Heise Hot Springs
East of Rexburg in Madison County, Idaho, a little over thirteen miles from town, Heise Hot Springs is a hot source whose temperature on record sits past comfortable soaking and into the range where you would want it cooled first. Who owns the land and what the public may do there are both missing from the record, which matters for a spring this close to a named road and a campground.
East Heise Road comes within a couple hundred feet, so this is roadside in any practical sense. The ground here is lower and drier than the mountain springs farther west in Idaho. Winter snow is moderate, under four feet most years, and total precipitation is on the light side. No land unit or designation is on file, so the surroundings are unrecorded beyond the road name and the county.
The record favors the winter months. Kelly Island Campground is about two miles off. Going by the temperature on file, test the water with a hand before you step in. Nothing in the record says the source is open to the public or who owns it, and the only chemistry sample dates to 1977, so confirm both before planning a trip.
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 Heise Hot Springs.
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 northeast.
- Highest ground nearby
- 449 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
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.
That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 72% 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.
See every spring on the geothermal heat map →
Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.
The water at Heise Hot Springs is slightly acidic (pH 6.4). It is notably rich in calcium (may support bone density and joint health), magnesium (known for muscle relaxation and stress relief), and sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration).
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Scenic, semi-developed camping in a cottonwood gallery forest along the South Fork of the Snake River with views of the Snake River Range foothills. Excellent trout fishing along with hiking, boating, wildlife viewing and OHV riding opportunities nearby. Approximate use season: Mid-May to mid/late September. The Kelly Island Campground has no electrical hook-ups and ATV's are not allowed to be ridden in the campground. This site is equipped with a central spicket for water, vault toilets, pul...
Heise Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water runs hot, so extra hydration is key. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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