Worswick Hot Springs

Camas County, Idaho · Near Fairfield
43.5630°N, 114.7980°W · 6,100 ft
180°F 6,100 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (5.2 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 180°F, the source water at Worswick Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Worswick Hot Springs, in Camas County fifteen miles or so out of Fairfield, is one of the scalding ones. Source water comes out far too hot to touch. Open access is on file. The 1983 sample is strongly alkaline and lists magnesium, calcium, sodium, chloride and sulfate. Soaking, if it happens, happens in water that has cooled a long way from the vent, and the record does not describe where that is.

Location

Carrie Creek Road stops roughly five hundred feet short, and the rest is a walk on Sawtooth National Forest ground. Six thousand feet, give or take. Snowfall clears a hundred inches in ordinary winters. Dry otherwise. No fee is on record.

Per the record, winter is the time, which means snow on Carrie Creek Road. Bowns Campground is five miles or so away. Scalding source: keep clear of where the water surfaces and test anything you plan to enter. The reading is from November 1983.

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 Worswick Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Worswick Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Worswick 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
462 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
115 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 66% 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
22°
Jan
23°
Feb
30°
Mar
35°
Apr
44°
May
56°
Jun
67°
Jul
66°
Aug
56°
Sep
41°
Oct
29°
Nov
19°
Dec
Annual Precip: 22.9 in Annual Snow: 107.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 19°F · Water 180°F · +161° contrast
January Air 22°F · Water 180°F · +158° contrast
February Air 23°F · Water 180°F · +157° contrast
December offers 47°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
NNW 1.4 mph
Today 67° Low 38° Sunny
Spring is +113° warmer
Wednesday 73° Low 43° Sunny
Spring is +107° warmer
Thursday 66° Low 38° Showers And Thunderstorms 81% precip
Spring is +114° warmer
Friday 66° Low 37° Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers 18% precip
Spring is +114° warmer
Saturday 68° Low 39° Sunny 6% precip
Spring is +112° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1983-11-03

The water at Worswick Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.0).

pH 9.0 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 2 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 69 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 28 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
Bowns Campground 5.2 mi away

Bowns Campground, located 25 miles east of Featherville and 18 miles north of Fairfield, is a developed campground composed of 10 units along Big Smoky Creek. Two of the camp sites are double family units.  Camping, fishing, hiking, and picnicking are popular activities. Campground amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water (seasonally) and restrooms. Miller Creek Trail (#087) starts just south of the campground and is open to motorcycles.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 6,100 ft

Worswick Hot Springs sits at 6,100 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
180°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 180°F (82°C)
Avg Air Temp 41°F
Above Ambient +139°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Carrie Creek Road
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Sawtooth National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Worswick Hot Springs?
Worswick Hot Springs has a water temperature of 180°F (82°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Worswick Hot Springs located?
Worswick Hot Springs is located in Camas County, Idaho at 6,100 feet elevation, near Fairfield. Coordinates: 43.5630°N, 114.7980°W.
How do I get to Worswick Hot Springs?
Worswick Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Carrie Creek Road (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Worswick Hot Springs free to visit?
Worswick Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Worswick Hot Springs?
Yes, Bowns Campground is located nearby (5.2 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Worswick Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.0 (alkaline).
Is it safe to soak at Worswick Hot Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Worswick Hot Springs reaches 180°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.