Marsh Gully Hot Springs

Minidoka County, Idaho · Near Rupert
42.4490°N, 113.5110°W · 4,780 ft
106°F 4,780 ft Open Short Walk Bureau of Land Management Camping nearby (9.4 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Marsh Gully Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Marsh Gully 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.

Marsh Gully Hot Springs is a BLM thermal spring in Minidoka County, about fourteen miles from Rupert. The water surfaces a bit above body heat, warm enough to sit in as it comes. Access is on record as open, and the ground belongs to the Bureau of Land Management's Burley Field Office. There is no entry for a fee or for any development here, so assume an undeveloped source until you see otherwise.

Location

High desert, dry enough that a year's precipitation would not fill a rain barrel. Winters drop a modest amount of snow, rarely enough to shut the area for long, and the ground sits a little under five thousand feet. Getting there means leaving the car and walking something over half a mile. Which road you start from is not named in the record.

The cold months rate best for this one, December through February especially, when the air bites and the water does not. Plan on the walk in. McClendon Spring Campground is the nearest developed camping, nine or ten miles off. the record is blank. Ask the Burley Field Office what the site looks like now, since nothing on file describes it on the ground.

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 Marsh Gully Hot Springs.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
346 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the south
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
86 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 24% 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
26°
Jan
29°
Feb
38°
Mar
45°
Apr
55°
May
66°
Jun
76°
Jul
75°
Aug
64°
Sep
49°
Oct
37°
Nov
27°
Dec
Annual Precip: 14.5 in Annual Snow: 31.8 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 26°F · Water 106°F · +80° contrast
December Air 27°F · Water 106°F · +79° contrast
February Air 29°F · Water 106°F · +77° contrast
January offers 50°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
E 36.2 mph
Today 75° Low 49° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +31° warmer
Wednesday 79° Low 55° Sunny 9% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Thursday 75° Low 50° Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 38% precip
Spring is +31° warmer
Friday 71° Low 47° Sunny 8% precip
Spring is +35° warmer
Saturday 74° Low 48° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +32° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Mc Clendon Spring Campground 9.4 mi away

Explore the Cotterel Mountains or hunt for upland birds and deer near this semi-developed camping destination. McClendon Spring was a favorite resting place for emigrants along the California Trail.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
106°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 106°F (41°C)
Avg Air Temp 49°F
Above Ambient +57°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.6 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Burley Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Marsh Gully Hot Springs?
Marsh Gully Hot Springs has a water temperature of 106°F (41°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Marsh Gully Hot Springs located?
Marsh Gully Hot Springs is located in Minidoka County, Idaho at 4,780 feet elevation, near Rupert. Coordinates: 42.4490°N, 113.5110°W.
How do I get to Marsh Gully Hot Springs?
Marsh Gully Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.6 mi from the road).
Is Marsh Gully Hot Springs free to visit?
Marsh Gully Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Can I camp near Marsh Gully Hot Springs?
Yes, Mc Clendon Spring Campground is located nearby (9.4 miles away).