# Pine Flat Hot Springs, Idaho

Pine Flat Hot Springs in Idaho. 138°F (59°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Boise County.

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

## Can you soak at Pine Flat Hot Springs?

Yes. Pine Flat Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 138°F (59°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.2 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 3,720 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 362 ft from the nearest road (Banks Lowman Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Boise County |
| Nearest town | Idaho City |
| Coordinates | 44.06200, -115.68500 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | PINE FLATS (ID), 0.2 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Getting there | hillside pools by campground on South Fork Payette |
| Operator | US Forest Service (Boise NF) |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://hotspringslocator.com/pine-flats-hot-springs

## About Pine Flat Hot Springs

Eighteen miles or thereabouts from Idaho City, in Boise County, Pine Flat Hot Springs sits on Boise National Forest ground that anyone can use. The water runs hot, past the range you would sit in without letting it cool first. OpenStreetMap spells it Pine Flats, with the s, and so does the campground a couple hundred yards away.

Banks Lowman Road runs a few hundred feet off, so reaching the spring is a short walk. The land is national forest at a low elevation for the Boise mountains. Climate figures show more than ten feet of snow a year and close to three feet of total precipitation, so the state of the road matters as much as the spring does.

The record carries it as Pine Flat, singular. OpenStreetMap and the campground beside it go with Pine Flats.

Pine Flats campground is right there, a couple hundred yards from the water. On file, the best time is the dead of winter. At 138 degrees the source is hot enough to burn skin, so find where it has mixed and cooled before you get in, and keep children back from the outlet. The pH reading is from 1979. Forest Service land, open.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1979-02-27 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.2 |
| Calcium | 2 mg/L |
| Sodium | 75 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 38 mg/L |
| Chloride | 6.7 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Boise](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/boise), 36 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Haven Lodge Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/haven-lodge-hot-spring): 147°F source, pH 9.2, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, developed pools, pools 85–104°F, $20 day pass, year-round
- [Danskin Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/danskin-creek-hot-spring): 106°F source, pH 8.8, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools
- [Kirkham Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/kirkham-hot-springs): 149°F source, pH 9.1, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, $5 parking or permit, may–sep
- [Dan Hodges Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dan-hodges-hot-spring): 140°F source, pH 9.1, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Corder Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/corder-hot-spring): 131°F source, pH 9.2, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Donlay Ranch Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/donlay-ranch-hot-spring): 131°F source, pH 9.2, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County

## Questions

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

**Where is Pine Flat Hot Springs located?**
Pine Flat Hot Springs is located in Boise County, Idaho at 3,720 feet elevation, near Idaho City. Coordinates: 44.0620°N, 115.6850°W.

**How do I get to Pine Flat Hot Springs?**
Pine Flat Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Banks Lowman Road (362 ft from the road).

**Is Pine Flat Hot Springs free to visit?**
Pine Flat Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Pine Flat Hot Springs?**
Yes, Pine Flats (Id) is located nearby (0.2 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Pine Flat Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.2 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Pine Flat Hot Springs?**
With care. At 138°F Pine Flat 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