Browsing Tag

Hot Springs

Visiting Boise in the winter months offers a plethora of activities to choose from. Whether you are wanting to brave the frigid slopes of one of the nearby ski resorts or would rather stay warm in a gorgeous natural hot spring, Boise offers something for everyone.

Bogus Basin

Just a 45-minute drive from downtown Boise, Bogus Basin offers easy access to countless winter activities. The main attraction is the ski hill which offers 2,600 acres of terrain, 80 runs, and 10 lifts. If flying down a mountain is a little extreme for your taste, they also offer cross-country skiing, winter tubing, and snowshoeing. Bogus Basin is also home to Idaho’s only mountain coaster, where riders can fly down 4,330 feet weaving in and out of trees and experience the mountain like never before.

Winter Garden aGlow at the Idaho Botanical Garden

If you’re visiting during the month of December, the Winter Garden aGlow at the Idaho Botanical Garden is a can’t-miss event for the whole family. Every night during December that Idaho Botanical Garden lights up with over 550,000 lights across its 14 acres of land. Along with the amazing visual experience, there are food trucks, live music, and fun events and activities for the kids. Winter Garden aGlow is one of the botanical garden’s biggest fundraisers of the year, so not only will you receive a memorable experience, but you will also be helping the garden provide a wonderful service to the local community.

Sun Valley

Sun Valley is an extremely popular ski-resort town about 3 hours northeast of Boise that offers skiing, fine dining, and an exciting nightlife. Bald Mountain is what brings most winter tourists up to the town. If you enjoy beautiful views, you’ll find plenty in Sun Valley, but the one you can’t miss is at the Seattle Ridge Day Lodge located at the top of Bald Mountain. At 8,800 feet you can see forever, and if you time it right you can see the mountains turn from white to a combination of a breathtaking pink and blue at sunset, just make sure you call ahead because you do need a reservation.

Along with the mountain, Sun Valley has a laundry list of other winter activities such as ice skating, sleigh rides, and ice sculptures. Once you have gotten your fair share of outdoor time, you’ll need to warm up inside with a hearty meal and a drink of your choice. There’s plenty of options to choose from, but some of our favorites include Sawtooth Brewery, Lefty’s Bar & Grill, and The Roundhouse.

Hot Springs

It’s difficult to find yourself anywhere in Idaho without being close to a hot spring. There are dozens of springs within a couple of hours of Boise, here’s a great guide that lists most of the ones available to the public.

If you’re looking for a hot spring experience that has a resort feel to it with built-out pools and some amenities such as bathrooms, food and drink, and on-site parking, we’d recommend Goldfork Hot Springs near McCall or The Springs at Idaho City. Both locations are easy to access while still getting all the benefits of a natural hot spring.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous and want to experience a more “natural” hot spring experience you can’t go wrong with Kirkham Hot Springs or Trail Creek Hot Springs. Both require a small but relatively steep hike down to the pools, but the scenery and experience is well worth it if you can make the trek.

McCall

Another lovely mountain town about 2 ½ hours north of Boise is McCall. With many of the same characteristics as Sun Valley, McCall offers all the typical mountain activities in a beautiful city built right next to Payette Lake.

Brundage Mountain & Tamarack Resort are both within a short drive from McCall and have some of the best ski terrains in the Northwest.

In late January to early February McCall hosts their annual Winter Carnival which is a favorite among locals and tourists. One of the main attractions is the ice sculpture contest, where amateurs and professionals compete for $1,000+ prizes for the best sculpture. There are upwards of 100 sculptures each year so just walking through town is an event in and of itself.

The supporting events are just as fun, with activities such as a dog sled challenge, chef collaborative dinner, mardi gras parade, and snowshoe golf.

Looking for more things to do while you are in Boise? Check out our other guides here.

_{Charles Knowles from Meridian Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons}

Goldmyer Hot Springs is a serene getaway tucked into the foothills of the Cascade mountains. Surprisingly, a visit to Goldmyer is just about an hour drive from Seattle.

The hot springs are set in an old growth forest, surround by majestic Evergreen trees, some of which are over 900 years old. A powerful waterfall flows nearby. Ease your mind and help you forget about any to do list you’ve left at home.

Continue reading to learn how to make a reservation and what to expect on your visit to Goldmyer.

What are hot springs?

A hot spring can be described as water that is heated by subterranean volcanic activity and rises from the Earth’s crust to a spring that can be safe for bathing.

Goldmyer Hot Springs flows from the inside of an old, horizontal mineshaft. There are four pools that vary in temperature from 111ºF to 104ºF all the way down to the cold pool. In the cave (mineshaft), the water enters the pool at about 125ºF and continues to trickle down into the lower pools getting gradually cooler until the 4th pool, also known as the cold pool where people can cool down.

Because the water flows through rocks there will be some minerals present in the water giving the springs an earthy smell.

There are multiple pools at the Goldmyer Hot Springs.

How to get there?

Traveling to Goldmyer involves driving through an old growth forest on a dirt road that can some might describe as rough. After driving five miles on the unpaved, Forest Service road there is a gradual uphill 4.5 mile hike.

If you prefer, you can ride a bike on the trail instead of hiking. There is a place to lock up bikes if this is what you end up doing. Many people like to backpack into Goldmyer. They often stay for multiple days. Camp sites are available if this option sounds interesting to you.

If traveling from Seattle, take I-90 to exit 34. From there drive to Dingford Trailhead. If all goes smoothly this should take you about 45 minutes.

From Dingford Trailhead you can expect a 2-3 hour long hike — if hiking at a consistent/moderate pace. Biking can take 1-3 hours, depending on your pace and how much you are packing. If you do plan to bike, the trail can be pretty rough so experience is advised.

There are also other ways to get to Goldmyer outside of Dingford Trail. If you are interested in exploring other options www.wta.org will provide multiple different trail descriptions and is typically a good resource for travel logistics.

A Truck May Be Required

During the fall and winter months high clearance vehicles are necessary to drive through to Goldmyer. This does NOT include small SUVs and Subarus, but rather trucks. During summer a large SUV or truck is still highly recommended, but a high clearance Subaru should be fine as long as there isn’t flooding.

To get current updates on road conditions please visit the Goldmyer website. During the fall and winter months, you should definitely check the website. This is necessary in knowing whether or not you will be able to make a trip out to the hot springs.

If you want to be extra prepared in the winter, consider bringing chains along with a saw or axe for fallen trees. Always bring extra food, water and warm preparation to be warm for an extended period of time should your car break down or get stuck.

In the midst of an old growth forest sits the tranquil, hot, waters of Goldmyer Hot Springs

Reservations

Goldmyer Hot Springs is a popular spot for people throughout the Pacific Northwest. Only 20 individuals are allowed in per day so reservations are necessary. If you show up without a reservation you will likely be asked to turn around and head home unless you are incredibly lucky and there is an unfilled spot for the day.

When planning a trip to Goldmyer it’s advised to give yourself at least two weeks to confirm a spot. Reservations are by phone. To secure your spot call 206.789.5631, and leave a voicemail. In your voicemail be sure to include your name (first and last), date you would like to visit, amount of visitors in your group and a call back number with a good time to reach you. Please note that groups are limited to a maximum of eight people.

The cost to visit Goldmyer is:

Children (0-17) Free
Adults (18-64) $15 (increasing to $20 in January 2019)
Seniors (65+) $10
Camping Charge: Additional fee of $5 per night for every person 18 and older.

Middle Fork Valley

Goldmyer Hot Springs is a great home base for those interested in exploring the Middle Fork Valley of the Snoqualmie River.

This is a multi-use trail so be sure to follow proper trail etiquette. Also note that depending on the time of year this may not be a hiking option. Appropriate research is necessary.

There are basic camping accommodations at Goldmyer Hot Springs.

Other important logistics

Goldmyer Hot Springs is run by a nonprofit and to guarantee access a reservation is required.

Clean drinking water is not available at Goldmyer, so make sure to pack in what you need for a full stay.

Outhouses are available, but again there is no running water.

Goldmyer Hot Springs is a clothing optional spot. If you would like to arrange for a no nudity stay please be sure to mention this to the office when booking your reservation.

Check in time at Goldmyer is between the hours of 9am and 9pm. If you are just visiting for the day, you need to be checked out of the hot spring by 9pm.

If you are camping please note that campfires are not an option. Pack your food accordingly.

You will likely lose phone service once you are out there so be sure to print out directions. These are easily found on the Goldmyer website.

A Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking at the Dingford Trailhead. If you need more information about this pass you can visit http://www.discovernw.org/store_recreation-passes_1PASS/.

Don’t forget your towel!