# Milford Sweat Hot Spring, Idaho

Milford Sweat Hot Spring in Idaho. 111°F (44°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Blaine County.

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

## Can you soak at Milford Sweat Hot Spring?

Yes. Milford Sweat Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 111°F (44°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.0 (Neutral) |
| Elevation | 5,010 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 431 ft from the nearest road (Idaho Medal of Honor Highway) |
| Land | Craters of the Moon National Preserve, National Park Service |
| County | Blaine County |
| Nearest town | Bellevue |
| Coordinates | 43.36300, -113.77900 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free. donations welcome |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | 50 yd walk from pullout on north side of US-26 between mileposts 214 and 215, about 9.7 mi east of Carey |
| Operator | Private (Milford Sweat family) |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/milford-sweat-hot-spring-idaho, https://hotspringslocator.com/?p=16775

## About Milford Sweat Hot Spring

Milford Sweat Hot Spring sits inside Craters of the Moon National Preserve, on National Park Service ground in Blaine County, a bit over a hundred yards from the Idaho Medal of Honor Highway. The water runs hot, hotter than a bath you would want to stay in, and the nearest town of any size is Bellevue, about twenty-five miles away. The access entry reads open, though this is Park Service land and its rules govern what happens on it.

Dry country. The preserve sees little precipitation and snow measured in a few feet, which at five thousand feet is enough to make winter travel a question. The walk from the highway is short, a few hundred feet. The land designation in the record is a national conservation area, and the owner is the National Park Service, a different management posture from the Forest Service and BLM springs elsewhere in the state.

The Park Service holds it as part of Craters of the Moon National Preserve, and the USGS keeps a site record for it that includes a sample from March 1989.

December through February carry the best-months tag, which fits cold air and hot water. The source is above comfortable soaking temperature, so test it before any part of you goes in. No campground is on file nearby. No charge is listed. The water chemistry comes from a single sample taken in 1989 and the temperature could have shifted since, so treat both as a starting point.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1989-03-15 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7 |
| Calcium | 62 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 12 mg/L |
| Sodium | 51 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 57 mg/L |
| Chloride | 6.3 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Bellevue](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/bellevue), 7 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Rush Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/rush-warm-spring): 72°F source, Short Walk, near Bellevue, Blaine County
- [Condie Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/condie-hot-springs): 124°F source, pH 7.0, Short Walk, near Bellevue, Blaine County
- [Hailey Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/hailey-hot-springs): 131°F source, pH 9.6, TDS 268 mg/L, Short Walk, near Hailey, Blaine County, closed
- [Magic Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/magic-hot-springs-2): 163°F source, pH 7.3, Roadside, near Bellevue, Blaine County
- [Clarendon Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/clarendon-hot-springs): 126°F source, pH 9.1, TDS 318 mg/L, Roadside, near Hailey, Blaine County
- [Guyer Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/guyer-hot-springs): 158°F source, pH 9.1, Roadside, near Ketchum, Blaine County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Milford Sweat Hot Spring?**
Milford Sweat Hot Spring has a water temperature of 111°F (44°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Milford Sweat Hot Spring located?**
Milford Sweat Hot Spring is located in Blaine County, Idaho at 5,010 feet elevation, near Bellevue. Coordinates: 43.3630°N, 113.7790°W.

**How do I get to Milford Sweat Hot Spring?**
Milford Sweat Hot Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Idaho Medal of Honor Highway (431 ft from the road).

**Is Milford Sweat Hot Spring free to visit?**
Milford Sweat Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.

**What minerals are in the water at Milford Sweat Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.0 (neutral).

**Is it safe to soak at Milford Sweat Hot Spring?**
With care. At 111°F Milford Sweat 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