# Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring, Idaho

Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring in Idaho. 138°F (59°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Custer County.

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

## Can you soak at Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 138°F, hotter than any hot tub. It's a short walk from the road. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 138°F (59°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.3 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 4,400 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.2 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Idaho Department of Lands, SDOL |
| County | Custer County |
| Nearest town | Challis |
| Coordinates | 44.72100, -115.01000 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BOUNDARY CREEK CAMPGROUND, 19.1 mi |

## About Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring

Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring is hot, near 140 degrees, on state land run by the Idaho Department of Lands in Custer County, about 41 miles from Challis. Access on record is open, and the walk is short, a couple hundred yards. Nothing in the row mentions a ranch, only the state ownership and an SRMA designation.

Around 4,400 feet on Idaho Department of Lands ground, about 350 yards from the closest road. Snow is a bit under a hundred inches a year and precipitation sits in the low twenties. The annual mean lands mid forties. The land carries an SRMA designation, which the record does not expand on. No road name is given, and no fee.

The land is held by the Idaho Department of Lands and designated SRMA in the record. The USGS has a site number for the spring with one 1980 sample.

December through February are best, per the record. Boundary Creek Campground is nineteen miles away. The USGS sample is from June 1980 and showed alkaline water. At close to 140 degrees the source will burn; if you soak, it has to be somewhere the water has cooled a lot. Fee is not recorded.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1980-06-27 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.3 |
| Calcium | 2 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 86 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 63 mg/L |
| Chloride | 9 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Challis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/challis), 33 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Sunflower Flat Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sunflower-flat-hot-spring): 109°F source, pH 9.2, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County
- [Sunflower Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sunflower-hot-springs): 149°F source, pH 9.3, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools
- [Indian Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/indian-creek-hot-spring): 190°F source, pH 9.0, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [Middle Fork Indian Creek Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/middle-fork-indian-creek-hot-spring): 162°F source, pH 9.0, Hike, near Challis, Custer County
- [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
- [Pistol Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/pistol-creek-hot-springs): 115°F source, pH 9.6, Hike, near Cascade, Valley County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring?**
Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring has a water temperature of 138°F (59°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring located?**
Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring is located in Custer County, Idaho at 4,400 feet elevation, near Challis. Coordinates: 44.7210°N, 115.0100°W.

**How do I get to Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring?**
Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).

**Is Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring free to visit?**
Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by SDOL.

**Can I camp near Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring?**
Yes, Boundary Creek Campground is located nearby (19.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.3 (alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Thomas Creek Ranch Hot Spring?**
With care. At 138°F Thomas Creek Ranch 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