# Pool Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Pool Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 108°F (42°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Boise County.

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

## Can you soak at Pool Creek Hot Spring?

The water leaves the ground at 108°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. It's a short walk from the road. It's on US Forest Service land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 108°F (42°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.6 (Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 245 mg/L |
| Elevation | 3,760 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 351 ft from the nearest road (Middle Fork Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Boise County |
| Nearest town | Idaho City |
| Coordinates | 43.76000, -115.56000 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Ninemeyer Campground, 0.5 mi |

## About Pool Creek Hot Spring

Pool Creek Hot Spring comes out of Boise National Forest in Boise County, fourteen miles from Idaho City. It is hot, a little above what most people sit in, and the 1982 sample found soft water with low dissolved solids and a strongly alkaline pH. Public access is open. Ninemeyer Campground is half a mile away.

Middle Fork Road is three or four hundred feet from the water. The spring sits low for the forest, in a spot that collects a lot of snow, roughly ten feet a winter, and a good deal of rain besides, thirty inches of precipitation in an average year. Forest Service land, designated national forest.

Camping is easy, with Ninemeyer Campground half a mile off. The three winter months are marked best, which means snow on Middle Fork Road is the main obstacle. The water is only a few degrees past soaking heat, about as comfortable as a natural spring gets without cooling. Nothing in the record restricts access. The sample is from 1982.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1982-08-19 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.6 |
| Total dissolved solids | 245 mg/L |
| Calcium | 1.6 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.02 mg/L |
| Sodium | 64 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 28 mg/L |
| Chloride | 2.4 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Boise](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/boise), 24 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Ninemeyer Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/ninemeyer-hot-springs): 169°F source, pH 9.6, TDS 245 mg/L, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, jul–nov
- [Vaughn Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/vaughn-hot-spring): 154°F source, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, jul–nov
- [Basset Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/basset-hot-spring): Hot, Hike, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Loftus Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/loftus-hot-spring): 129°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, pools 100–110°F, free, year-round
- [Brown Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/brown-creek-hot-spring): 122°F source, pH 9.4, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, free, aug-oct (low water ford)
- [Smith Cabin Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/smith-cabin-hot-spring): 138°F source, pH 9.5, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, free

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Pool Creek Hot Spring?**
Pool Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 108°F (42°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Pool Creek Hot Spring located?**
Pool Creek Hot Spring is located in Boise County, Idaho at 3,760 feet elevation, near Idaho City. Coordinates: 43.7600°N, 115.5600°W.

**How do I get to Pool Creek Hot Spring?**
Pool Creek Hot Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Middle Fork Road (351 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Pool Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Ninemeyer Campground is located nearby (0.5 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Pool Creek Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.6 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 245 mg/L.

## Sources

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