Gold Fork Hot Springs
- From $15
- 85–110°F
- Walk-in OK
A privately run soaking site on Gold Fork Road east of Donnelly, with six rock-formed, flow-through pools and a sandy children's pool. Admission is cash only, there is a two-hour soak limit, and no reservations are taken. Winter hours run Wednesday to Monday, with Thursdays set aside for guests 18 and over.
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✓ Verified November 2026
- Price
- From $15
- Water
- 85–110°F
- Nearest town
- Donnelly
- Reservations
- Walk-in OK
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Hours |
|
|---|---|
| Season |
|
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Day pass, walk-ins welcome |
| Booking |
|
| Time limit | 2 hours per visit |
Rules
| Swimwear |
|
|---|---|
| Ages |
|
| Dogs | No |
On site
| Pools | 6 |
|---|
Not stated by the venue: camping nearby.
Water temperature
Soaking-pool temperatures as published by the venue or land agency; they vary with season and flow.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
226 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–chloride (salty, brine-like water)
- pH
- 9.5
- Temp at source
- 122°F
- Lithium
- 0.03 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 9 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.05 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “16n 04e 35ccb1s”, sampled 1979–1982 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
The pools
| Pool | Temp |
|---|---|
| Six rock poolsSix pools formed by natural rock; the rules page gives 92-108F depending on season. | 85–110°F |
| Sandy children's poolkidsSandy pool for children. | — |
As published by the venue. Temperatures shift with the seasons and the weather.
Facilities
- Venue describes six natural rock pools in a flow-through system
- No soaps or lotions allowed
- Changing rooms: yes
- Lockers: yes
- Towel rental: no
- Drinks / bar: no
| Bring your own alcohol | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Glass containers | Not allowed |
| Smoking | Not allowed |
| Photos | Restricted |
| Good to know |
|
What's here
- six rock-lined pools
- sandy children's pool
- heated changing rooms
- free lockers
- geothermally heated sidewalks
- 2-hour soak limit
- cash only
Getting there
| Elevation | 4,978 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
Things to do near Donnelly
Ponderosa State Park
Park on Payette Lake at McCall with Nordic ski and snowshoe trails in winter.
Campgrounds
- Paddy Flat Campground7 mi
- Kennally Creek Campground8.1 mi
- Poison Creek Campground8.2 mi
- Donnelly Campground8.2 mi
Trailheads
- Big Creek Summit Trailhead7.8 mi
- Dollar Creek Ridge Trailhead12.6 mi
- Boulder Lake Trailhead13.4 mi
- Four Corners Trailhead13.5 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Trail Creek Hot Springs
Creekside pools about 19 miles from Cascade on the Warm Lake road, reached by a short, steep descent from a roadside pullout. Some pools are reinforced with concrete, and pipes let cold creek water in to adjust the temperature. Visit Idaho features it as a winter soak, when the path down is snow-covered.
Vulcan Hot Springs
A geothermal area on Vulcan Creek in the Boise National Forest, reached on Vulcan Hot Springs Trail #072 from the Tyndall / Vulcan Trailhead. The trailhead has a vault toilet and five dispersed campsites but no drinking water. The source springs are near boiling, so soaking is only possible where creek water has cooled them.
Boiling Springs
A geothermal area on the Middle Fork Payette River about 24 miles north of Crouch on Forest Road 698, next to a Forest Service campground and the rentable Boiling Springs Cabin. Recreation.gov describes soaking in the hot springs beside the cabin, and the USFS says the springs are a short walk from the trailhead parking. The main spring is near boiling, so test the water before getting in.
Trail Creek Hot Springs: 10 mi · Vulcan Hot Springs: 14 mi · Boiling Springs: 22 mi
Sources (9)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.