Buckaroo Hot Spring
Buckaroo Hot Spring emerges at 109 degrees Fahrenheit in the same southern Idaho desert corridor as neighboring Bruneau Hot Spring, sitting at 2,620 feet elevation in Elmore County. This area receives under ten inches of rain annually, making it one of the driest thermal spring environments in the state, with the spring's heat standing out sharply against the arid landscape.
Dry sagebrush flats extend in every direction from this spring, which surfaces about 214 feet from the nearest road. The terrain is flat volcanic desert with little vegetation beyond low scrub. In the cooler months, steam drifts across the ground and marks the spring's location well before you reach it. The soil around the source is stained with light mineral deposits. Summer heat makes the area feel harsh and exposed, while winter brings a stark beauty when frost coats the sagebrush and the spring's warmth creates a small pocket of green.
Buckaroo and nearby Bruneau Hot Spring share the same deep geothermal plumbing beneath the Snake River Plain, where volcanic heat drives water upward through fault systems. The water chemistry here is straightforward: pH 8.2, moderate sodium at 43 mg/L, and low sulfate at 15 mg/L. Ranchers in this region have used thermal water for over a century, channeling it into stock tanks and irrigation ditches across the Bruneau-Grand View corridor.
Buckaroo sits roughly 214 feet from the road, a short walk across open desert. No trails or facilities are present. The 109-degree source is hot enough to scald, so approach with caution and look for cooler pooling areas downstream. The area around Mountain Home Air Force Base has limited services. Carry drinking water, wear sturdy shoes for the rocky ground, and plan visits for cooler months when the desert heat does not compete with the spring.
Is Buckaroo Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Easy day trips
The water at Buckaroo Hot Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 8.2).