Weir Creek Hot Springs

Also known as: Weir hotsprings
Mineral County, Idaho · Near Superior
46.4640°N, 115.0350°W · 2,885 ft
117°F 36°F air · Good soaking weather 2,885 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (9.0 mi)

Weir Creek Hot Springs sits in Clearwater National Forest, with Superior the nearest town at under five miles. Public access is marked open. Source water is hot, above comfortable soaking straight from the ground, so cooling matters. OpenStreetMap tags it as Weir hotsprings, run together. Strongly alkaline water; the county on record is Mineral.

Location

Forest Service ground, and the walk in from an unnamed road runs a little under half a mile. Elevation stays under three thousand feet, which does not stop snowfall averaging past two hundred inches, and it is wet here year round. Count on snow lying over the approach much of the year.

Winter months, December through February, are what the record recommends. Castle Butte Lookout, nine miles off, is the closest overnight option listed. The source can burn given time; test the pool before you settle. Access is open per the Forest Service. The temperature reading is from July 1982.

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 Weir Creek Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Weir Creek Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Weir Creek 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.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
544 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
86 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 23% 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
29°
Jan
30°
Feb
37°
Mar
42°
Apr
51°
May
60°
Jun
71°
Jul
71°
Aug
61°
Sep
47°
Oct
34°
Nov
27°
Dec
Annual Precip: 48.8 in Annual Snow: 209.1 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 27°F · Water 117°F · +90° contrast
January Air 29°F · Water 117°F · +88° contrast
February Air 30°F · Water 117°F · +87° contrast
December offers 44°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
36°F
E 3.6 mph 99% Good soaking weather
Today 68° Low 44° Mostly Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +49° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +42° warmer
Thursday 76° Low 49° Mostly Sunny then Chance Light Rain 39% precip
Spring is +41° warmer
Friday 69° Low 47° Chance Light Rain 46% precip
Spring is +48° warmer
Saturday 74° Low 48° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +43° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1982-07-14

The water at Weir Creek Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.4).

pH 9.4 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 3 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 28 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 18 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 2 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Castle Butte Lookout 9.0 mi away

Overview Castle Butte Lookout is a unique cabin perched on a rocky point, 6,659 feet above sea level. It offers breathtaking, 360-degree views of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, the Seven Devils Mountains, the Great Burn area and the deep canyons of the North Fork Clearwater River's upper drainages. A cabin was first constructed on this site in 1916 and was replaced in 1928 with a log cabin featuring a cupola. The current lookout was built in 1950. Access to the lookout is via the Lolo M...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
117°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 117°F (47°C)
Avg Air Temp 47°F
Above Ambient +70°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.4 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Clearwater National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Weir Creek Hot Springs?
Weir Creek Hot Springs has a water temperature of 117°F (47°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Weir Creek Hot Springs located?
Weir Creek Hot Springs is located in Mineral County, Idaho at 2,885 feet elevation, near Superior. Coordinates: 46.4640°N, 115.0350°W.
How do I get to Weir Creek Hot Springs?
Weir Creek Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.4 mi from the road).
Is Weir Creek Hot Springs free to visit?
Weir Creek Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Weir Creek Hot Springs?
Yes, Castle Butte Lookout is located nearby (9.0 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Weir Creek Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.4 (alkaline).
Is it safe to soak at Weir Creek Hot Springs?
With care. At 117°F Weir Creek Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.