There are 6 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. 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 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.
The road to access Gold Fork is reported to be a rough ride and you will want to take proper precautions especially in the winter.
