Summer Greetings!

Apologies for the lack of updates… however, that only means one thing – I’ve been out and about. I would have had a video clip of Jerry to post, but Revver has been gummed-up lately. Looks like I’ll have to go with YouTube when I’ve got some time to re-upload the clip.

Not hot springs related, but here’s some incredible pics of Coeur d’Alene Lake that I recently took while traveling…

I just received an email update from Will about Loftus (Boise National Forest) Hot Springs stating that the springs are clean save for glass in the upper pool… most was removed (courtesy of Will, many thanks friend) but not all was completely removed.

Rnspringer posted on the forums about a recent visit to Pine Burl and Moondipper (Boise National Forest)… you can check that out here…

A good friend of mine, Conedog, just returned from the Warm Lake area where last weekend was the once a year weekend when the Nez Pierce and Shoshone tribes are granted fishing rights to the area. My knowledge is pretty weak regarding the ordeal, and will be researching this soon, but it sounds like the rights are granted as part of a treaty or some kind of agreement for tribes that inhabited the land prior to the deal making. Please chime in if you’ve got some knowledge to share. Anyway, Conedog was fortunate enough to share a soak with a Nez Pierce family that enlightened him of the situation. The family also told him that there was a tribe hunting in the area that shouldn’t be… i.e. they were not involved in the agreement, but are taking advantage of the right. Conedog mentioned that they used nets to trap the fish, then a modified spear to bring ‘em in. I had no idea.

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule AKA RAC Rule AKA Roadless Rule controversy is heating up again… thank goodness! I’ve gone on and on and on about this… and decided to create RoadlessIdaho.com, please visit, take action, link-up and spread the word. Let me know if you link-up, and I’ll add you to the supporters list on the site. Please take a minute to send a message to the prez – Earthjustice style – Ask Obama to Protect America’s Roadless Forests!

I’ve also received brief, positive reports for Goldbug, Molly’s Tubs and Juntura (Oregon). Overall, it seems I’m getting more reports of cleaned-up hot springs vs those that are trashed. I would love to see that trend.

Hope you are all out enjoying the great outdoors, or have got plans to do so. Please remember to pick up all trash and never bring glass. Happy Trails!

Greetings Hot Springers, Soak Seekers, Geothermal Gurus… one of the sweetest soaks around is getting some improvements.

Goldbug Hot Springs in Idaho and the corresponding trail will be closed while undergoing improvements from June 25th through June 28th, 2008. Work will include blasting (dynamite) and trail re-route construction.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) respectfully ask that the public not visit Goldbug Hot Springs during this time, and to please keep away from any and all portions of the trail. This is merely a safety issue.

For additional information, please contact: Rob Jaggers, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Bureau of Land Management. (208)756-5466 and/or Send Email.

Any further updates and/or information related to this temporary closure and continuing work at Goldbug will be posted on this blog and the IdahoHotSprings.com listing for Goldbug Hot Springs as part of a joint effort with the BLM to keep the public informed about hot springs related projects.

[where: Elk Bend, ID 83467]

The Salmon-Challis National Forest is no longer allowing overnight camping at Goldbug Hot Springs near Salmon Idaho. This is due to abuse; trash, tp, human flowers (blech!) and destroying of fragile vegetative areas. Let’s be honest – this was only a matter of time… especially evident if you’ve ever visited Goldbug.

Sadly, all easy-access hot springs suffer nearly the same kind of fate. Jerry Johnson Hot Springs in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho – nighttime closure. Skinnydipper – nighttime closure, Kirkham – nighttime closure. All of these hot springs are stellar soaks, easy to reach and get continuously thrashed. These soaks also have the unfortunate side-effect of giving hot springers that respect others and the environment a bad rap.

I cringe at the thought of the holiday weekend going on right now. Many times have I arrived after to witness the disgusting mess left behind. Oh how many bags of trash I’ve filled after these ‘holiday’ weekends.

More Goldbug pics…

A new trip report / briefing has been added to the hot springs forums for Goldbug and Elkhorn hot springs in Idaho. Their respective links are below.

Goldbug (Elk Bend)

Elkhorn (Boat Box)

Goldbug Hot Springs (ID) Video Clips:

• Clip 01: Approx. 1 mile into the hike up
• Clip 02: Idaho cacti – that’s right! Plus, someone is coming!
• Clip 03: Nearing the steep elevation gain just before the hot springs pools
• Clip 04: Rare sighting of a BLM BIO-Trail Toilet. They must have brought this puppy in by air.
• Clip 05: My retirement cabin
• Clip 06: The first of many hot springs pools
• Clip 07: Hot springs pools, waterfalls and the view from the top – all at bridge #4
• Clip 08: Sunset at the stepped campsites north of bridge 4 and the 1st cluster of hot springs
• Clip 09: Soaking in the 1st hot springs pool right next to the waterfall
• Clip 10: Sunset views from the pool and a good look at the hot springs fed waterfall
• Clip 11: Overhead video of the Goldbug hot springs pools, hot waterfall, cold waterfalls and valley at dusk

See the ‘V’? That’s where the soak is

A chain of waterfall-fed pools await at the end of a grueling 3 mile hike on a shade deprived trail. During hot temps this hike is rough – bring plenty of water or a water filter. There is a bio-toilet about 1.5 to 2 miles in, near one of the shaded primitive sites. The last .5 miles in to the springs are the steepest of the entire route. While most of the path is through a desert landscape filled with sagebrush there are brief cool areas of relief near the creek among the junipers. Goldbug is well-known, and is used by many different types of soakers.

Getting closer… see the ‘V’ now?

The fairly difficult hike does little to deter the crowds. However, this hot springs is well cared for. The norm here is to pick up your trash and leave as little trace as possible. I’m always happy when I encounter a hot springs where the majority are stewards. Expect a mostly non-swimsuit wearing crowd (signed as clothing optional area) that are polite and friendly. Watch for snakes during the warmer months, this area has many rattlesnakes and other kinds of snakes – the elevation and temperatures are just right.

During the core of spring runoff you might be hard pressed to find a soaking pool that is warm enough… usually there’s one – you just might have to search around a bit. The rest of the time is quite a different story… depending on the creek flow there can be anywhere between 2 to 10 soakable pools on each side of the creek. Accessible all year.

The 1st pool before bridge 4

The 1st quarter mile of the hike in is on private property, and there are no camping sites at or near the trailhead aside from a BLM recreation site a few miles down the highway. Between 1 and 2 miles in, there are a couple primitive campsites nestled in the junipers near the creek just off the trail that provide ample seclusion and shade. There are also stepped camping sites above the hot springs near the 4th bridge on the north and south sides of the creek. The stepped plots are fairly small, and would accommodate 2-person tents. They are all fairly close together, so don’t bother unless you don’t mind close company – because there will be company.

Nothing beats a sunset soak… especially at Goldbug

We left the trailhead a couple hours prior to sunset. Signage warned that the 1st quarter mile of the 3 mile trail crossed private land, and beyond were primitive camps and a bio-toilet near trail mile 2. Air temperatures were in the upper 80s (a rare occurrence this time of the year due to a warm front that broke many records) and shade was often hard to come by. I drank a ton of water… The last .5 mile to the springs proved to be the most difficult, after the 3rd bridge crossing. Just before the 4th bridge we were greeted by the 1st pool *sigh* – we were here. Further exploration lead to the discovery of the additional pools, although only 1 grouping was hot enough for soaking due to runoff.

Shower massage anyone?

A local actually told me that today was the 1st day the water had been warm enough for a decent soak since runoff began. As we prepped to soak we were passed by a young couple on their way back down… grinning from ear to ear – I was soon to find out why.

It doesn’t get much better than this

Initially, we soaked with another local that had been coming to the springs for at least 20 years. He was friendly, polite and truly respected this special place. After some banter and story swapping he left us to soak in private. I took it all in, the hot waterfall massage, stretching out in one of the coves and watching a diamondback curl around the inside of a cracked stump above a thermal vent. At one point I was enjoying the waterfall and thinking about the rattlesnake as a twig came down the falls and hit my shoulder… I launched myself out into the pool and received some quirky looks, then giggles once it was divulged that I had thought a snake slid down the water slide. I was quite relieved myself.

The set of pools below bridge 4 (after crossing)

Watching sunset from the pool in this unique place was incredible, I can’t wait to do it again… only next time I’m adding sunrise to my mental to-do list.
Rating: A+