# Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 162°F (72°C). Hike · Public Land. Custer County.

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

## Can you soak at Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 162°F, hot enough to burn skin. Reaching it takes a hike. It's on US Forest Service land.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 162°F (72°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.0 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 5,438 ft |
| Access | Hike · Public Land, 4.8 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Custer County |
| Nearest town | Challis |
| Coordinates | 44.81300, -115.12300 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | JOHNSON CREEK GUARD STATION, 19.1 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 162°F, the source water at Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring

Deep in the Boise National Forest, Custer County, Idaho, Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring is a remote, scalding source. The closest town the record gives is Challis, close to fifty miles away. Open access. The temperature on file is well past the point of burning skin, so this is a thermal source to look at, with any soaking dependent on cooled outflow that the record does not cover.

Nearly five miles of hiking separate the source from the nearest road, and that road has no name on file. Forest Service ground, no wilderness designation recorded. Mid elevation for central Idaho, cold on average, and snowy, with a snowfall figure north of a hundred inches. No fee is noted, and the trail itself goes undescribed.

The record names winter, a hard call with a long approach through deep snow. For camping, the record has Johnson Creek Guard Station, about nineteen miles out. The water will scald on contact. Do not get in at the source. The chemistry sample is from 1979 and the access class on record is a hike.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1979-07-31 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9 |
| Calcium | 2 mg/L |
| Sodium | 110 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 66 mg/L |
| Chloride | 11 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 41 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Indian Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/indian-creek-hot-spring): 190°F source, pH 9.0, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Kwiskwis Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/kwiskwis-hot-spring): 156°F source, pH 9.0, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County
- [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
- [Pistol Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/pistol-creek-hot-springs): 115°F source, pH 9.6, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/thomas-creek-ranch-hot-spring): 138°F source, pH 9.3, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County
- [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

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring?**
Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 162°F (72°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring located?**
Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring is located in Custer County, Idaho at 5,438 feet elevation, near Challis. Coordinates: 44.8130°N, 115.1230°W.

**How do I get to Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring?**
Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring has Hike road access (4.8 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Johnson Creek Guard Station is located nearby (19.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Middle Fork Indian 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 Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring reaches 162°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

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