Lick Creek Warm Spring

Valley County, Idaho · Near McCall
45.0700°N, 115.8260°W · 4,390 ft
91°F 34°F air · Good soaking weather 4,390 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (10.6 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Lick Creek Warm Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Lick Creek 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.

Lick Creek Warm Spring sits eighteen miles from McCall in Valley County, on the Payette National Forest, with Lick Creek Road about 370 feet away. The water is mild, right around ninety, barely into soaking range. Access is open. Upper Payette Lake Campground is about eleven miles off, and the water tested alkaline when sampled in 1980.

Location

A short walk off Lick Creek Road, on Forest Service ground with no special designation. Elevation is around forty-four hundred feet. The snow is heavy, about thirteen feet a year. Rain is plentiful too. The campground at Upper Payette Lake is the nearest one listed, and it is the only camping in our data for this spring.

The dry window is midwinter, though Lick Creek Road under thirteen feet of snow is another matter and our data is silent on plowing. The walk is short. The water is mild, so no burn risk, but the reading dates to 1980. Access open; fee not recorded.

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 Lick Creek Warm Spring.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
785 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
82 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 19% 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
25°
Jan
27°
Feb
34°
Mar
38°
Apr
46°
May
57°
Jun
68°
Jul
68°
Aug
58°
Sep
43°
Oct
30°
Nov
23°
Dec
Annual Precip: 33.7 in Annual Snow: 153.8 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 23°F · Water 91°F · +68° contrast
January Air 25°F · Water 91°F · +66° contrast
February Air 27°F · Water 91°F · +64° contrast
December offers 45°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
34°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 93% Good soaking weather
Today 65° Low 43° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +26° warmer
Wednesday 70° Low 47° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +21° warmer
Thursday 66° Low 45° Rain Showers 80% precip
Spring is +25° warmer
Friday 66° Low 43° Chance Rain Showers 44% precip
Spring is +25° warmer
Saturday 69° Low 45° Sunny 6% precip
Spring is +22° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1980-08-26

The water at Lick Creek Warm Spring is alkaline (pH 9.0).

pH 9.0 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 3 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 90 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 37 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 26 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Upper Payette Lake Campground 10.6 mi away

Overview Upper Payette Lake Campground is located 16 miles from McCall, Idaho, on the shores of beautiful Upper Payette Lake. Visitors enjoy fishing, canoeing and exploring local trails. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as so...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
91°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 91°F (33°C)
Avg Air Temp 43°F
Above Ambient +48°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Lick Creek Road
Distance to Road 369 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Payette National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Lick Creek Warm Spring?
Lick Creek Warm Spring has a water temperature of 91°F (33°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Lick Creek Warm Spring located?
Lick Creek Warm Spring is located in Valley County, Idaho at 4,390 feet elevation, near McCall. Coordinates: 45.0700°N, 115.8260°W.
How do I get to Lick Creek Warm Spring?
Lick Creek Warm Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Lick Creek Road (369 ft from the road).
Is Lick Creek Warm Spring free to visit?
Lick Creek Warm Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Lick Creek Warm Spring?
Yes, Upper Payette Lake Campground is located nearby (10.6 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Lick Creek Warm Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.0 (alkaline).
Sources: USGS NWIS