Indian Bathtub Hot Springs
Indian Bathtub Hot Springs holds at a body-temperature 99 degrees Fahrenheit on BLM land near Mountain Home Air Force Base, sitting at 2,700 feet in the Bruneau desert. The name suggests a natural rock basin, and the water's alkaline pH of 8.6 and moderate mineral content of 248 mg/L make it comparatively gentle on skin.
Reaching the spring means crossing roughly three-quarters of a mile of open high desert from CCC Road. The terrain is classic Owyhee Plateau: sparse sagebrush, exposed volcanic rock, and silence interrupted only by wind and the occasional raptor overhead. Annual rainfall is under 10 inches, snowfall just 12 inches. Summer temperatures soar well past the 55.6-degree annual average, while winter nights drop hard. The spring itself pools in a natural depression, its 99-degree water blending almost imperceptibly with the warm desert air in July.
The spring sits within the Bruneau-Jarbidge geothermal system, one of the most active in Idaho. Deep faulting along the Bruneau River corridor allows heated water to migrate upward through fractured rhyolite. The relatively low temperature and moderate dissolved solids suggest mixing with shallow groundwater before surfacing. Elevated iron at 110 micrograms per liter tints the surrounding rock with faint orange staining.
The spring requires a walk of about three-quarters of a mile from CCC Road across open desert with no trail markers or shade. Bring plenty of water and GPS coordinates. The 99-degree temperature is comfortable for extended soaking in cooler months but feels lukewarm in summer heat. BLM land is open to the public. No facilities exist at the site.
Is Indian Bathtub Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
The water at Indian Bathtub Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 8.6) with 248 mg/L total dissolved solids.