Kent Warm Spring
Kent Warm Spring runs at 75 degrees Fahrenheit near Malad City in Oneida County, barely qualifying as thermal at just 27.7 degrees above ambient air temperature. It sits at 4,280 feet in the valleys of southeastern Idaho near the Utah border, its near-neutral pH of 7.7 and balanced mineral profile making it chemically unremarkable but drinkably clean-tasting.
The spring emerges about 370 feet from Daniels Road in a high valley landscape where cattle ranches and hay fields fill the bottomlands between low mountain ridges. Annual precipitation of nearly 20 inches and 61 inches of snow support a mix of sagebrush and irrigated pasture. The setting is quiet and pastoral rather than dramatic. The 75-degree water barely feels warm to the touch on a summer day, though in winter, when air temperatures drop well below the 47.3-degree annual average, the spring's warmth becomes more noticeable.
The balanced calcium-magnesium-sodium chemistry and moderate chloride of 35 mg/L suggest circulation through sedimentary formations, likely the Paleozoic carbonates that underlie much of the Bear River Range and adjacent valleys. The modest temperature points to either shallow depth of circulation or significant dilution by cold groundwater near the surface. This part of Idaho sits at the northern end of the Basin and Range geologic province, where extensional faulting creates pathways for warm water to reach the surface.
The spring is a short walk from Daniels Road at 4,280 feet. Water temperature is too cool for a satisfying hot soak but may interest mineral spring enthusiasts. Malad Summit Campground sits 13 kilometers away at 6,100 feet with reservable sites, trout fishing on Mill Creek, and access to Summit Trail and other hiking routes. The town of Malad City provides basic services 14 miles to the south.
Is Kent Warm Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Kent Warm Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.7).
Overview Malad Summit Campground is situated next to Mill Creek, just 14 miles north of Malad, Idaho, at an elevation of 6,100 feet. Visitors enjoy hiking, horseback riding and off-road vehicle riding on the area's many trails.Recreation Mill Creek offers cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing. Numerous trails begin nearby, including the 12-mile multi-use Summit Trail, which connects with Farmers Canyon, East Elkhorn and Wright Creek trails. Old Canyon and South Canyon trails begin a short dista...