Arling Hot Spring

Valley County, Idaho · Near Cascade
44.6400°N, 116.0450°W · 4,860 ft
90°F 32°F air · Good soaking weather 4,860 ft Roadside Camping nearby (6.0 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Arling Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Arling Hot Spring
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Arling Hot Spring sits beside a road in Valley County, Idaho, about nine miles from Cascade. Despite the name the water is warm, a little under body heat, the sort of temperature that feels good in cold air and flat on a summer afternoon. Nobody has recorded public access, and no owner is listed.

Location

You can nearly see it from the car; the road is about a hundred yards away. Mid elevation, close to forty-nine hundred feet, where winter brings twelve feet of snow and the rest of the year a fair amount of rain. The record carries no road name and no land unit. Amanita campground is six miles away.

December through February are listed as best, which makes sense for water this mild. Roadside, so the approach is trivial once the road is clear, and the record is silent on winter plowing. Look for signs about access, since none is recorded. The water is strongly alkaline and was last sampled in 1972.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Arling Hot Spring.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the east.
Highest ground nearby
265 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
102 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 51% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
25°
Jan
27°
Feb
33°
Mar
38°
Apr
47°
May
57°
Jun
68°
Jul
68°
Aug
58°
Sep
44°
Oct
32°
Nov
23°
Dec
Annual Precip: 33.6 in Annual Snow: 143.6 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 23°F · Water 90°F · +67° contrast
January Air 25°F · Water 90°F · +65° contrast
February Air 27°F · Water 90°F · +63° contrast
December offers 45°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
32°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 93% Good soaking weather
Today 66° Low 41° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +24° warmer
Wednesday 76° Low 45° Sunny
Spring is +14° warmer
Thursday 68° Low 44° Rain Showers 78% precip
Spring is +22° warmer
Friday 67° Low 42° Chance Rain Showers 36% precip
Spring is +23° warmer
Saturday 70° Low 43° Patchy Fog then Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +20° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1972-08-02

The water at Arling Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 9.8) with 218 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 9.8 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 1 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 60 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 16 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 16 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Amanita 6.0 mi away

Overview Amanita Campground is located next to scenic Lake Cascade in west-central Idaho. It is near the town of Donnelly, at an elevation of 4,850 feet. Boating, fishing, swimming and hiking are popular activities in this scenic region. Recreation Lake Cascade offers excellent opportunities for boating, water skiing, canoeing, windsurfing and sailing. Anglers enjoy casting for rainbow trout, coho salmon, smallmouth bass and perch. A boat ramp is located at the neighboring Rainbow Point Campg...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
90°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 90°F (32°C)
Avg Air Temp 43°F
Above Ambient +47°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 328 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Arling Hot Spring?
Arling Hot Spring has a water temperature of 90°F (32°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Arling Hot Spring located?
Arling Hot Spring is located in Valley County, Idaho at 4,860 feet elevation, near Cascade. Coordinates: 44.6400°N, 116.0450°W.
How do I get to Arling Hot Spring?
Arling Hot Spring has Roadside road access (328 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Arling Hot Spring?
Yes, Amanita is located nearby (6.0 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Arling Hot Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.8 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 218 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS