Indian Bathtub Hot Springs

Elmore County, Idaho · Near Mountain Home Air Force Base
42.7620°N, 115.7390°W · 2,700 ft
99°F 2,700 ft Open Short Walk Bureau of Land Management
Aerial view of the ground around Indian Bathtub Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Indian Bathtub 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.

Indian Bathtub Hot Springs is BLM ground in Elmore County, under three miles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, the closest settlement in our records. The water comes out around body temperature, soaking warm, and the public is allowed in. This is low desert, dry with little snow. The water sample, from 1989, picked up iron along with the usual calcium and sodium.

Location
3 miles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, ID

The closest road is CCC Road, most of a mile away, so there is a walk involved. The Bureau of Land Management's Bruneau Field Office manages the land. Elevation is low for Idaho, twenty-seven hundred feet. Ten inches of precipitation a year and a foot or so of snow, so winter snow is light.

December through February is the dry window. Open public access on BLM land, no fee on record, and no campground listed within our data. The walk from CCC Road is a bit under a mile. The temperature reading is at the low end of soaking, and it dates to a 1989 survey, so it may not match what you find.

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 Indian Bathtub Hot Springs.

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

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
114 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 65% 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
32°
Jan
38°
Feb
46°
Mar
53°
Apr
63°
May
72°
Jun
83°
Jul
81°
Aug
70°
Sep
54°
Oct
42°
Nov
32°
Dec
Annual Precip: 9.8 in Annual Snow: 12.2 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 32°F · Water 99°F · +67° contrast
December Air 32°F · Water 99°F · +67° contrast
February Air 38°F · Water 99°F · +61° contrast
January offers 51°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Clear
Today 77° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +22° warmer
Wednesday 79° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +20° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 50° Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers 15% precip
Spring is +21° warmer
Friday 77° Low 48° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +22° warmer
Saturday 79° Low 49° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +20° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1989-03-01

The water at Indian Bathtub Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 8.6) with 248 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 8.6 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 6 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 54 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 16 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 9 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 110 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Temperature
99°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 99°F (37°C)
Avg Air Temp 56°F
Above Ambient +43°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road CCC Road
Distance to Road 0.8 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Bruneau Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Indian Bathtub Hot Springs?
Indian Bathtub Hot Springs has a water temperature of 99°F (37°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Indian Bathtub Hot Springs located?
Indian Bathtub Hot Springs is located in Elmore County, Idaho at 2,700 feet elevation, near Mountain Home Air Force Base. Coordinates: 42.7620°N, 115.7390°W.
How do I get to Indian Bathtub Hot Springs?
Indian Bathtub Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being CCC Road (0.8 mi from the road).
Is Indian Bathtub Hot Springs free to visit?
Indian Bathtub Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at Indian Bathtub Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 8.6 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 248 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS