Idaho Hot Springs

Gold Fork Hot Springs - Donnelly, Idaho

The water at Gold Fork Hot Springs is top-notch; meaning it is 100% natural, has an incredible alkaline rating and contains other minerals that are great for the skin and body. Even the wooden decking is all-natural and has a 50yr life span - untreated. It's the same wood used on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.

Gold Fork Hot Springs Pictures

Yurt and Hot Pool Gold Fork pool and office yurt
Gold Fork Hot Springs Pool View of one of the main pools
The Hottest Pool at Gold Fork Enjoying a soak in the hottest pool
Inside the Office Yurt Gold Fork office yurt
Gold Fork Hot Springs Pool One of the larger pools
Adjoining Hot Pools Adjoining hot and hotter pools
Pool Chairs and Table Lounge next to the pool
Three Tiered Pools Chain of hot pools
Forested Pools View of the forest
People Soaking in Sandy Bottomed Pool Sandy bottomed pool
Three Tiered Pools Overview View of the hot pools
Yurt Changing Room Changing room
Yurt Changing Room Inside the yurt changing room

Gold Fork General Information

There are 6 well-designed pools to soak in at Gold Fork Hot Springs. If you enjoy natural backcountry hot springs you will feel right at home here. The water is smooth and slick, featuring an Alkaline Ph of +9. Not to mention that all 6 pools flow-through in 4 hours! Lithium is the most prominent mineral in the water followed by potassium, calcium, sodium, fluoride, chloride, arsenic and boron. Gold Fork has many repeat visitors that come for the healing properties of the water. Stories of folks traveling up to the hot springs once a week to soak and fill up a couple of jugs of water are common here, as are stories of ailments and illness - gone, after soaking in Gold Fork's healing waters.

The owners strive to keep the hot springs and surrounding area as natural as possible. The hot springs are well monitored, and disruptive soakers are politely asked to leave. Although there are no overnight/camping accommodations on-site, the owners do have plans for a few rooms in the future. There is, however, plenty of great National Forest camping nearby, along with an assortment of hotels and motels in Donnelly, Cascade and McCall.

Gold Fork is a 90-minute drive from Boise and a mere 15 minutes from Cascade. It's open and accessible year-round, including all holidays.

Gold Fork also utilizes geothermal energy; the boardwalk and many places around the hot springs and in other areas are heated by geothermal power.

Sorry RVers, no hook-ups or overnight parking is available.

Gold Fork Facilities

Gold Fork features 6 pools, with temperatures from hot to cool, with hydromassage. One of the pools features a soft, white sand bottom with sand from Emmett, Idaho. Changing rooms, towel and swimsuit rentals, restrooms, handicap parking and restrooms are also available. No overnight accommodations are available.

Admission Rates

  • Adults: $10
  • Children (2-9): $5

Note: Swimsuit and towel rentals are available along with some other items (hats, shirts, sunscreen, etc.).

Hours

Open Year Round

  • Regular: Noon to 9PM
  • Saturday: Noon to 9PM
  • Closed Tuesdays

Need to Know

  • Gold Fork Hot Springs is located in Central Idaho, near the quaint mountain town of Donnelly.
  • Address: 1026 Goldfork Road Donnelly, ID
  • Phone: 208-890-8730
  • 15 minutes from Cascade, ID
  • 90 minutes from Boise, ID
  • (866) GLD-FORK, 208.890.8730

Directions

Getting to Gold Fork is easy. From either Donnelly (north) or Cascade (south) head toward mile marker 128 on Highway 55, you are looking for Plant Road and a sign for Gold Fork. Head east on Plant road and follow the blue Gold Fork signs for 6.6 miles. The first 2.6 miles are paved, the rest is on a graded dirt road. The entire length of the road is maintained and plowed the entire year.

Map


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