Mores Creek Hot Spring
Mores Creek Hot Spring sits just 25 miles from downtown Boise in Ada County, making it one of the most city-accessible thermal springs in Idaho. At 3,058 feet elevation along East Spring Shores Road near Arrowrock Reservoir, the spring requires only a 410-foot walk from the road, putting hot water within easy reach of Idaho's largest metropolitan area.
The spring emerges in the dry foothills above the Boise River where sagebrush gives way to scattered ponderosa pines along the reservoir shore. Arrowrock Dam backs up the Boise River into a long, narrow reservoir that fills the canyon below. The climate here is mild by Idaho standards, averaging 52 degrees annually with just 17 inches of rain and 34 inches of snow. In summer, the hills turn golden brown; in spring, balsamroot blankets the slopes in yellow.
The spring's temperature was recorded only as "H" for hot in the original 1980 NOAA survey, without a precise measurement. The Boise area sits along the western Snake River Plain, where the combination of deep basin faults and residual volcanic heat drives numerous thermal features. Arrowrock Dam, completed in 1915, was the tallest dam in the world at the time and transformed this canyon into a recreation corridor that now provides easy access to the spring.
Macks Creek Campground, about 3 miles away along Arrowrock Reservoir, offers reservable sites and is operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers from May through September. The campground fills quickly on summer weekends given its proximity to Boise. Highway 21 provides paved access to the Arrowrock area. Verify current road conditions in winter, as snow can close secondary roads. The reservoir level fluctuates seasonally, which may affect access to shoreline areas near the spring.
Is Mores Creek Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Macks Creek Campground is a very popular small campground just 25 miles from the Boise area along Arrowrock road off Highway 21 operated and managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The campground is reservation only May-September and closed to vehicle traffic the remainder of the year. Visitors make the trip to enjoy quality seasonal recreational activities like boating, swimming, camping, fishing, and hunting. Regular seasonal drawdowns occur each year which impact the recreation...