Blackfoot River Warm Spring

Caribou County, Idaho · Near Soda Springs
42.9860°N, 111.7430°W · 6,027 ft
79°F 6,027 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management Camping nearby (4.8 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Blackfoot River Warm Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Blackfoot River Warm 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.

Blackfoot River Warm Spring sits at the roadside on Bureau of Land Management land in Caribou County, Idaho, roughly twenty-four miles from Soda Springs. Water comes out in the high seventies, warm to the hand and cool to sit in. Open to the public. The Pocatello Field Office has it.

Location

A bit more than a hundred feet from a road with no name on record, at about six thousand feet. Winter brings around seven feet of snow on a shade over twenty inches of precipitation. Average temperature is in the low forties. Sage Hen Flats Campground is under five miles off, the nearest on file. Public land.

Best months listed are January, December and February. Roadside, so the walk is nothing. Nothing dangerous about the temperature. No water chemistry is on record, and no fee. Sage Hen Flats for camping. Seven feet of snow sits between the listed months and an easy visit. The BLM Field Office in Pocatello is the contact for conditions.

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 Blackfoot River Warm Spring.

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

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 60% 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
19°
Jan
23°
Feb
31°
Mar
37°
Apr
48°
May
59°
Jun
69°
Jul
68°
Aug
58°
Sep
43°
Oct
29°
Nov
19°
Dec
Annual Precip: 22.2 in Annual Snow: 84.4 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 19°F · Water 79°F · +60° contrast
December Air 19°F · Water 79°F · +60° contrast
February Air 23°F · Water 79°F · +56° contrast
January offers 50°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Today 72° Low 42° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +7° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 48° Sunny 11% precip
Spring is +4° warmer
Thursday 72° Low 41° Light Rain Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 74% precip
Spring is +7° warmer
Friday 68° Low 36° Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain 18% precip
Spring is +11° warmer
Saturday 70° Low 36° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Sage Hen Flats Campground 4.8 mi away

This BLM managed site located along the Blackfoot River that has opportunities for fishing, camping, and non-motorized boating. Campground rules and regulations are posted at the site. There are no dumpsters on site, visitors must pack in and out their trash. Campsites: 4 semi-developed sites--- At this time, there is not a reservation system in place for the campsites. Campsites are on a first come first serve basis. This site is equipped with vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, horse...

Stay limit 14 Days
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 6,027 ft

Blackfoot River Warm Spring sits at 6,027 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 24% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
79°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 79°F (26°C)
Avg Air Temp 42°F
Above Ambient +37°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 109 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Pocatello Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Blackfoot River Warm Spring?
Blackfoot River Warm Spring has a water temperature of 79°F (26°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Blackfoot River Warm Spring located?
Blackfoot River Warm Spring is located in Caribou County, Idaho at 6,027 feet elevation, near Soda Springs. Coordinates: 42.9860°N, 111.7430°W.
How do I get to Blackfoot River Warm Spring?
Blackfoot River Warm Spring has Roadside road access (109 ft from the road).
Is Blackfoot River Warm Spring free to visit?
Blackfoot River Warm Spring has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Can I camp near Blackfoot River Warm Spring?
Yes, Sage Hen Flats Campground is located nearby (4.8 miles away).