Goldbug (Elk Bend) Hot Springs

If you're looking for the best hot springs in Idaho, Goldbug's the place to go. Bailey and I spent last night at these phenomenal hot springs. They are located between Challis and Salmon near mile marker 282. The description claimed the hike was three miles long and grueling, but it seemed shorter and easier to me (possibly because Bailey and I kept good conversation the whole time). The majority of the hike was exposed and hot (90s) and the last half mile or so of the hike was pretty rough with steep rock steps. The hot springs are well worth the hike though (I would argue they're worth a twenty mile hike). There is a cold creek coming down from the mountain that mixes with a hot spring gushing forth. People have piled up rock dams and created picaresque soaking pools. The temperatures vary; we felt a very hot pool that we probably couldn't have soaked in for more than a few minutes, hot tub-like pools which we frequented, and cooler pools which had mixed with more of the cold water. The depth of the pools was perfect, just about to the shoulders when sitting down and everything was nice and clean. Bugs were not bad. A couple mosquitoes but not nearly as bad as the other trips I've been on this summer. There were no ticks. We did see two huge hobo spiders though: one on the path up and one in the rocks next to our fire while we played cribbage.
There are a few little camp sites above the springs and in all I think they could hold four tents. I want to do another trip up there sometime soon.
The most perfect moment came last night as Bailey and I were soaking and staring up at the stars. They were breathtaking with no light polution and a new moon. As we were gazing up, we saw the most spectacular shooting star, almost like in the movies. It shot up across the sky and was so bright that Bailey and I just gasped together.

Beautiful trip, I highly recommend.

I'll post pictures tomorrow, my camera's in my car and I don't want to get out of bed to go get it.