# Slate Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Slate Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 122°F (50°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Custer County.

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

## Can you soak at Slate Creek Hot Spring?

Yes. Slate Creek Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. It's open Jul-Oct best. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 122°F (50°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.8 (Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 352 mg/L |
| Elevation | 7,020 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.3 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Challis National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Custer County |
| Nearest town | Challis |
| Coordinates | 44.17100, -114.62400 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Pole Flat Campground, 10.3 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | Jul-Oct best |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | 4.6 mi round trip, 1,800 ft gain, from Slate Creek Road FR 666 |
| In winter | snowshoe or ski in |
| Operator | US Forest Service |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/slate-creek-hot-spring-idaho

## About Slate Creek Hot Spring

Slate Creek Hot Spring belongs to the Challis National Forest, in Custer County about thirty miles from Challis. It is hot, comfortably over soaking range, with some iron and moderate dissolved solids in the 1982 sample. No restriction on access is recorded. The spring sits high, over seven thousand feet.

A short walk, about a third of a mile, from an unnamed road. This is high country; the yearly average is in the high thirties and snow comes to around eight feet. The climate figures say cold and fairly dry. The Forest Service holds the land.

Ten miles to Pole Flat Campground, the nearest camp on the books. Winter months are given as best, and eight feet of snow at that altitude means the approach road is the thing to check. Hot enough to burn at the source, so let it cool or find where it already has. The 1982 chemistry reading noted iron, and the water is mildly alkaline.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1982-08-10 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.8 |
| Total dissolved solids | 352 mg/L |
| Calcium | 9.8 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 76 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 81 mg/L |
| Chloride | 24 mg/L |
| Iron | 270 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 12 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Robinson Bar Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/robinson-bar-hot-springs): 131°F source, pH 9.4, TDS 294 mg/L, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County
- [Sunbeam Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sunbeam-hot-springs): 169°F source, pH 9.0, TDS 291 mg/L, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, pools 100–110°F, free, year-round
- [Sullivan Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sullivan-hot-springs): 106°F source, pH 6.9, TDS 684 mg/L, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County
- [Basin Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/basin-creek-hot-spring): 133°F source, pH 9.5, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, jun–oct
- [Mormon Bend Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/mormon-bend-hot-spring): 100°F source, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, free, jul-oct
- [Rosalys Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/rosalys-warm-spring): 106°F source, pH 9.4, Short Walk, near Sun Valley, Blaine County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Slate Creek Hot Spring?**
Slate Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 122°F (50°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Slate Creek Hot Spring located?**
Slate Creek Hot Spring is located in Custer County, Idaho at 7,020 feet elevation, near Challis. Coordinates: 44.1710°N, 114.6240°W.

**How do I get to Slate Creek Hot Spring?**
Slate Creek Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (0.3 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Slate Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Pole Flat Campground is located nearby (10.3 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Slate Creek Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 8.8 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 352 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Slate Creek Hot Spring?**
With care. At 122°F Slate 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