# Owl Creek Hot Springs, Idaho

Owl Creek Hot Springs in Idaho. 122°F (50°C). Hike. Lemhi County.

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

## Can you soak at Owl Creek Hot Springs?

No. Owl Creek Hot Springs is on private land with no public access.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 122°F (50°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.4 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 3,760 ft |
| Access | Hike, 1.7 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Lemhi County |
| Nearest town | Salmon |
| Coordinates | 45.34400, -114.46300 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Wendover Campground, 19.4 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Private, no public access |
| Getting there | about 2.5 mi hike from Salmon River Road, no road access |

Spring sits on an 82-acre patented mining claim parcel listed for sale Aug 2026, surrounded by national forest. Trip report describes small bathtub-size pools and an under-maintained trail. Public access right unclear, so treated as private.

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.landbrokermls.com/property/23636827/82-24-acres-of-land-for-sale-in-salmon-id, https://www.trailgroove.com/blogs/entry/361-hiking-to-owl-creek-hot-springs-an-idaho-overnight/

## About Owl Creek Hot Springs

Owl Creek Hot Springs sits in Lemhi County, about thirty miles out from Salmon, and reaching it takes a walk. A USGS crew measured the water in 1980 and found it hot, the kind you would let cool a while before climbing in. Ownership is unrecorded, and so is any word on public visits. At least a photograph exists, so you can see something of the place before you go.

Getting there means close to two miles on foot from the nearest road, and the record leaves that road unnamed. Elevation is modest for this corner of Idaho. Winters drop about seven feet of snow over the season, and the rest of the year is dryish with a cool average.

December into February is the window the record singles out, which is curious for a spring reached by a two-mile walk through that much snow. Ask about conditions first. The closest camping on record is Wendover Campground, nearly twenty miles away. The temperature reading dates from 1980, when the water was hot enough to burn if you dropped straight in, so test it with a hand before anything else. Access rights are unknown.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1980-08-06 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.4 |
| Calcium | 4.5 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 120 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 63 mg/L |
| Chloride | 7 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Grangeville](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/grangeville), 76 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Big Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/big-creek-hot-springs): 199°F source, pH 7.6, Short Walk, near Salmon, Lemhi County, primitive pools, free, year-round
- [Horse Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/horse-creek-hot-springs): 109°F source, pH 6.4, Roadside, near Salmon, Lemhi County, primitive pools
- [Snowshoe Johnsons Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/snowshoe-johnsons-hot-spring): 108°F source, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Blue Joint Hot Spring 1, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/blue-joint-hot-spring-1): 84°F source, Short Walk, near Hamilton, Ravalli County
- [Blue Joint Hot Springs 2, MT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/montana/blue-joint-hot-springs-2): 84°F source, Roadside, near Hamilton, Ravalli County
- [Mormon Ranch Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/mormon-ranch-warm-spring): Hot, pH 9.4, Hike, near Challis, Custer County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Owl Creek Hot Springs?**
Owl Creek Hot Springs has a water temperature of 122°F (50°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Owl Creek Hot Springs located?**
Owl Creek Hot Springs is located in Lemhi County, Idaho at 3,760 feet elevation, near Salmon. Coordinates: 45.3440°N, 114.4630°W.

**How do I get to Owl Creek Hot Springs?**
Owl Creek Hot Springs has Hike road access (1.7 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Owl Creek Hot Springs?**
Yes, Wendover Campground is located nearby (19.4 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Owl Creek Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.4 (slightly alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Owl Creek Hot Springs?**
With care. At 122°F Owl Creek Hot Springs 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