Magic Hot Springs
Magic Hot Springs in Blaine County reaches 163 degrees Fahrenheit, making it dangerously hot and one of the highest-temperature springs in Idaho. Located just 8 meters from the road near Bellevue at 4,882 feet, this spring boils out at 118 degrees above ambient air temperature. It is emphatically not a soaking spring.
The southern end of Blaine County opens into broad valley flats where the Wood River drainage meets the Snake River Plain. At just 8 meters from the road, the spring is impossible to miss -- steam pours off the source in cooler weather, and the ground around it is stained with mineral deposits. The valley here sits between mountain ranges, with the Pioneer Mountains to the east and the Soldier Mountains to the south. Annual snowfall of 47 inches and 15 inches of rain keep the landscape dry and brown through late summer.
USGS measurements show a curious discrepancy: the recent recorded temperature is just 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit), far below the 1980 NOAA reading of 163 degrees. This may indicate the USGS measurement was taken at a downstream or peripheral point, or that flow conditions have changed over four decades. The near-neutral pH of 7.3 and low mineral concentrations (sodium at 10 mg/L, chloride at 5.7 mg/L) suggest relatively dilute water despite the extreme temperature recorded historically.
Do not attempt to soak in this spring. The historical temperature of 163 degrees Fahrenheit causes severe burns on contact. The source is essentially roadside, just 8 meters off the road near Bellevue. There is no established campground nearby. Approach with caution, watch for unstable ground near the vent, and keep children and pets well back from the water.
Is Magic Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
- Easy day trips
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking
The water at Magic Hot Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3).