# Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring, Idaho

Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring in Idaho. 142°F (61°C). Roadside · Public Land. Boise County.

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

## Can you soak at Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring?

Yes. Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 142°F (61°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.5 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 3,540 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 278 ft from the nearest road (Middle Fork Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Boise County |
| Nearest town | Idaho City |
| Coordinates | 43.69600, -115.65800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Ninemeyer Campground, 6.1 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free. No day-use fee listed |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Clothing rules vary |
| Getting there | roadside, 70 yd walk, high clearance recommended |
| In winter | unknown; best late spring to fall |
| Operator | US Forest Service (Boise NF) |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://hotspringslocator.com/sheep-creek-bridge-hot-springs

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 142°F, the source water at Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring

Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring comes up beside Middle Fork Road inside Boise National Forest, Boise County, a dozen or so miles from Idaho City. The water is scalding at the source, over 140 degrees on the 1981 reading. Open access. OpenStreetMap calls it Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Springs, plural. A photo is on file. Idaho City is the closest town the record names.

Middle Fork Road passes less than a hundred yards away. Reaching the water takes no effort worth mentioning. National forest, low down for the mountains. The snow figure is about seven feet; the year is moderately wet.

Ninemeyer Campground is six miles away. Winter is the best season on record. At the source it will burn on contact; do not get in where the water comes out, and test any pool with a hand first. Forest Service ground, open to anyone. The chemistry is from 1981.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1981-05-27 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.5 |
| Calcium | 2.5 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0 mg/L |
| Sodium | 50 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 20 mg/L |
| Chloride | 1.8 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Boise](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/boise), 18 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Twin Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/twin-springs-1): 151°F source, pH 9.5, TDS 217 mg/L, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, developed pools
- [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
- [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
- [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
- [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

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring?**
Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring has a water temperature of 142°F (61°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring located?**
Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring is located in Boise County, Idaho at 3,540 feet elevation, near Idaho City. Coordinates: 43.6960°N, 115.6580°W.

**How do I get to Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring?**
Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Middle Fork Road (278 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring?**
Yes, Ninemeyer Campground is located nearby (6.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.5 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at Sheep Creek Bridge Hot Spring reaches 142°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

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