# Mormon Bend Hot Spring, Idaho

Mormon Bend Hot Spring in Idaho. 100°F (38°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Custer County.

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

## Can you soak at Mormon Bend Hot Spring?

Yes. Mormon Bend Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. It's open Jul-Oct. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 100°F (38°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 6,110 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 489 ft from the nearest road (Salmon River Scenic Byway) |
| Land | Challis National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Custer County |
| Nearest town | Challis |
| Coordinates | 44.26000, -114.83800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Pole Flat Campground, 6.6 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | Jul-Oct |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | Park at Mormon Bend Campground off Hwy 75, ford the Salmon River to gravel bar; short walk |
| In winter | Submerged during spring runoff; ford only possible at low water |
| Operator | US Forest Service Sawtooth NRA, https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/recreation/mormon-bend-campground |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://hotspringslocator.com/mormon-bend-hot-springs, https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/recreation/mormon-bend-campground

## About Mormon Bend Hot Spring

Mormon Bend Hot Spring runs body-warm, right where most people want it. It belongs to the Challis National Forest, Custer County, Idaho, some 35 miles out of Challis, and the Salmon River Scenic Byway passes close by. The record has it open. No water chemistry is on file for this one, though a photograph is.

From the byway it is under five hundred feet on foot. Forest Service land, no designation beyond National Forest. The elevation is fairly high, the average temperature cool, and winter brings a heavy snowpack, better than ten feet on average. The record gives Challis as the only town, so the byway is the reference point for finding this one.

The record favors winter. Pole Flat Campground is about six and a half miles off. The temperature is comfortable and needs no warning. Chemistry was never sampled here, so mineral content is unknown. Check current conditions on the byway before a winter trip. The snow on record is heavy, so the walk in will be a different proposition in the cold months.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 1 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Basin Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/basin-creek-hot-spring): 133°F source, pH 9.5, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, jun–oct
- [Elkhorn Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/elkhorn-hot-spring): 136°F source, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, free, year-round
- [Sunbeam Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sunbeam-hot-springs): 169°F source, pH 9.0, TDS 291 mg/L, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, pools 100–110°F, free, year-round
- [Stanley Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/stanley-hot-spring): 106°F source, pH 8.8, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County
- [Robinson Bar Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/robinson-bar-hot-springs): 131°F source, pH 9.4, TDS 294 mg/L, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County
- [Rosalys Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/rosalys-warm-spring): 106°F source, pH 9.4, Short Walk, near Sun Valley, Blaine County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Mormon Bend Hot Spring?**
Mormon Bend Hot Spring has a water temperature of 100°F (38°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Mormon Bend Hot Spring located?**
Mormon Bend Hot Spring is located in Custer County, Idaho at 6,110 feet elevation, near Challis. Coordinates: 44.2600°N, 114.8380°W.

**How do I get to Mormon Bend Hot Spring?**
Mormon Bend Hot Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Salmon River Scenic Byway (489 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Mormon Bend Hot Spring?**
Yes, Pole Flat Campground is located nearby (6.6 miles away).

## Sources

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