01Summary
Naturally carbonated mineral springs on the Bear River. Emigrants treated the water as both curiosity and tonic.
02History
Soda Springs is a cluster of naturally carbonated mineral springs on the Bear River in present-day Caribou County, Idaho. Carbon dioxide percolates up from the underlying rock, and the water bubbles, fizzes, and tastes faintly of minerals.
Emigrants treated the springs as both curiosity and tonic. Diaries describe mixing the water with sugar or vinegar to make a fizzing drink, and using it to leaven biscuits without saleratus. Several springs were given names, 'Steamboat Spring', 'Hooper Spring', and some survive today.
From 1849, parties bound for California sometimes left the Oregon route at Soda Springs on Hudspeth's Cutoff, a 132-mile shortcut that rejoined the California Trail near present-day Burley, Idaho.
03Today
Hooper Spring Park preserves one of the original springs in the modern town of Soda Springs. The largest geyser, drilled in 1937 and capped with a timer, erupts hourly.
05Stops nearby
The Oregon Trail ran roughly 2,170 miles from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City. The stops immediately before and after this one are linked below; show Soda Springs on the interactive map for the full route.