# Squaw Hot Springs, Idaho

Squaw Hot Springs in Idaho. 163°F (73°C). Short Walk. Franklin County.

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

## Can you soak at Squaw Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 163°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 163°F (73°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.0 (Neutral) |
| Total dissolved solids | 9,180 mg/L |
| Elevation | 4,480 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.1 mi from the nearest road (North 2200 West) |
| County | Franklin County |
| Nearest town | Preston |
| Coordinates | 42.11900, -111.92800 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | THIRD CREEK GROUP SITE, 11.2 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 163°F, the source water at Squaw Hot Springs 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 Squaw Hot Springs

Squaw Hot Springs is in Franklin County, three miles from Preston. The water is scalding, well above anything you could sit in, and very salty, with dissolved solids in the thousands on the 1972 sample. Flow was measured at three cubic feet per second, a good deal of water. Owner unknown; access unknown.

North 2200 West passes a hundred and fifty yards or so away, a short walk. Valley floor at middling elevation, with a cool average, snowfall near four feet and a dry year. Nothing in the record says who manages the ground between the road and the water.

Camping on file means Third Creek Group Site, eleven miles off. Best months are winter, January at the top. Do not touch the source water; it will burn. No owner is recorded, so confirm access before going. The chemistry is from 1972, and the salt load then was extreme. With the flow that high and the water that hot, keep well back from wherever it emerges.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1972-05-09 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7 |
| Total dissolved solids | 9,180 mg/L |
| Calcium | 160 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 16 mg/L |
| Sodium | 3,100 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 50 mg/L |
| Chloride | 5,400 mg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Tied for most minerals of Idaho's 41 springs with a dissolved minerals reading: 9,180 mg/L

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Paris](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/paris), 34 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Battle Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/battle-creek-hot-springs): 183°F source, pH 7.0, TDS 9,180 mg/L, Short Walk, near Preston, Franklin County
- [Gancheff Spring, UT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/utah/gancheff-spring): 88°F source, pH 7.7, TDS 4,530 mg/L, Roadside, near Lewiston, Cache County
- [Malad Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/malad-warm-spring): 77°F source, pH 6.5, TDS 4,500 mg/L, Short Walk, near Malad City, Oneida County
- [Prices Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/prices-warm-spring): 77°F source, Short Walk, near Malad City, Oneida County
- [Woodruff Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/woodruff-hot-spring): 81°F source, pH 7.3, Roadside, near Malad City, Oneida County
- [Maple Grove Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/maple-grove-hot-springs): 172°F source, pH 7.3, Roadside, near Preston, Franklin County, developed pools, pools 100–107°F, $18 day pass, year-round

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Squaw Hot Springs?**
Squaw Hot Springs has a water temperature of 163°F (73°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Squaw Hot Springs located?**
Squaw Hot Springs is located in Franklin County, Idaho at 4,480 feet elevation, near Preston. Coordinates: 42.1190°N, 111.9280°W.

**How do I get to Squaw Hot Springs?**
Squaw Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being North 2200 West (0.1 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Squaw Hot Springs?**
Yes, Third Creek Group Site is located nearby (11.2 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Squaw Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.0 (neutral). Total dissolved solids measure 9,180 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Squaw Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Squaw Hot Springs reaches 163°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