Chattanooga Hot Springs
- Free
- Roadside
A natural hot spring near Atlanta, the old mining town at the head of the Middle Fork Boise River, reached by about 60 miles of mostly dirt Forest Service roads from Idaho City. The Forest Service lists it among the natural hot springs near its Atlanta Guard Station rental cabin. No agency source gives its temperature or layout.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- Atlanta
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season |
|
|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price | No fee |
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Land manager | USFS |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages, dogs.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with USFS before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
250 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–sulfate (sodium sulfate water)
- pH
- 9.2
- Temp at source
- 127°F
- Lithium
- 0.23 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 13 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.03 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “06n 11e 35dbb1s”, sampled 1981 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
What's here
- Boise National Forest, Idaho City Ranger District
- near the historic town of Atlanta
- remote dirt-road access
Getting there
| Elevation | 5,336 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
Things to do near Atlanta
Atlanta Guard Station rental cabin
Forest Service rental cabin in Atlanta, booked on Recreation.gov; season end of May-end of Sept.
Campgrounds
- Power Plant Campground0.6 mi
- Willow Creek North Campground12.9 mi
- Alturas Inlet Campground13.4 mi
- Bird Creek Campground13.6 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Atlanta Hot Springs
A natural hot spring near the historic mining town of Atlanta at the head of the Middle Fork Boise River, about 60 miles of mostly dirt Forest Service road from Idaho City. The Forest Service names it, with Powerplant and Chattanooga, among the natural hot springs near its Atlanta Guard Station rental cabin. NOAA lists the source at about 140F.
Baumgartner Hot Springs
A concrete soaking pool fed by hot spring water inside Baumgartner Campground, on the South Fork Boise River east of Featherville in the Sawtooth National Forest. The Forest Service gives the water as 98-111°F, and the pool is drained nightly. Swimsuits are required, and soap, alcohol, glass and pets are not allowed at the pool.
Skillern Hot Springs
A backcountry hot spring in the Sawtooth National Forest north of Fairfield, reached on foot by the Big Smoky Trail #072 from Canyon Transfer Camp on Big Smoky Creek. The Forest Service names it among the district's hot springs accessible in summer. NOAA lists the source at about 140F, so test the water before getting in.
Atlanta Hot Springs: 0 mi · Baumgartner Hot Springs: 14 mi · Skillern Hot Springs: 19 mi
Sources (3)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.