Goldbug trip report
We are back from Goldbug and we truly had a lot of fun. Our friends couldn’t come with us but we still had a great time and our friends came and visited us last night once we were back home.
We left Friday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. and drove through the desert. While driving, I keep wondering if our car would work because it was our first big trip with it since we got it fixed. After the desert we reached the lost river mountain range with some of the most majestic mountains in Idaho. I enjoyed driving past mount Borah (tallest mountain in Idaho) and after passing it I was in new territory because neither Alisa nor I ever went in this area of Idaho. We passed through a beautiful canyon and then arrived in the Salmon River area. The scenery was truly beautiful with mountains, farms and rivers.
I couldn’t find any information about camping near Goldbug except that camping was forbidden so I had to look for information on campgrounds. I found this one just near the hike: http://www.salmonriverrvp.com but I was not impressed by the pictures and the fact that we couldn’t have a fire. After more research I found this campsite: http://www.royalgorgeresort.com which seems more appealing had fire pit and even wireless internet for about the same price but was further away from the hike.
We found the later campground without any problems. The owners were nice, the landscape beautiful and we had the whole thing just for us. We choose a nice spot by the river. There was a playground for children and a common fire pit for the whole campground.
We put our tent up and all of our stuff in it in barely 10 min and then we went back on the road toward Goldbug. I went and checked the campground near the springs and confirmed that this campground was not as appealing as the one we were at.
Then we went to the trailhead. A few cars were there already and another group was getting ready to go too. We rushed on the trail and were greeted by gorgeous landscapes. I spotted a few campgrounds along the trail accessible to backpackers only. So there are opportunities to sleep in a great place for free if ready to carry everything.
Not knowing how long the trail to the springs was we were anxious to arrive and we didn’t seem to move much forward. Because we were rushing at first and we wanted to get there before the sun fully set we started to be exhausted very quickly. The last half mile is steeper, nothing difficult but a pair of stairs were build to help otherwise light scrambling would be necessary and from what I read somebody died there a few years ago. We crossed a forth bridge and there was about 4 or 5 pools right below it. I don’t really know if there are pools higher or lower than that bridge but we didn’t feel like exploring. We enjoyed a pool where a stream of hot water was falling on one side and a stream of cold water on the other side. The water was bath warm, not too hot that you would start sweating and can’t stay too long in it neither cool that we ever felt cold. The water felt very light and aerated, it was such a relaxing time. We watched the sun set and enjoy the quietness of the place. There were just two other couples sharing another pool 12 feet away. Just a warning though, a lot of people enjoy soaking in those spring naked so if a naked body is a disturbing sight for you, you may not enjoy completely the place.
We soaked until it was pitch dark and then we decided it was time to go. The steep part by the spring was quite dark because of vegetation so we put into good use my headlamp but once we arrive into the clearing area I turn off the light and taught Alisa to enjoy a night hike. The moon was not up yet and we had a beautiful sky, not a cloud and a ceiling of amazing stars and Milky Way. It was a treat and there was absolutely no light to disturb it! On the way down we crossed three parties who were climbing for the springs. Each of them blinded us with their flashlights. If you want to try night hiking do it as much as possible without light, it’s even more enjoyable and if needed use a red filter.
GoldBug hot springs at EveryTrail
Map created by EveryTrail: GPS Trail Maps
We made it back to the car and drove back to our campground. We arrived there just after 10 p.m. and I cooked a light dinner in the dark while we were getting ready for bed. Because each campsite has electricity I brought my laptop and we enjoyed a movie in our sleeping bag. The campground also has wireless internet but the manager didn’t give me the access code. We fell asleep and enjoyed a great night of rest. The sound of the river nearby didn’t disturb our sleep whatsoever. In the morning we were greeting once again by the amazing landscape. I went and talked to the manager to get the internet access while Alisa prepared breakfast. The manager also told me about a hot spring on the very campground property so after breakfast; we walked there and took a soak. The water was quite hot (105 F) while the Salmon River right by was cold, I soaked in both to shock my body with temperature drop (a feeling that I always enjoyed). We went back to camp and packed everything in less than 20 minutes. Then we headed back to Idaho-Falls, enjoying once again all the beautiful landscapes.
This area of Idaho is full of stunning landscapes. The campground is a bit pricy but the scenery and services provided are worth it. I would not recommend it for a big group but it’s a great place for a couple gateway when out of season. There are also plenty of activities to do with a bunch of hikes to mines, springs and caves, swift river sports and horseback riding. The campground was also living quarters for some Indians and the manager showed me an assortment of very interesting Indian arrow heads. It was truly one of the best trips I have been on since I’ve been in Idaho.
