Goldbug Hot Springs
Salmon, Idaho · on Warm Spring Creek · Salmon National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- hot spring
- FALLS
- Waterfall on site
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Goldbug Hot Springs
Goldbug Hot Springs is a chain of naturally terraced hot spring pools fed by a waterfall on Warm Spring Creek in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, about 20-23 miles south of Salmon, Idaho. Reached via a roughly 2-mile, 1,350-foot-elevation-gain trail from a trailhead off US-93, it is one of Idaho's best-known free, clothing-optional soaking spots, closer to a warm swimming hole than a single tub.
The springs sit in a steep, high-desert canyon along Warm Spring Creek in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, with sagebrush and rocky terrain typical of central Idaho's Lemhi County backcountry. The trail climbs from a low-elevation trailhead near Highway 93 up through the canyon, crossing bridges before switchbacking through the steepest final half-mile to reach the pools.
Swimming at Goldbug Hot Springs
Rather than a single swimming pool, Goldbug offers about six small, boulder-dammed pools stacked down a waterfall/creek drainage, with sand and gravel bottoms. The uppermost pool is hottest (reported near 113°F/45°C at the source) and pools cool progressively downstream, so visitors pick a pool suited to their preferred temperature; this is a soaking/bathing experience rather than a swimming-laps one. The area is signed clothing-optional and skinny-dipping is common.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Salmon, Idaho, drive south on US Highway 93 to near mile marker 282 (roughly 20-23 miles south of town, near Elk Bend), then follow a short dirt road to the trailhead parking area; the first quarter-mile of trail crosses private land under a public access easement before entering Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Parking: Limited parking at a county-road-end trailhead; no overnight camping is permitted at the trailhead itself.
The hike in
Goldbug Hot Springs Trail (commonly used name; not a numbered/signed USFS trail in sources found)
- To the water
- approximately 2 miles one-way (this is the full trail - it terminates at the pools, so the distance to the trailhead equals the distance to the swimming/soaking area)
Difficulty: moderate to strenuous - about 1,350 ft of elevation gain over 2 miles, with sturdy bridges/stream crossings and a steep, stair-assisted final half-mile as the toughest section.
Trailhead: End of a county road off US Highway 93 near mile marker 282, roughly 20-23 miles south of Salmon, ID; the first 1/4 mile of the route crosses private property via a public access easement (dogs must be leashed there) before entering Salmon-Challis National Forest.
The entire ~2-mile trail leads directly to the hot spring pools; there is no additional trail beyond the springs to a separate swim spot.
Despite the difficulty, sources describe the site as heavily trafficked ('the fairly difficult hike does little to deter the crowds'; BLM has noted overwhelming visitor traffic). Rattlesnakes are present in the area; winter conditions can require traction devices (crampons).
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The 2-mile/1,350-ft-elevation-gain approach with a steep, stair-assisted final half-mile is demanding for young or inexperienced kids, and the uppermost pool can approach scalding temperatures (~113°F/45°C), so kids need supervision to test pool temperature before entering. Older kids/teens capable of the hike can do fine since the chain of pools offers a range of temperatures to choose from, but this is not a stroller/toddler-friendly, drive-up swimming spot.
Parking
Free
Small, county-managed trailhead parking area at the end of a county road off US-93 near mile marker 282 (~20-23 miles south of Salmon). Described by trip-report sources as limited capacity; visitors are asked not to block nearby private driveways since the first 1/4 mile of trail/road crosses private land under a public access easement. No fee.
Restrooms
Yes
One composting/vault toilet located along the trail near the 1/4-mile mark (in the desert section before the climb), not at the pools themselves. No facilities at the springs.
Hours
Free, open year-round with no posted gate hours; day-use trailhead (overnight camping is not permitted within 500 ft of the springs, per USFS order effective 2023-2028).
On the water
Goldbug consists of small, boulder-dammed hot spring pools (roughly 2 to 10 depending on creek flow) stacked along a short waterfall/creek drainage, not a lake or navigable stretch of river. No source mentions kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, or motorboats here, and the shallow, rocky, terraced pools would not accommodate watercraft.
Goldbug Hot Springs: FAQ
Does Goldbug Hot Springs charge a fee?
Free, no entrance fee.
Is Goldbug Hot Springs kid friendly?
The 2-mile/1,350-ft-elevation-gain approach with a steep, stair-assisted final half-mile is demanding for young or inexperienced kids, and the uppermost pool can approach scalding temperatures (~113°F/45°C), so kids need supervision to test pool temperature before entering. Older kids/teens capable of the hike can do fine since the chain of pools offers a range of temperatures to choose from, but this is not a stroller/toddler-friendly, drive-up swimming spot.
How hard is the hike to Goldbug Hot Springs?
A hike is required, about approximately 2 miles one-way (this is the full trail - it terminates at the pools, so the distance to the trailhead equals the distance to the swimming/soaking area) to the water. Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Goldbug Hot Springs?
Small, county-managed trailhead parking area at the end of a county road off US-93 near mile marker 282 (~20-23 miles south of Salmon). Described by trip-report sources as limited capacity; visitors are asked not to block nearby private driveways since the first 1/4 mile of trail/road crosses private land under a public access easement. No fee.
When is the best time to visit Goldbug Hot Springs?
Fall is recommended as the best time to visit for a dry trail and moderate temperatures; the site is technically accessible year-round but summer heat and winter snow/ice (crampons recommended) make conditions more difficult, and during spring runoff fewer pools are warm enough to soak in.
What are the rules at Goldbug Hot Springs?
USFS order (No. 04-13-23-005, effective March 2023-2028) prohibits camping within 500 feet of the springs, enforceable as a Class B misdemeanor; the first quarter-mile of trail crosses private property via a public easement where dogs must be kept leashed to preserve access.
What water body is Goldbug Hot Springs on?
Goldbug Hot Springs is on Warm Spring Creek, a natural hot spring verified in USGS hydrography data.
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