Beardsley Hot Springs

Also known as: Challis Hot Springs
Custer County, Idaho · Near Challis
44.5230°N, 114.1730°W · 4,950 ft
109°F 37°F air · Good soaking weather 4,950 ft Roadside
Aerial view of the ground around Beardsley Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Beardsley Hot Springs
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.

Beardsley Hot Springs, which OpenStreetMap labels Challis Hot Springs, sits three miles outside Challis in Custer County, Idaho. Source water is hot, a touch over the soaking range, short of scalding. Roadside. No owner or access status is recorded, and nothing about facilities. The road is nameless on file as well.

Location

About eighty feet off the road, a little under five thousand feet up. Dry country, around sixteen inches of precipitation, with snow near five feet and a mid-forties average. No campground is listed within the record's reach. No land unit or designation either. The walk from the car is a matter of seconds.

December through February are the record's pick. Water runs hot, above the soaking line, so mix or cool before settling in. Access is undocumented on file, and the second name on the map, Challis Hot Springs, is worth searching under before you go. Chemistry sampled in 1983.

History of Beardsley Hot Springs

OpenStreetMap records this spring under a second name, Challis Hot Springs, and the USGS holds a site record from a 1983 sampling.

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 Beardsley Hot Springs.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
645 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
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
136 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 87% 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
21°
Jan
24°
Feb
32°
Mar
40°
Apr
51°
May
61°
Jun
72°
Jul
70°
Aug
60°
Sep
45°
Oct
31°
Nov
19°
Dec
Annual Precip: 15.6 in Annual Snow: 57.5 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 19°F · Water 109°F · +90° contrast
January Air 21°F · Water 109°F · +88° contrast
February Air 24°F · Water 109°F · +85° contrast
December offers 52°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
37°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 70% Good soaking weather
Today 76° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +33° warmer
Wednesday 79° Low 48° Sunny 10% precip
Spring is +30° warmer
Thursday 76° Low 46° Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 73% precip
Spring is +33° warmer
Friday 72° Low 43° Chance Light Rain 35% precip
Spring is +37° warmer
Saturday 75° Low 44° Sunny 9% precip
Spring is +34° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1983-11-02

The water at Beardsley Hot Springs is neutral (pH 7.0).

pH 7.0 Neutral
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 47 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 16 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 150 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 130 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 22 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Temperature
109°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 109°F (43°C)
Avg Air Temp 44°F
Above Ambient +65°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 83 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Beardsley Hot Springs?
Beardsley Hot Springs has a water temperature of 109°F (43°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Beardsley Hot Springs located?
Beardsley Hot Springs is located in Custer County, Idaho at 4,950 feet elevation, near Challis. Coordinates: 44.5230°N, 114.1730°W.
How do I get to Beardsley Hot Springs?
Beardsley Hot Springs has Roadside road access (83 ft from the road).
What minerals are in the water at Beardsley Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.0 (neutral).