# Goldbug Hot Spring, Idaho

Goldbug Hot Spring in Idaho. 113°F (45°C). Hike · Public Land. Lemhi County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/goldbug-hot-spring
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Goldbug Hot Spring?

Yes. Goldbug Hot Spring has natural, undeveloped pools that run from 90 to 105°F. Soaking is free. Reaching it takes a hike.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 113°F (45°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.8 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 5,320 ft |
| Access | Hike · Public Land, 1.4 mi from the nearest road (Salmon River Scenic Byway) |
| Land | Salmon National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Lemhi County |
| Nearest town | Salmon |
| Coordinates | 44.90500, -113.92900 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Williams Lake Campground, 8.4 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | Year-round |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Pool temperature | 90–105°F |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | 3.6 mi round trip, 900-1,350 ft gain, from Warm Springs Road off US-93 |
| In winter | snow and ice, microspikes |
| Operator | Bureau of Land Management / Salmon-Challis NF |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/goldbug-hot-springs-idaho, https://visitsalmonvalley.com/trails-hot-springs

## About Goldbug Hot Spring

A walk-in spring on Salmon National Forest land in Lemhi County, Goldbug Hot Spring sits 19 miles or so out of Salmon. The water is hot, 113 degrees on file. Public access shows as open. OpenStreetMap calls it Goldbug Hot Springs. The nearest camp on record, about eight miles off, is Williams Lake Campground.

From the Salmon River Scenic Byway it is about a mile and a half on foot. The spring sits around 5,300 feet in country that takes close to seven feet of snow a winter with moderate precipitation. Wikipedia puts the pools on Warm Spring Creek. A photograph is on record.

Wikipedia describes Goldbug as a hot spring in the Salmon-Challis National Forest about 20 miles south of Salmon, along Warm Spring Creek, with about six waterfall-fed pools. It lists the temperature at 113 degrees and notes that the pools vary with the time of year.

On file the favored season is winter. A mile and a half through seven feet of snow counts as a real walk, so plan for it. The water at 113 is at the low edge of hot, and Wikipedia notes that pool temperatures vary with the season. Chemistry on record dates to 1980. Williams Lake Campground is the nearest listed camping.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1980-08-05 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.8 |
| Calcium | 73 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 16 mg/L |
| Sodium | 4.9 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 120 mg/L |
| Chloride | 1.5 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Arco](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/idaho/arco), 50 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Idaho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho)
- [Cronks Canyon Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/cronks-canyon-hot-spring): 115°F source, pH 7.9, Short Walk, near Challis, Custer County, primitive pools
- [Salmon Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/salmon-hot-spring): 113°F source, pH 7.1, Roadside, near Salmon, Lemhi County, private, no public access
- [Sharkey Hot Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/sharkey-hot-spring): 126°F source, pH 8.0, Roadside, near Salmon, Lemhi County, primitive pools, pools 103°F, day pass
- [Big Eightmile Creek Warm Spring, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/big-eightmile-creek-warm-spring): 91°F source, Short Walk, near Salmon, Lemhi County
- [Beardsley Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/beardsley-hot-springs): 109°F source, pH 7.0, Roadside, near Challis, Custer County, developed pools, pools 96–105°F, mid-march-nov
- [Forge Creek Hot Springs, ID](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/idaho/forge-creek-hot-springs): Hot, pH 8.7, Hike, near Challis, Custer County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Goldbug Hot Spring?**
Goldbug Hot Spring has a water temperature of 113°F (45°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Goldbug Hot Spring located?**
Goldbug Hot Spring is located in Lemhi County, Idaho at 5,320 feet elevation, near Salmon. Coordinates: 44.9050°N, 113.9290°W.

**How do I get to Goldbug Hot Spring?**
Goldbug Hot Spring has Hike road access, with the nearest road being Salmon River Scenic Byway (1.4 mi from the road).

**Is Goldbug Hot Spring free to visit?**
Goldbug Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Goldbug Hot Spring?**
Yes, Williams Lake Campground is located nearby (8.4 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Goldbug Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.8 (slightly alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Goldbug Hot Spring?**
With care. At 113°F Goldbug Hot Spring is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldbug_Hot_Springs