Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs

Elmore County, Idaho · Near Mountain Home Air Force Base
42.7670°N, 115.7250°W · 2,645 ft
108°F 2,645 ft Open Short Walk Bureau of Land Management
Aerial view of the ground around Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Lower 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.

Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs lies on BLM land in Elmore County, Idaho, a couple of miles from Mountain Home Air Force Base. Access is open. The recorded temperature lands in soaking range, warm enough to get into as it comes from the source, and the USGS measured a respectable flow, a full cubic foot per second.

Location
2 miles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, ID

Getting there means walking about seven tenths of a mile in from the closest road, which the record leaves unnamed. Bureau of Land Management ground in the Jarbidge Field Office, plain public land carrying no special designation. This is low, dry ground. Snow is scant, a foot a year on average, and the climate is dry and mild.

Midwinter is the recorded best time, and with so little snow a winter visit is reasonable. The record lists no campground near here. The water is at a temperature most people find comfortable, so there is no burn risk to speak of. The land is BLM and open. The road in is not named, so you will need your own directions. Chemistry on record dates to 1989.

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 Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the southwest.
Highest ground nearby
93 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
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
32°
Jan
38°
Feb
46°
Mar
54°
Apr
63°
May
73°
Jun
83°
Jul
82°
Aug
70°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
32°
Dec
Annual Precip: 9.8 in Annual Snow: 12.2 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 32°F · Water 108°F · +76° contrast
December Air 32°F · Water 108°F · +76° contrast
February Air 38°F · Water 108°F · +70° contrast
January offers 51°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Clear
Today 77° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +31° warmer
Wednesday 79° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +29° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 49° Slight Chance Rain Showers 15% precip
Spring is +30° warmer
Friday 77° Low 48° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +31° warmer
Saturday 79° Low 49° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +29° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1989-03-28

The water at Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 8.7).

pH 8.7 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 6 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 56 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 17 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 8 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Temperature
108°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 108°F (42°C)
Avg Air Temp 56°F
Above Ambient +52°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.7 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Jarbidge Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs?
Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs has a water temperature of 108°F (42°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs located?
Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs is located in Elmore County, Idaho at 2,645 feet elevation, near Mountain Home Air Force Base. Coordinates: 42.7670°N, 115.7250°W.
How do I get to Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs?
Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.7 mi from the road).
Is Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs free to visit?
Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at Lower Indian Bathtub Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.7 (alkaline).
Sources: USGS NWIS