# Stanley Hot Spring, Idaho

Stanley Hot Spring in Idaho. 106°F (41°C). Roadside · Public Land. Custer County.

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

## Can you soak at Stanley Hot Spring?

The water leaves the ground at 106°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. You can drive right up to it. 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 | 106°F (41°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.8 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,220 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 66 ft from the nearest road (Salmon River Scenic Byway) |
| Land | Challis National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Custer County |
| Nearest town | Challis |
| Coordinates | 44.22400, -114.92900 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | SUNNY GULCH CAMPGROUND, 3.5 mi |

## About Stanley Hot Spring

Stanley Hot Spring sits within about seventy feet of the Salmon River Scenic Byway, on Challis National Forest ground in Custer County, about forty miles from Challis, the nearest town on file. Measured hot in 1972, only a notch over comfortable soaking. Open to the public. A picture is on record.

Road access is as easy as it gets, the byway passing close enough that there is no walk worth mentioning. High country, averaging around forty through the year, with a dozen feet of snow and a fair amount of rain the rest of the time. Land belongs to the Forest Service.

Sunny Gulch Campground sits three and a half miles off. Winter is listed as the time to go, and with twelve feet of snow the byway's condition is the first thing to check. The temperature reading is from 1972, so treat it as a rough guide. Alkaline water, sampled the same year.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1972-07-12 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.8 |
| Calcium | 2.2 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 60 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 31 mg/L |
| Chloride | 5 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 6 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Elkhorn Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/elkhorn-hot-spring): 136°F source, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools, free, year-round
- [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
- [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
- [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
- [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
- [Grandjean Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/grandjean-hot-spring): Hot, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Stanley Hot Spring?**
Stanley Hot Spring has a water temperature of 106°F (41°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Stanley Hot Spring located?**
Stanley Hot Spring is located in Custer County, Idaho at 6,220 feet elevation, near Challis. Coordinates: 44.2240°N, 114.9290°W.

**How do I get to Stanley Hot Spring?**
Stanley Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Salmon River Scenic Byway (66 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Stanley Hot Spring?**
Yes, Sunny Gulch Campground is located nearby (3.5 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Stanley Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.8 (alkaline).

## Sources

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