A steep, two-mile backcountry hike to waterfall-fed geothermal pools in the Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Goldbug Hot Springs is a geothermal oasis tucked into a steep canyon within the Salmon-Challis National Forest, located roughly twenty miles south of Salmon, Idaho, near the small community of Elk Bend. The journey begins near milepost 282 off Highway 93, where a gravel road leads to a modest trailhead. The first quarter-mile of the trail crosses private land via a public easement, requiring quiet respect and leashed dogs, before passing through a metal gate onto Bureau of Land Management territory. From there, the two-mile trail climbs roughly 900 vertical feet through a high-desert landscape of sagebrush, juniper, and loose scree. The path follows the path of Warm Spring Creek, eventually crossing a wooden footbridge before tackling a final, punishingly steep ascent over stone steps and boulders to reach the springs.
The thermal system at Goldbug Hot Springs consists of approximately six natural pools terraced along the cliffside, with temperatures reaching up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit at the source. The highest and hottest of these is a wide, heart-shaped pool fed directly by the geothermal spring. From this upper basin, the mineral-rich water spills over a sheer rock face in two fifteen-foot warm waterfalls, cascading into the lower pools. These secondary pools are dammed by natural boulders, logs, and gravel, creating terraced soaking areas that grow progressively cooler as they descend the canyon and mix with the cold waters of Warm Spring Creek. The geology here is alive and dynamic, with mineral deposits slowly shaping the rock over decades, all framed by towering Douglas firs and rugged canyon walls.
Soaking at Goldbug Hot Springs is a wild, backcountry experience devoid of any modern amenities, meaning there are no changing rooms, restrooms, or trash receptacles. Visitors must pack out all waste to protect this fragile environment from the heavy impact of its popularity. The atmosphere is communal and deeply peaceful, with the steady roar of the waterfalls muffling conversation and leaving only the vast silence of the Salmon River valley below. In the winter months, the trail can become slick with ice, but the reward is a quiet soak where thick steam rises into the freezing mountain air and snowbanks line the edges of the warm rock pools. After a long soak, the cool mountain air on the hike back down feels like a second, refreshing treatment.
Pack a headlamp if you plan to soak near sunset, as the steep, rocky descent is difficult to navigate in the dark. Bring a dry bag to protect your gear from the heavy mist near the waterfalls, and remember to pack out all trash, including fruit peels and dog waste, to protect the fragile riparian habitat.