Goldbug Hot Springs, Natural hot spring in Lemhi County, Idaho.

Goldbug Hot Springs is a group of about six waterfall-fed pools along Warm Spring Creek in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, roughly 20 miles south of Salmon, Idaho. The pools have sand and gravel bottoms and are dammed by boulders; the listed spring temperature is 113 °F (45 °C), though pool temperatures vary with the season. Water from the springs flows into Warm Springs Creek, then into the Salmon River.

The source documents record no Native or mining history for Goldbug Hot Springs. Its documented past is recreational: the trailhead sits off US 93 near mile marker 282, reached by a dirt road, and the first quarter mile crosses private land under a Bureau of Land Management easement. The trail climbs 1,350 feet over 2 miles, with sturdy bridges and stepped sections, the final half mile being the steepest.

The name Goldbug comes from the old mining term for a prospector obsessed with gold, a nod to the area's past. Visitors soak freely in the pools, which are dammed by boulders and have sand and gravel bottoms. Skinny dipping is not unusual here.

The trail to reach these springs is steep and rocky, requiring good hiking boots and plenty of water to carry along. Plan for a full morning or afternoon since the hike demands steady effort and proper preparation.

The lower pools stay cooler for comfortable soaking, while the upper pools can be too hot to enter safely. This natural temperature gradient lets visitors experience different bathing conditions by moving between pools.