
| Nearest town | Challis |
| Coordinates | 44.79900, -114.80600 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | YELLOWJACKET GUARD STATION, 20.8 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Parking or permit fee |
| Season | late May-Sep (river permit season) |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | 1.5 mi hike up Loon Creek from Middle Fork Salmon, usually reached on a multi-day float |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/lower-loon-creek-hot-spring-idaho

## About Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring

Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring, which OpenStreetMap lists as Loon Creek Hot Spring, is on the Challis National Forest in Custer County, thirty-five miles from Challis. It comes out hot, above soaking temperature at the source. Access is open. It is under half a mile from the nearest road, and there is a photo on file.

Under half a mile on foot from a road that has no name in our data. Elevation is around four thousand feet, with heavy snow, eight or nine feet a year, and moderate precipitation. Yellowjacket Guard Station is twenty-one miles distant, the nearest camping on record. National Forest land, no wilderness tag attached.

In June 1980 the USGS sampled the spring. OpenStreetMap drops the Lower from the name and calls it Loon Creek Hot Spring.

Our chart shows midwinter as the dry season, but snow will be the limiting factor then. Let it cool. Test it with a hand before anything else goes in. Chemistry from a 1980 survey. Listed as open. Nobody has recorded a fee.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1980-06-28 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9 |
| Calcium | 1.8 mg/L |
| Sodium | 94 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 50 mg/L |
| Chloride | 11 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 37 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Cox Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/cox-hot-springs): 131°F source, pH 8.9, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Hospital Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/hospital-hot-spring): 115°F source, pH 8.9, TDS 278 mg/L, Hike, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, parking or permit fee, late may-sep (river permit season)
- [Sunflower Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sunflower-hot-springs): 149°F source, pH 9.3, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools
- [Owen Cabin Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/owen-cabin-hot-spring): 133°F source, pH 9.3, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Upper Loon Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/upper-loon-creek-hot-springs): 145°F source, pH 9.3, Hike, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, pools 90–120°F, jul–oct
- [Sunflower Flat Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sunflower-flat-hot-spring): 109°F source, pH 9.2, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring?**
Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 120°F (49°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring located?**
Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring is located in Custer County, Idaho at 4,094 feet elevation, near Challis. Coordinates: 44.7990°N, 114.8060°W.

**How do I get to Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring?**
Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (0.4 mi from the road).

**Is Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring free to visit?**
Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Yellowjacket Guard Station is located nearby (20.8 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.0 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring?**
With care. At 120°F Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring 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