# Sheep Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Sheep Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 136°F (58°C). Hike · Public Land. Valley County.

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

## Can you soak at Sheep Creek Hot Spring?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 136°F, hotter than any hot tub. Reaching it takes a hike. 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 | 136°F (58°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 6,590 ft |
| Access | Hike · Public Land, 3.6 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Payette National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Valley County |
| Nearest town | McCall |
| Coordinates | 45.03500, -115.56100 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | JOHNSON CREEK GUARD STATION, 8.5 mi |

## About Sheep Creek Hot Spring

Sheep Creek Hot Spring sits in the Payette National Forest with a recorded temperature in the mid 130s, past what most people can sit in. It lies in Valley County around 28 miles from McCall. You walk in; the closest road sits roughly three and a half miles away. Public access is open.

Forest Service land at about 6,600 feet. No road is named in the record. Snow piles up here, averaging over 160 inches, and the yearly average stays in the upper thirties, so the route in spends much of the year under snow and the window for a dry approach is short. Precipitation is on the wetter side for central Idaho.

For best months the record says December through February. With that much snow and a long hike that seems unlikely, so do not lean on it. Go when the ground is clear. Johnson Creek Guard Station is the closest listed camping, eight or nine miles off. Water this hot can scald. No fee is noted.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Grangeville](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/grangeville), 35 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Hot Creek Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/hot-creek-warm-spring): 97°F source, pH 8.7, TDS 252 mg/L, Short Walk, near McCall, Valley County
- [Teapot Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/teapot-hot-spring): 142°F source, pH 9.3, Roadside, near McCall, Valley County, primitive pools, pools 107°F, year-round
- [Lick Creek Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/lick-creek-warm-spring): 91°F source, pH 9.0, Short Walk, near McCall, Valley County
- [Holdover Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/holdover-hot-spring): 117°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near McCall, Valley County
- [Secesh Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/secesh-hot-spring): Hot, Hike, near McCall, Valley County, primitive pools, pools 98–103°F, free, jul-oct
- [Billy Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/billy-hot-spring): Hot, pH 9.7, Short Walk, near Cascade, Valley County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Sheep Creek Hot Spring?**
Sheep Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 136°F (58°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Sheep Creek Hot Spring located?**
Sheep Creek Hot Spring is located in Valley County, Idaho at 6,590 feet elevation, near McCall. Coordinates: 45.0350°N, 115.5610°W.

**How do I get to Sheep Creek Hot Spring?**
Sheep Creek Hot Spring has Hike road access (3.6 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Sheep Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Johnson Creek Guard Station is located nearby (8.5 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Sheep Creek Hot Spring?**
With care. At 136°F Sheep Creek Hot Spring 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