# Preis Hot Spring, Idaho

Preis Hot Spring in Idaho. 106°F (41°C). Roadside · Public Land. Camas County.

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

## Can you soak at Preis Hot Spring?

Yes. Preis Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools that run at 102°F. Soaking is free. It's open May-Oct. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 106°F (41°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.6 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 5,670 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 304 ft from the nearest road (Carrie Creek Road) |
| Land | Sawtooth National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Camas County |
| Nearest town | Fairfield |
| Coordinates | 43.57600, -114.83000 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Bowns Campground, 3.4 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | May-Oct |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Pool temperature | 102°F |
| Getting there | Roadside, a few feet from forest road; wooden box tub holds about 2 |
| In winter | Forest road closed Oct through mid-May |
| Operator | US Forest Service Sawtooth National Forest |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://idahohotsprings.com/destinations/preis/index.htm

## About Preis Hot Spring

Preis Hot Spring is a roadside spring in the Sawtooth National Forest, Camas County, sixteen miles from Fairfield. Hot, but only a little over soaking range, so it would need less tempering than a hotter source would. Open to visitors, per the record. The 1981 sample found strongly alkaline water carrying the usual calcium and sodium along with sulfate and chloride.

Carrie Creek Road runs past about a hundred yards off, so there is no real walk. Elevation is high country, with a cool year round average and nine feet or so of snow. The ground is national forest, run by the US Forest Service. Rain and snow together come to about two feet.

Bowns Campground is a few miles away, the only camp the record ties to it. December through February is the stretch on file as best, and with nine feet of snow the access road will be the question in those months. Temperature is only a touch above comfortable soaking, which is as good as it gets for sitting in. The reading is from 1981.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1981-07-14 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.6 |
| Calcium | 1.8 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0 mg/L |
| Sodium | 78 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 32 mg/L |
| Chloride | 7.3 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Hailey](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/hailey), 21 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Worswick Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/worswick-hot-springs): 180°F source, pH 9.0, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, free, jul–oct
- [Skillern Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/skillern-hot-springs): 140°F source, pH 9.4, Hike, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, pools 100–106°F, may–oct
- [Lightfoot Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/lightfoot-hot-springs): 133°F source, pH 8.8, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, may–oct
- [Big Smokey Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/big-smokey-hot-spring): Hot, Hike, near Fairfield, Camas County, primitive pools, pools 102°F, free, jun-oct
- [Baumgartner Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/baumgartner-hot-spring): 111°F source, pH 9.1, Roadside, near Fairfield, Camas County, developed pools, pools 98–111°F, parking or permit fee, late may-sep 30
- [Wardrop Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/wardrop-hot-spring): 147°F source, pH 9.3, TDS 211 mg/L, Short Walk, near Fairfield, Camas County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Preis Hot Spring?**
Preis Hot Spring has a water temperature of 106°F (41°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Preis Hot Spring located?**
Preis Hot Spring is located in Camas County, Idaho at 5,670 feet elevation, near Fairfield. Coordinates: 43.5760°N, 114.8300°W.

**How do I get to Preis Hot Spring?**
Preis Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Carrie Creek Road (304 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Preis Hot Spring?**
Yes, Bowns Campground is located nearby (3.4 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Preis Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.6 (alkaline).

## Sources

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