Scott Spring
Scott Spring flows at 68°F in Idaho's Owyhee County, emerging at 3,886 feet elevation just across the Oregon border near Homedale. The spring requires a 1,556-meter walk from the nearest road, running 16 degrees above the surrounding desert air temperature.
The spring sits in high desert rangeland at 3,886 feet, where big sagebrush and bunchgrasses dominate rolling terrain. Annual precipitation totals just 11 inches with 19 inches of snow. The Owyhee Mountains rise to the south while the Snake River plain spreads northward. Dry creek beds and basalt outcrops punctuate the landscape. Cattle grazing patterns are evident across the public and private land mosaic.
The Scott name likely honors an early rancher or homesteader, a common naming pattern in Owyhee County's settlement history. No documented Indigenous name or resort development has been located in available records. The spring served as range water historically and remains undeveloped. Current status is backcountry seep on mixed-use land.
The 1,556-meter walk crosses open sagebrush country without shade or trail. Bring GPS navigation and sufficient water. Best visiting is April through early June or September through October when desert heat is moderate. Summer temperatures exceed 90°F regularly. Winter brings occasional harsh weather. No nearby developed camping exists.