Danskin Creek Hot Spring

Boise County, Idaho · Near Idaho City
44.0600°N, 115.8190°W · 3,360 ft
106°F 33°F air · Good soaking weather 3,360 ft Open Roadside US Forest Service Camping nearby (4.9 mi)

Danskin Creek Hot Spring comes out at a soaking temperature, a little past a hundred degrees, about sixty feet from Banks Lowman Road on Boise National Forest land. Idaho City is sixteen miles. Access is open and the land is Forest Service, which makes the planning easy on paper. A photograph is on file.

Location

Banks Lowman Road runs right by it; the record puts the water under sixty feet from the roadway. The spring is at about thirty-four hundred feet. Nine feet of snow comes down in winter; rain across the year is moderate. Hot Springs campground is about five miles along. Nothing describes the ground between road and water.

Soakable temperature with no real burn risk. Winter shows as the best season in the record. The water chemistry was last sampled in 1972, a long time ago, so take the pH as historical. Camping at the Hot Springs campground, five miles, and the public may use the spring per the record.

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 Danskin Creek Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Danskin Creek Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Danskin Creek 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.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the north.
Highest ground nearby
321 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the north
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
124 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 75% 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
28°
Jan
31°
Feb
38°
Mar
44°
Apr
53°
May
63°
Jun
74°
Jul
73°
Aug
63°
Sep
49°
Oct
36°
Nov
27°
Dec
Annual Precip: 30.9 in Annual Snow: 105.6 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 27°F · Water 106°F · +79° contrast
January Air 28°F · Water 106°F · +78° contrast
February Air 31°F · Water 106°F · +75° contrast
December offers 47°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
33°F
NW 0.0 mph 98% Good soaking weather
Today 80° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +26° warmer
Wednesday 88° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +18° warmer
Thursday 79° Low 44° Rain Showers Likely 74% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Friday 79° Low 42° Areas Of Fog then Slight Chance Rain Showers 21% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Saturday 83° Low 45° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +23° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1972-06-08

The water at Danskin Creek Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 8.8).

pH 8.8 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 2 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 66 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 47 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 5 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Hot Springs 4.9 mi away

Overview Hot Springs Campground is located just east of Garden Valley, Idaho along the Banks-Lowman Highway at an elevation of 3169 feet. Visitors enjoy rafting, kayaking, fishing on the South Fork Payette River, and soaking in the hot springs at the river's edge. Recreation The South Fork Payette River is across the road from the campground, offering fishing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking. A natural hot springs soaking pool is located on the river directly across the road and down a...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
106°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 106°F (41°C)
Avg Air Temp 48°F
Above Ambient +58°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Banks Lowman Road
Distance to Road 58 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Boise National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Danskin Creek Hot Spring?
Danskin Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 106°F (41°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Danskin Creek Hot Spring located?
Danskin Creek Hot Spring is located in Boise County, Idaho at 3,360 feet elevation, near Idaho City. Coordinates: 44.0600°N, 115.8190°W.
How do I get to Danskin Creek Hot Spring?
Danskin Creek Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Banks Lowman Road (58 ft from the road).
Is Danskin Creek Hot Spring free to visit?
Danskin Creek Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Danskin Creek Hot Spring?
Yes, Hot Springs is located nearby (4.9 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Danskin Creek Hot Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.8 (alkaline).
Sources: USGS NWIS