Pescadero Warm Spring

Bear Lake County, Idaho · Near Montpelier
42.4260°N, 111.3780°W · 5,955 ft
79°F 37°F air · Good soaking weather 5,955 ft Roadside Camping nearby (9.8 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Pescadero Warm Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Pescadero 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.

Pescadero Warm Spring is a roadside warm spring in Bear Lake County, about eight miles from Montpelier and only a few dozen yards off Pescadero Road. The water is warm in the literal sense, well below body heat, more like a cool bath than a hot one. Neither the owner of the land nor the access status made it into the record.

Location

Close to six thousand feet, in a part of Idaho that gets around a hundred inches of snow in a winter. The roadside position means no walking to speak of. Emigration Campground is roughly ten miles away. No land unit, no owner entry. That is all the record gives on the ground around it.

the record flags winter as the best season, though water this cool in the middle of that snow season is a niche pleasure. Summer would be kinder. Emigration Campground is the listed camping option. No fee appears. Since ownership is unknown, find out whose land you are standing on before you settle in.

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 Pescadero Warm Spring.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the west.
Highest ground nearby
273 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, 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 18% 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
21°
Jan
24°
Feb
31°
Mar
37°
Apr
47°
May
60°
Jun
70°
Jul
68°
Aug
58°
Sep
43°
Oct
30°
Nov
20°
Dec
Annual Precip: 24.1 in Annual Snow: 100.2 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 20°F · Water 79°F · +59° contrast
January Air 21°F · Water 79°F · +58° contrast
February Air 24°F · Water 79°F · +56° contrast
December offers 50°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
37°F
ESE 21.7 mph 71% Good soaking weather
Today 73° Low 41° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +6° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 45° Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 36% precip
Spring is +4° warmer
Thursday 72° Low 38° Light Rain Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 74% precip
Spring is +7° warmer
Friday 68° Low 32° Slight Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 18% precip
Spring is +11° warmer
Saturday 70° Low 34° Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Emigration Campground 9.8 mi away

Overview Emigration Campground is located in 17 miles west of Montpelier, Idaho, just off State Highway 36 in Emigration Canyon. Visitors enjoy exploring the nearby Highline Trail and fishing on local streams.Recreation The Highline National Recreation Trail is adjacent to the campground and is considered the premier trail of the Montpelier District. It is open to hikers, bikers, horseback riders, motorcyclists and off-road vehicle riders. The trail stretches 55 miles along the backbone of th...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 5,955 ft

Pescadero Warm Spring sits at 5,955 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 24% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
79°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 79°F (26°C)
Avg Air Temp 43°F
Above Ambient +36°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Pescadero Road
Distance to Road 135 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Pescadero Warm Spring?
Pescadero Warm Spring has a water temperature of 79°F (26°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Pescadero Warm Spring located?
Pescadero Warm Spring is located in Bear Lake County, Idaho at 5,955 feet elevation, near Montpelier. Coordinates: 42.4260°N, 111.3780°W.
How do I get to Pescadero Warm Spring?
Pescadero Warm Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Pescadero Road (135 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Pescadero Warm Spring?
Yes, Emigration Campground is located nearby (9.8 miles away).