Highland Land Co Warm Spring
Highland Land Company Warm Spring flows at just 73°F near Emmett in Gem County, barely 20 degrees above the local average air temperature. At 2,962 feet in the western Idaho foothills, this is a warm spring rather than a hot one, emerging in the transition zone between the Snake River Plain and the Boise Front rangeland.
The spring sits in dry foothill country where annual precipitation totals only 13 inches and snowfall averages a light 17 inches. Bunchgrass and sagebrush dominate the surrounding slopes, giving way to irrigated orchards and farmland in the valley below near Emmett. The Payette River runs through the broader drainage, and the Boise Ridge Mountains rise to the east. Summer temperatures push well above 90°F, making the modest spring water feel notably cool.
Gem County occupies the western margin of the Idaho Batholith, where granitic bedrock gives way to older sedimentary formations. The low temperature differential suggests shallow circulation rather than deep geothermal heating. Emmett has served as an agricultural center since the 1860s, and the surrounding foothills supported ranching operations that likely gave this spring its utilitarian name tied to a local land company.
Shafer Butte Campground is the nearest reservable option at 25.6 miles away, up in the Boise Ridge Mountains at 7,000 feet. The spring is about 575 feet from the nearest road. At 73°F, this water is too cool for comfortable soaking except on the hottest summer days. The area is best visited as part of a broader exploration of the Emmett foothills.
Is Highland Land Co Warm Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Shafer Butte is located atop the scenic Boise Ridge Mountains, near Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area, at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Visitors enjoy hiking and biking on various trails in the surrounding area, and simply relaxing and taking in the area's beautiful views.Recreation Popular activities in the area include hiking and mountain biking, the Mores Mountain Trail begins in the campground. This 2-mile interpretive nature trail is family friendly. Facilities Shafer Butte con...