Sunflower Hot Springs
Sunflower Hot Springs Pools
Sunflower Hot Springs Pools
Sunflower Hot Springs
Map
LocationMiddle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho
Coordinates44°43′46″N 114°59′34″W / 44.72947°N 114.99290°W / 44.72947; -114.99290[1]
Elevation4,357 feet
Typegeothermal spring
Temperature149 °F (65 °C)

Sunflower Hot Springs is a geothermal mineral spring in Boise National Forest, Idaho, United States.

Location

The springs are located at the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the state of Idaho.[2] This area was used by the Shoshone and Nez Perce prior to the arrival of fur trappers, miners, and later early homesteaders.[3] The springs are located at an elevation of 4,357 feet (1,328 m).[1]

Water profile and geography

The spring water emerges from the bedrock 30 feet above the river at a temperature of 149 °F (65 °C).[4][5] The springs have five rock pools, and part of the hot spring water cools to 102° as it cascades off a rock to create a primitive hot shower.[6] Mineral content of the water includes calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulfate, with a pH of 8.7.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Sunflower Hot Springs". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  2. ^ Klein, Dusty. "Trip of a Lifetime: Rafting the Middle Fork of the Salmon River". Visit Idaho. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness". Salmon-Challis National Forest. US Forest Service. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  4. ^ Berry, George W.; Grim, Paul J.; Ikelman, Joy A. (1980). Thermal Springs List for the United States. Boulder, Colorado: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 23.
  5. ^ "Middle Fork of the Salmon River". The Outdoor Project. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  6. ^ Santella, Chris (October 23, 2014). "On Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon River, a family's in the rafts and off the grid". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  7. ^ Cater, Fred William (1973). Mineral Resources of the Idaho Primitive Area and Vicinity, Idaho. Indiana University. p. 338. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
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