Rice Spring, Ward Spring
Rice Spring, also called Ward Spring, emerges at 72 degrees Fahrenheit on BLM land in Minidoka County near Rupert. At just 24 degrees above the average air temperature, this is a tepid source rather than a true hot spring. Its chemistry features relatively high calcium and chloride compared to Idaho's granite-hosted thermal waters.
The spring sits at 4,977 feet in the open, arid terrain of south-central Idaho, where sagebrush stretches to the horizon and the Cotterel Mountains rise to the west. Annual rainfall averages under 17 inches, and the landscape has a spare, windswept quality. The water surfaces near the road with modest flow, and the surrounding ground shows mineral deposits from the calcium and chloride-rich discharge. Views are long and unobstructed.
This area lies along the California Trail corridor, where emigrant parties passed through in the mid-1800s. The spring's chemistry, with 34 mg/L calcium, 25 mg/L chloride, and a near-neutral pH of 8.2, suggests water that has interacted with sedimentary formations rather than the deep granitic sources that produce Idaho's hotter, more alkaline springs. The Bureau of Land Management's Burley Field Office oversees the site.
Access is roadside, about 300 feet from the nearest road. McClendon Spring Campground sits roughly 4 miles away with first-come, first-served sites in the Cotterel Mountains. The water temperature is too cool for comfortable soaking in anything but warm weather. The area is also used for upland bird and deer hunting in season.
Is Rice Spring, Ward Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Rice Spring, Ward Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 8.2).
Explore the Cotterel Mountains or hunt for upland birds and deer near this semi-developed camping destination. McClendon Spring was a favorite resting place for emigrants along the California Trail.