Russian John Hot Spring
Russian John Hot Spring sits a few steps off the road in the Sawtooth National Forest, Blaine County, about thirteen miles from Ketchum. The water is at body temperature, easy soaking warmth. Access is open. Easley Campground is about three miles away. Forest Service ground, with water chemistry on file from the late eighties.
Nearly seven thousand feet up, with eleven feet of snow across a typical winter and a moderately wet climate. The spring is right at the road, so access is a matter of the road being open, and at this elevation that is a real question for a good part of the year. Sawtooth National Forest, standard designation. Easley Campground is the camping the record lists.
December through February get the best-months tag here and the water suits cold air. Easley Campground is close by for camping. No fee recorded. Temperature is mild enough to need no caution. The road in winter is the thing to check, since nothing else about access is complicated.
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 Russian John Hot Spring.
Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.
- Setting
- Gentle slope
- The ground tilts gently up to the west.
- Highest ground nearby
- 102 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the west
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.
That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 72% 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.
See every spring on the geothermal heat map →
Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.
The water at Russian John Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 9.2).
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Overview Easley Campground is located along the beautiful Big Wood River at an elevation of 6800 feet, conveniently close to Ketchum, Idaho only 14 miles south. Visitors enjoy fishing, hiking and soaking at Easley Hot Springs.Recreation Easley is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where outdoor activities abound. Fly-fishing for rainbow, brown and brook trout is popular on the Big Wood River, as is float tubing. The 20-mile Harriman Trail passes through the campground, offering...
Russian John Hot Spring sits at 6,845 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 27% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Russian John Hot Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Springs Near Russian John Hot Spring
More Springs Around 100°F
Alkaline Springs (pH ~9.2)
Hike 6 waterfalls near Russian John Hot Spring
Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Russian John Hot Spring, Idaho.