Silver Creek Hot Spring

Also known as: Silver Crrek Plunge Pool
Valley County, Idaho · Near Cascade
44.3300°N, 115.8020°W · 4,500 ft
102°F 31°F air · Good soaking weather 4,500 ft Roadside Camping nearby (1.9 mi)

Silver Creek Hot Spring, also called the Silver Creek Plunge, runs at a soaking temperature a little over a hundred degrees in Valley County, roughly seventeen miles from Cascade. It sits around a hundred feet from the road. Nobody recorded the land owner or the access status, so both are unknown. Wikipedia describes it as a geothermal mineral spring about 23 miles north of Crouch.

Location

Around 4,500 feet, and only about a hundred feet off the roadway, so it counts as roadside. Snowfall is heavy all the same, roughly 140 inches in a typical winter, and the area gets a fair amount of rain. Who owns the ground does not appear in the record, and neither does a road name.

Best months, per the record: December through February. Peace Valley Campground is under two miles off. Temperature and chemistry come from an August 1979 USGS sample; the water then was mildly alkaline with low dissolved solids. Access is not on record, so confirm the ownership before going.

History of Silver Creek Hot Spring

Wikipedia lists it as the Silver Creek Plunge, a geothermal mineral spring north of Crouch. OpenStreetMap has it as a plunge pool under a misspelled version of the same name. A USGS site number is attached.

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 Silver Creek Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Silver Creek Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Silver Creek Hot 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.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the south.
Highest ground nearby
167 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the south
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
130 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 80% 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
28°
Feb
34°
Mar
39°
Apr
48°
May
59°
Jun
70°
Jul
69°
Aug
59°
Sep
45°
Oct
32°
Nov
23°
Dec
Annual Precip: 34.0 in Annual Snow: 142.4 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 23°F · Water 102°F · +79° contrast
January Air 25°F · Water 102°F · +77° contrast
February Air 28°F · Water 102°F · +74° contrast
December offers 47°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
31°F
S 5.6 mph 92% Good soaking weather
Today 70° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +32° warmer
Wednesday 78° Low 53° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +24° warmer
Thursday 70° Low 50° Showers And Thunderstorms 79% precip
Spring is +32° warmer
Friday 70° Low 48° Chance Rain Showers 36% precip
Spring is +32° warmer
Saturday 72° Low 50° Sunny 6% precip
Spring is +30° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1979-08-08

The water at Silver Creek Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 8.9) with 197 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 8.9 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 3 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 54 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 26 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 6 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Peace Valley Campground 1.9 mi away

Overview Peace Valley Campground sits just 27 miles north of Garden Valley, Idaho, at an elevation of 4591 feet. The beautiful Peace Valley offers excellent hiking, motorcycle riding, fishing, and hunting opportunities. Recreation Peace Valley offers several trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and OHV use. Peace Creek Trail and Bitter Creek Trail (both motorcycle trails) begin nearby. The Rattlesnake Trail and 465 ATV Trail are in the vicinity of the campground. Peace...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
102°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 102°F (39°C)
Avg Air Temp 44°F
Above Ambient +58°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 111 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Silver Creek Hot Spring?
Silver Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 102°F (39°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Silver Creek Hot Spring located?
Silver Creek Hot Spring is located in Valley County, Idaho at 4,500 feet elevation, near Cascade. Coordinates: 44.3300°N, 115.8020°W.
How do I get to Silver Creek Hot Spring?
Silver Creek Hot Spring has Roadside road access (111 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Silver Creek Hot Spring?
Yes, Peace Valley Campground is located nearby (1.9 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Silver Creek Hot Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.9 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 197 mg/L.