Horse Creek Hot Springs

Checked October 2026 · Sources

Water, up to

109 F

Walk, one way

0 mi

Horse Creek Hot Springs is a wild soak in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho, about 174 minutes' drive from Missoula: 109 F water at the source (1980 survey), roadside access, snow likely October to May.

Wild
Roadside

Directions

Drive timecomputed

about 2 h 54 min
114.2 mi from Missoula, no traffic

From your town or ZIP

Drive times computed with GraphHopper; map data OpenStreetMap contributors.

The facts

Water: 109 F at the source, not the pool
Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry HORSE CREEK HOT SPRINGS
Walk: Roadside: 0 miles one way from road access on Horse Creek Road
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route · start 45.50332, -114.46380
Fee: Not posted by the agency
Checked on the source, checked Oct 12, 2026
Permit or reservation: None posted by the agency
Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026
Clothing: Not posted by the agency
Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026
Dogs: Not posted by the agency
Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026
Snow: Likely October to May
Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons
Managed by: USDA Forest Service, Salmon-Challis National Forest
Closures: Forest Service alerts, Salmon-Challis National Forest
Last checked: October 2026

Trail and trailhead

Road access (Horse Creek Road)

The Forest Service says:

"No trailheads from campground, but a number of trails branch in all directions from the trailhead 4 miles west on Forest Road 065."

Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Distance: Roadside, 0 miles
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route
Start: Road access (Horse Creek Road)
45.50332, -114.46380

Water temperature

109 F at the source, from NOAA's Thermal Springs List (1980 survey). That is where the water leaves the ground; the pool you sit in is cooler.

Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry HORSE CREEK HOT SPRINGS

Fees and rules

Do you have to pay to go to Horse Creek Hot Springs?

Not posted by the agency.

Checked on the source, checked Oct 12, 2026

Do you need a permit or reservation for Horse Creek Hot Springs?

None is posted. not posted

Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Clothing and dogs

Clothing

Not posted by the agency.

Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026

Dogs

Not posted by the agency.

Checked on the Forest Service, checked Oct 11, 2026

Seasons and winter access

Snow likely October to May at the spring.

Snow likelySnow not likely

Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons

Road and gate closures: check Forest Service alerts, Salmon-Challis National Forest.

Before you go

No permit or reservation is posted.
Snow likely October to May.
Check Forest Service alerts, Salmon-Challis National Forest before you drive.

Getting there

Drive times from each town's center, no traffic (computed).

Missoula, MontanaHot springs near Missoulaabout 2 h 54 min114.2 mi

Google Maps Apple Maps

Both open at the start, road access on Horse Creek Road, not at the pool.

Idaho. Tap the map for directions. Outline: US Census, public domain.

Camping near Horse Creek Hot Springs

Horse Creek Hot Spring & Campground

"Disperse camping near the border of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and Montana's Bitterroot National Forest - restroom facilites, but no picnic tables or fire-rings."

Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Nearby hot springs (4)

Lolo Hot SpringsNear Missoula · Montanaabout 3 h 7 mindrive Goldbug Hot SpringsNear Stanley · Idahoabout 3 h 26 mindrive Jerry Johnson Hot SpringsNear Missoula · Idahoabout 3 h 46 mindrive Weir Creek Hot SpringsNear Missoula · Idahoabout 3 h 58 mindrive

All 20 hot springs in Idaho Pacific Northwest hot springs (36)

Questions

Is Horse Creek Hot Springs free?

Not posted by the agency.

How long is the hike to Horse Creek Hot Springs?

There is no walk: the spring is at the road.

Is Horse Creek Hot Springs clothing optional?

Not posted by the agency.

Can I bring my dog?

Not posted by the agency.

Can you camp at Horse Creek Hot Springs?

"Disperse camping near the border of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and Montana's Bitterroot National Forest - restroom facilites, but no picnic tables or fire-rings."

Quoted from the Forest Service, checked Oct 14, 2026

Sources and last checked

Page last checked October 2026 (the oldest date below).

ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/iso: water temperatureChecked Oct 11, 2026
fs.usda.gov/r04/salmon-challis/recreation/horse-creek-hot-spring-ca...: clothing (not posted), dogs (not posted), trail, campingChecked Oct 11, 2026 and Oct 14, 2026
Walk: roadside, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route (FOSSGIS routing, foot profile) from 45.50332, -114.46380Map data OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Drive times from Missoula: computed with GraphHopper 11.1, car profile, no trafficOpenStreetMap extract of Oct 12, 2026
Snow months (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May): computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasonsMethod page explains the rule

Report a correction