# Mollys Hot Spring, Idaho

Mollys Hot Spring in Idaho. 138°F (59°C). Roadside · Public Land. Valley County.

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

## Can you soak at Mollys Hot Spring?

Yes. Mollys Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. It's open May–Oct. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 138°F (59°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.3 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 5,180 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 279 ft from the nearest road (South Fork Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Valley County |
| Nearest town | Cascade |
| Coordinates | 44.64200, -115.69300 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | PICNIC POINT (ID), 1.2 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | May–Oct |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | 0.4 mi trail from FR 474, steep last section |
| In winter | forest road unplowed; horse or snowshoe |
| Operator | US Forest Service (Boise NF) |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/mollys-hot-spring-idaho, https://idahohotsprings.com/destinations/mollys/index.htm

## About Mollys Hot Spring

Nineteen or twenty miles from Cascade in Valley County, Idaho, Mollys Hot Spring is a Boise National Forest thermal source. The access status on record is open. The water is very hot, a few degrees shy of scalding, which means it burns and needs cooling before any soak. A 1980 sample put the pH high.

South Fork Road runs close, a few hundred feet from the spring, so this counts as roadside. National Forest land and nothing more specific in the designation. The snowfall on record is enormous, nearly seventeen feet in an average winter, and the year is very wet. Mid elevation, cool average temperature, and a campground not far along the road.

Winter is listed as best, which given the snow would be a serious undertaking. Picnic Point campground is a little over a mile away. Treat the water as scalding; it is close enough to that line that the difference hardly matters. Test from the edge. The chemistry reading is over forty years old.

## Water chemistry

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

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.3 |
| Calcium | 1.6 mg/L |
| Sodium | 76 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 15 mg/L |
| Chloride | 8.5 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 50 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [South Fork Plunge, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/south-fork-plunge): 129°F source, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Warm Lake Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/warm-lake-springs): Warm, TDS 258 mg/L, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Trail Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/trail-creek-hot-spring): 122°F source, pH 9.7, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County, primitive pools, pools 100–110°F, free, year-round
- [Vulcan Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/vulcan-hot-springs): 190°F source, pH 9.1, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County, primitive pools, free, apr–oct
- [Dollar Creek Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dollar-creek-warm-spring): 68°F source, pH 7.7, Roadside, near Cascade, Valley County
- [Billy Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/billy-hot-spring): Hot, pH 9.7, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Mollys Hot Spring?**
Mollys Hot Spring has a water temperature of 138°F (59°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Mollys Hot Spring located?**
Mollys Hot Spring is located in Valley County, Idaho at 5,180 feet elevation, near Cascade. Coordinates: 44.6420°N, 115.6930°W.

**How do I get to Mollys Hot Spring?**
Mollys Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being South Fork Road (279 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Mollys Hot Spring?**
Yes, Picnic Point (Id) is located nearby (1.2 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Mollys Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.3 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Mollys Hot Spring?**
With care. At 138°F Mollys 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