# Straight Creek Hot Spring, Idaho

Straight Creek Hot Spring in Idaho. 144°F (62°C). Roadside · Public Land. Boise County.

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

## Can you soak at Straight Creek Hot Spring?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 144°F, hot enough to burn skin. You can drive right up to it. It's on US Forest Service land.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 144°F (62°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.6 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 4,100 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 68 ft from the nearest road (Middle Fork Road) |
| Land | Boise National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Boise County |
| Nearest town | Idaho City |
| Coordinates | 43.78800, -115.44400 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Barber Flat Cabin (Boise National Forest, ID), 5.2 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 144°F, the source water at Straight Creek Hot Spring 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 Straight Creek Hot Spring

Straight Creek Hot Spring is scalding. The recorded temperature is 144 degrees, hotter than you can hold a hand in, and it surfaces a few dozen feet from Middle Fork Road inside the Boise National Forest, Boise County, about twenty miles from Idaho City. Access is open. This is a spring to look at and, if a cooled pool exists, to test with great care.

National forest at around 4,100 feet beside Middle Fork Road, sixty-odd feet from the road surface. Winters drop about ten feet of snow on average and the annual mean temperature is in the mid forties. Precipitation comes to around thirty inches a year. The land carries a National Forest designation and nothing more specific.

December through February are the recorded best months. Barber Flat Cabin is the nearest listed overnight spot, about five miles away. The water is very alkaline according to a 1981 USGS sample. Above 140 degrees the source water can burn on contact; do not step into anything you have not checked with a hand first. No fee is recorded.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1981-05-28 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.6 |
| Calcium | 1.6 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.2 mg/L |
| Sodium | 57 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 27 mg/L |
| Chloride | 1.8 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Boise](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/boise), 30 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Dutch Frank Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/dutch-frank-hot-spring): 149°F source, pH 9.6, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, pools 102–104°F, free, jun–nov
- [Brown Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/brown-creek-hot-spring): 122°F source, pH 9.4, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, free, aug-oct (low water ford)
- [Granite Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/granite-creek-hot-spring): 131°F source, pH 9.4, Roadside, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, pools 100–115°F, free, jul–nov
- [Pool Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/pool-creek-hot-spring): 108°F source, pH 9.6, TDS 245 mg/L, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Weatherby Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/weatherby-hot-spring): 113°F source, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County
- [Ninemeyer Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/ninemeyer-hot-springs): 169°F source, pH 9.6, TDS 245 mg/L, Short Walk, near Idaho City, Boise County, primitive pools, jul–nov

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Straight Creek Hot Spring?**
Straight Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 144°F (62°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Straight Creek Hot Spring located?**
Straight Creek Hot Spring is located in Boise County, Idaho at 4,100 feet elevation, near Idaho City. Coordinates: 43.7880°N, 115.4440°W.

**How do I get to Straight Creek Hot Spring?**
Straight Creek Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Middle Fork Road (68 ft from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Straight Creek Hot Spring?**
Yes, Barber Flat Cabin (Boise National Forest, Id) is located nearby (5.2 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Straight Creek Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.6 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Straight Creek Hot Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at Straight Creek Hot Spring reaches 144°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