Indian Hot Springs
Indian Hot Springs pours out at 160 degrees Fahrenheit on BLM land near Glenns Ferry, running 106.8 degrees above the surrounding air temperature. The spring sits at 3,720 feet on the high desert plateau south of the Snake River, accessed via Indian Hot Springs Road with a short walk of about a third of a mile.
The landscape is open Owyhee Desert: rolling sagebrush flats cut by occasional rocky drainages under an enormous sky. Annual precipitation is just 13.4 inches with about 34 inches of snow in winter. Silence dominates. The spring's outflow creates a narrow band of green vegetation that contrasts sharply with the surrounding brown and gray terrain. Steam is visible year-round given the extreme temperature differential, and the faint sulfur smell from 23 mg/L sulfate hangs in the still air.
This spring is part of the Bruneau-Jarbidge geothermal province, where deep faults allow superheated water to reach the surface across a broad area of southwestern Idaho. The highly alkaline pH of 9.4 and absence of detectable magnesium indicate deep, prolonged circulation through silicic volcanic rock. Total dissolved solids of 286 mg/L reflect moderate mineralization. The Forks Campground, 39 kilometers away on the Jarbidge Wild and Scenic River, anchors the broader recreation corridor.
Water temperature at the source is dangerous and far too hot for contact. Any soaking depends on finding a cooled downstream channel or pool. The spring is about a third of a mile walk from Indian Hot Springs Road on open BLM land. Bring water, sun protection, and a vehicle suited for remote desert roads. The Forks Campground offers primitive sites on a first-come basis with a 14-day stay limit.
Is Indian Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
- Overnight camping trips
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking
The water at Indian Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.4) with 286 mg/L total dissolved solids.
This small campground is located on the East Fork of the Jarbidge Wild and Scenic River about two miles north of Murphy Hot Springs across from the Jarbidge River Put-in. Two-wheel drive vehicles are sufficient to reach the site.