# Whittaker Warm Springs, Idaho

Whittaker Warm Springs in Idaho. 75°F (24°C). Roadside. Lemhi County.

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

## Can you soak at Whittaker Warm Springs?

The water leaves the ground at 75°F, about as warm as a heated pool. You can drive right up to it. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 75°F (24°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.0 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,310 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 26 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Lemhi County |
| Nearest town | Salmon |
| Coordinates | 44.61200, -113.36300 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | MEADOW LAKE CAMPGROUND, 12.4 mi |

## About Whittaker Warm Springs

Whittaker Warm Springs is a remote, tepid spring in Lemhi County, nearly forty-seven miles from Salmon, the nearest town on record. The August 1980 reading puts the water well under body heat, warm to the hand and no more. No landowner is listed, and the record holds no public access status. The water is slightly alkaline.

The spring is right at the roadside, under thirty feet from a road that goes unidentified in the record. It sits high, past six thousand feet. Snowfall averages around sixty inches. Precipitation is scant, well under twenty inches a year.

A USGS site number is attached to the spring, and the 1980 sample on the page is the only measurement on record.

Best months on record fall in winter. Meadow Lake Campground, twelve miles or so out, is the only camping listed. With water this cool there is nothing to fear from the temperature. The distance from Salmon makes it a long drive for a lukewarm spring; confirm access first, since none is recorded.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1980-08-05 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8 |
| Calcium | 29 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 11 mg/L |
| Sodium | 19 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 32 mg/L |
| Chloride | 9.9 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Arco](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/arco), 24 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Big Eightmile Creek Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/big-eightmile-creek-warm-spring): 91°F source, Short Walk, near Salmon, Lemhi County
- [Barney Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/barney-hot-springs): 82°F source, pH 8.2, Roadside, near Arco, Butte County
- [Sharkey Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sharkey-hot-spring): 126°F source, pH 8.0, Roadside, near Salmon, Lemhi County, primitive pools, pools 103°F, day pass
- [Cronks Canyon Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/cronks-canyon-hot-spring): 115°F source, pH 7.9, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools
- [Goldbug Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/goldbug-hot-spring): 113°F source, pH 7.8, Hike, near Salmon, Lemhi County, primitive pools, pools 90–105°F, free, year-round
- [Big Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/big-spring): 73°F source, Short Walk, near Dubois, Clark County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Whittaker Warm Springs?**
Whittaker Warm Springs has a water temperature of 75°F (24°C). This is a warm thermal spring.

**Where is Whittaker Warm Springs located?**
Whittaker Warm Springs is located in Lemhi County, Idaho at 6,310 feet elevation, near Salmon. Coordinates: 44.6120°N, 113.3630°W.

**How do I get to Whittaker Warm Springs?**
Whittaker Warm Springs has Roadside road access (26 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Whittaker Warm Springs?**
Yes, Meadow Lake Campground is located nearby (12.4 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Whittaker Warm Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.0 (slightly alkaline).

## Sources

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