# Rice Spring, Ward Spring, Idaho

Rice Spring, Ward Spring in Idaho. 72°F (22°C). Roadside · Public Land. Minidoka County.

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

## Can you soak at Rice Spring, Ward Spring?

The water leaves the ground at 72°F, about as warm as a heated pool. You can drive right up to it. It's on Bureau of Land Management land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 72°F (22°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.2 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 4,977 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 308 ft from the nearest road |
| Land | Burley Field Office, Bureau of Land Management |
| County | Minidoka County |
| Nearest town | Rupert |
| Coordinates | 42.28600, -113.44600 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | McClendon Spring Campground, 4.0 mi |

## About Rice Spring, Ward Spring

Rice Spring, also recorded as Ward Spring, is a warm spring on BLM land in Minidoka County, about 26 miles from Rupert. Barely warm is the honest description, low seventies when sampled in 1975. The Burley office manages the ground and access is open. Alkaline water, with the common calcium and sodium load.

Roadside. The nearest road, three hundred feet or so away, has no name on record. The land is public, BLM. Elevation is fairly high. Winters bring a bit over three feet of snow and the year is dry, around seventeen inches of precipitation.

McClendon Spring Campground is four miles away. The listed season is winter. At the measured temperature the water would feel cool in cold weather, so that recommendation is hard to square with a seventy-degree spring. The reading is from 1975. Access is open and the land is BLM, so there is no ownership question to settle. Rupert is the nearest town of size on file.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1975-08-08 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.2 |
| Calcium | 34 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.6 mg/L |
| Sodium | 14 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 9.5 mg/L |
| Chloride | 25 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Heyburn](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/heyburn), 13 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Sears Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sears-spring): 84°F source, pH 8.2, Short Walk, near Burley, Cassia County
- [Marsh Gully Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/marsh-gully-hot-springs): 106°F source, Short Walk, near Rupert, Minidoka County
- [Marsh Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/marsh-creek-hot-spring): 104°F source, Short Walk, near Rupert, Minidoka County
- [Blm Well (Frazier Hot Spring), ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/blm-well-frazier-hot-spring): 203°F source, pH 9.2, Roadside, near Heyburn, Minidoka County
- [Grape Creek Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/grape-creek-warm-spring): 72°F source, pH 9.4, Roadside, near Burley, Cassia County
- [Durfee Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/durfee-spring): 102°F source, Roadside, near Burley, Cassia County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Rice Spring, Ward Spring?**
Rice Spring, Ward Spring has a water temperature of 72°F (22°C). This is a warm thermal spring.

**Where is Rice Spring, Ward Spring located?**
Rice Spring, Ward Spring is located in Minidoka County, Idaho at 4,977 feet elevation, near Rupert. Coordinates: 42.2860°N, 113.4460°W.

**How do I get to Rice Spring, Ward Spring?**
Rice Spring, Ward Spring has Roadside road access (308 ft from the road).

**Is Rice Spring, Ward Spring free to visit?**
Rice Spring, Ward Spring has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.

**Can I camp near Rice Spring, Ward Spring?**
Yes, Mc Clendon Spring Campground is located nearby (4.0 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Rice Spring, Ward Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.2 (slightly alkaline).

## Sources

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