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Hike & Soak in Goldbug Hot Springs

Salmon, Idaho

4.7/5
based on 15 reviews

Details

Distance

3.52 miles

Elevation Gain

1350 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Ross Perkins

This potentially strenuous hike delivers you to a location that you thought only existed in dreams. After hiking up the side of a mountain, you'll be soaking in cliffside natural hot springs that are fed by a creek and sprawls out into waterfalls.

Reaching the Goldbug Hot Springs trailhead is pretty straightforward. It is located South of Salmon, Idaho and north of Challis, Idaho. The turnoff is near mile marker 282 on highway 93. This turns into a short dirt road (heading east) with a trailhead at the end; wooden fences and a restroom will assure that you're in the correct location. There are also homes along the dirt road and trailhead– don't let that deter you.

The trail to the hot springs is well traveled and very easy to follow – it's ~2 miles in, and !2 miles out. If you look up at the mountain range from here, you'll see a "V" shape cut into the ridge. The pools are essentially located right at the point of the "V"– use that as motivation.

The first section is private property, but you are more than welcome to traverse it. After you pass through a gate, you'll be on national forest land.The hike is very interesting. It begins on the side of a hill and then drops down to land that mimics a desert – cactuses equipped. There is a very simple composting toilet off to your left in the desert territory if you find the need to use it while hiking up. There are also a handful of camping sites off to your right of the trail (across from the composting toilet). Fire rings and laid down tree trunks mark this area pretty easily. There are also large trees around it to give your proper shade if needed.

After you pass through the flat land, it'll begin to become overtaken with trees and the elevation will begin to gain. For some, this can be a very grueling hike. If you are in relatively good shape, this is but a mere hike that may raise your heart rate a little. I saw children and smaller dogs on the trail when I was hiking up.

The trail up ranges from dirt paths, to climbing up the sides of rocks and traversing over areas where rock slides have littered across the trail. Just before you actually reach the hot springs, the trail will morph into wooden box steps. At this point, be sure to look over to your left and break through the trees. You will be greeted by a mossy, waterfall covered oasis– cave included.

Once you breakaway from this magical sight, you'll push yourself up the last leg of steps and cross a small wooden bridge. The hot springs will then engulf your sight. There is a large pool at the very top of the cliff that is fed by a creek. The water spews over the cliff and creates 15 foot waterfalls of hot water to feed two more decently sized pools below. The water continues down from that into another pool. The farther you trek from the top pool, the cooler the water becomes.

Up from the top pool are flat areas to pitch tents, lay down a sleeping mat, or plenty of trees to string up a hammock. There are also some rocky fire rings scattered throughout the area. Keep in mind, camping isn't permitted within 500 feet of the hot springs.

This remains as one of my favorite locations to visit. Spending the night there allows you to indulge in the utter bliss of soaking in hot water on a brisk night as the sky is taken over by billions of stars. The view is unrivaled while soaking in your 'victory' pool– looking over the valley that you just conquered all the way up.

This adventure is perfect for a group of friends to spend a handful of hours or the night within nature. There is a good chance that you may make a few friends while soaking as well. Bring your camera, the landscape is breathtaking.

This excursion can be very muddy during the spring thaw, very hot in the summer, perfect in autumn, and much more difficult in the winter when the snow begins to pile up – perhaps equip yourself with snowshoes. Check the weather and prepare appropriately for conditions.

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Features

Chillin
Camping
Photography
Backpacking
Hiking
Forest
Hot Springs
River
Scenic
Waterfall

Hike & Soak in Goldbug Hot Springs Reviews

Lots of water spots to stop on the way for your dogs to cook down. Just don’t go in the summer in the afternoon or peak hours. Not a lot of shaded areas. The beginning of the hike is steep and at the end of the hike as well.

The hike to Goldbug Hot Springs was exactly like written up. This was an awesome stop while we were waiting poor weather at the summit of Borah Peak! Road to trail head is now paved. Many people at top soaking just before dark, who hiked down after dark. We camped above springs and went for morning soak around 7:15 a.m. There were already two different parties in pools by then, and we counted 26 people going up as we descended mid-morning. You may need to go up very early if you want more space for yourself. There are many hot pools on both sides of the bridge at top though, so room for lots of people.

Before you drive to the trail head you’ll pass a house. The man who lives here is often waiting outside his home to jump in front of your car and say a few choice words about how fast you are driving I even if you are going the speed limit. Just be careful around him. Once you get past this the rest of the hike is as amazing as was stated in every other review.

Went here for the first time and was very pleasantly surprised. Drove up through Stanley and got worried that there would be too much snow! However, there was only an inch or so and it was lovely. The first mile and a half of the hike is very easy with a slight uphill rise to the trail. The last 1/2 miles or so is very steep so be prepared, but it shouldn't be too hard for anyone. It was about 20 degrees outside when we went and the pool I chose was the second highest one (as the top pool was occupied) The water was a comfortable 103ish degrees by my estimate. I highly recommend this trip (though maybe camp near by if you are coming from Boise as its a long day trip).

This hot spring was unreal. It is almost like it was man made it is so perfect. There are a number of different waterfalls, some are hot and some are cold. Depending on how the waterfalls flow down into the pools determine the temperature of the pools, some hotter, some colder. There was also a small "cave" down below the main pools that allowed you to climb under the waterfalls. It really was a magical place. However, while we were there, there were a couple nude bathers.

The hike in was a lot longer than expected but easy going, be prepared and bring water cause it heats up, for me when I went some pools weren't very hot but others were BRUTAL. But the view and the atmosphere was totally worth it all.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Backpack the Bighorn Crags

Whitewater Raft the Main Salmon River

Climb Mount Borah

Climb Mt. Breitenbach

Hike Mount McCaleb

Valley Creek Hot Springs

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