Warfield Hot Spring
Warfield Hot Spring, also known as Frenchman's Hot Springs or Frenchman's Bend Hot Springs, surfaces at 124°F along Warm Springs Creek in the Sawtooth National Forest. At 6,250 feet elevation, it features three wide, shallow pools with rock walls and sand-and-gravel bottoms, just 31 meters from the road.
The spring sits in a narrow mountain valley along Warm Springs Creek, 11 miles west of Ketchum in Blaine County. At 6,250 feet, the surrounding slopes are covered in mixed conifer forest with aspen groves along the creek. The Pioneer Mountains rise to the south and the Smoky Mountains to the west. Annual snowfall averages 108 inches, and the average annual air temperature is 39.4°F. The creek corridor provides riparian habitat with willows and cottonwoods framing the thermal pools.
Roadside access makes this a year-round destination, though winter snowpack may require chains or four-wheel drive on the approach road. Water at 124°F is hot but manageable in the downstream pools where creek water mixes in. Ketchum, 11 miles east, provides full services including gear shops, dining, and lodging. Easley Campground is reservable and sits at 6,800 feet. The Harriman Trail passes nearby for combined soaking and hiking trips.
The spring carries three names reflecting its layered past. The Warfield designation appears in USGS records, while local usage favors Frenchman's Hot Springs, suggesting a French-speaking trapper or settler worked the drainage. The springs have been informally developed with rock-walled soaking pools. Easley Campground, 15.8 km east on Highway 75, has served as a base camp for soakers and anglers in the Big Wood River corridor for decades.
The water at Warfield Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 9.0).
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Overview Easley Campground is located along the beautiful Big Wood River at an elevation of 6800 feet, conveniently close to Ketchum, Idaho only 14 miles south. Visitors enjoy fishing, hiking and soaking at Easley Hot Springs.Recreation Easley is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where outdoor activities abound. Fly-fishing for rainbow, brown and brook trout is popular on the Big Wood River, as is float tubing. The 20-mile Harriman Trail passes through the campground, offering...
Warfield Hot Spring sits at 6,250 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 25% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Warfield Hot Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water runs hot, so extra hydration is key. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Springs Near Warfield Hot Spring
More Springs Around 124°F
Alkaline Springs (pH ~9.0)
Hike 6 waterfalls near Warfield Hot Spring
Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Warfield Hot Spring, Idaho.