Goldbug Hot Springs
- Free
- 5 hr 28 min from Boise
- Roadside
Hot springs on BLM land east of Elk Bend, 23 miles south of Salmon off US-93, reached on foot from the end of a county road. The first quarter mile of the trail crosses private property on a public easement, where dogs must be leashed. There is no fee.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- Salmon
- From Boise
- 5 hr 28 min
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
Rules
| Dogs | Yes |
|---|
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Land manager | BLM |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with BLM before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
330 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Calcium–sulfate (gypsum-type water)
- pH
- 7.8
- Temp at source
- 113°F
- Lithium
- 0.02 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 0.40 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.02 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “18n 21e 12bcd1s Blm Hot Spring”, sampled 1980 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.
What's here
- BLM Salmon Field Office
- hike from a county-road trailhead near Elk Bend
- first 1/4 mile crosses private land on a public easement
- dogs leashed on the private section
- also called Elk Bend Hot Springs
Getting there
- From Boise5 hr 28 min227 mi
- From Salmon33 min22 mi
- From Friedman Memorial / Sun Valley (SUN)3 hr 24 min126 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow.
| Elevation | 5,333 ft |
|---|---|
| Road | From US-93 just south of Elk Bend, turn east on the county-maintained road and drive 0.3 miles to the trailhead |
| Trail |
|
| Parking | Trailhead at the end of the county road (BLM: about 44.898, -113.957) |
Things to do near Salmon
Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural and Educational Center
Center in Salmon on the Lemhi Shoshone and Lewis and Clark history of the valley.
Campgrounds
- Waddington Creek Campground2.4 mi
- Colston Creek Campground11 mi
- Iron Lake Campground12.9 mi
- Shoup Bridge13.4 mi
Trailheads
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Sharkey Hot Springs
A BLM-developed site southeast of Salmon with two large concrete soaking pools filled by untreated natural spring water. It has two heated changing rooms, vault toilets, a fire pit with seating and an interpretive kiosk. Visitors 16 and older pay a use fee through a Recreation.gov pass bought before arrival.
Challis Hot Springs
A hot springs unit of Land of the Yankee Fork State Park near Challis, beside the Salmon River, with a 100 x 30 ft warm pool and a smaller pool kept near 105F. Day use is $10 per person, with children 5 and under free. A 68-site state campground is on the same property.
Jackson Hot Springs Lodge
A rustic lodge in the Big Hole Valley town of Jackson with one outdoor hot springs pool at 100-106F that the lodge says uses no chemicals. Rooms, sleeper cabins and rental houses come with swim passes, and the pool is also open to the public. The pool, restaurant and lodge are closed Monday through Wednesday.
Sharkey Hot Springs: 17 mi · Challis Hot Springs: 29 mi · Jackson Hot Springs Lodge: 41 mi
Sources (4)
· 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.