# Shower Bath Springs, Idaho

Shower Bath Springs in Idaho. 122°F (50°C). Hike · Public Land. Custer County.

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

## Can you soak at Shower Bath Springs?

Yes. Shower Bath Springs has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. It's open Jul-Oct. Reaching it takes a hike.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 122°F (50°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.3 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,080 ft |
| Access | Hike · Public Land, 2.4 mi from the nearest road (National Forest Development Road 68) |
| Land | Challis National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Custer County |
| Nearest town | Challis |
| Coordinates | 44.62800, -114.60100 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Custer #1 Campground, 16.1 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | Jul-Oct |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | 11.4 mi round trip, 2,600 ft gain, Mahoney Creek Trail, 0.4 mi ford |
| In winter | road impassable before July |
| Operator | US Forest Service, Salmon-Challis National Forest |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/shower-bath-hot-springs-idaho

## About Shower Bath Springs

The Challis National Forest holds Shower Bath Springs, a hot spring in Custer County some twenty miles from Challis. It reaches the surface well above body temperature, hot enough that you would want it cooled or mixed before getting in. OpenStreetMap maps the same spot as Show Bath Hot Springs, a variant spelling worth knowing when you search elsewhere. Access is open and the way in is on foot.

Forest Service ground at around 6,000 feet. The hike covers two and a half miles or so out from National Forest Development Road 68. Snowfall is heavy, a bit over nine feet in a typical year, and the annual average temperature sits near forty, so the dry season is short. Precipitation is moderate for the Idaho mountains. Nothing beyond the National Forest designation is recorded for the land.

A USGS monitoring site marks the spring, with its published sample from July 1979. OpenStreetMap carries it under the name Show Bath Hot Springs.

December through February appear as the best months, but given the snow here that means snowshoes or skis, so plan for snow travel in those months or wait for melt-out. Custer #1 Campground is sixteen miles out, give or take. A 1979 USGS sample found strongly alkaline water. Test before entering; water this hot will hurt.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1979-07-30 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.3 |
| Calcium | 2.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 70 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 36 mg/L |
| Chloride | 7.1 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 27 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Foster Ranch Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/foster-ranch-hot-springs): 135°F source, pH 9.1, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Owen Cabin Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/owen-cabin-hot-spring): 133°F source, pH 9.3, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Upper Loon Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/upper-loon-creek-hot-springs): 145°F source, pH 9.3, Hike, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, pools 90–120°F, jul–oct
- [Lower Loon Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/lower-loon-creek-hot-spring): 120°F source, pH 9.0, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, parking or permit fee, late may-sep (river permit season)
- [Cox Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/cox-hot-springs): 131°F source, pH 8.9, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Hospital Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/hospital-hot-spring): 115°F source, pH 8.9, TDS 278 mg/L, Hike, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, parking or permit fee, late may-sep (river permit season)

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Shower Bath Springs?**
Shower Bath Springs has a water temperature of 122°F (50°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Shower Bath Springs located?**
Shower Bath Springs is located in Custer County, Idaho at 6,080 feet elevation, near Challis. Coordinates: 44.6280°N, 114.6010°W.

**How do I get to Shower Bath Springs?**
Shower Bath Springs has Hike road access, with the nearest road being National Forest Development Road 68 (2.4 mi from the road).

**Is Shower Bath Springs free to visit?**
Shower Bath Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Shower Bath Springs?**
Yes, Custer #1 Campground is located nearby (16.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Shower Bath Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.3 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Shower Bath Springs?**
With care. At 122°F Shower Bath Springs 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