Gold Fork Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Gold Fork Hot Springs is a resort hot spring listed near Donnelly, Idaho. Reported soak temperature: 105°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Idaho Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Open Wednesday–Monday noon–8 PM (last entry 7:30 PM, CLOSED TUESDAYS) at 1026 Gold Fork Rd near Donnelly — six flow-through mineral pools ~85–110°F including a sand-bottom kids' pool; admission now $15/person age 1+ CASH OR CHECK ONLY, 2-hour max soak, no reservations; Thursdays are adults 18+ only and children must leave by 4 PM all other days; reached by a dirt road where AWD is strongly recommended in winter.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 7 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in McCall for a separate drive south to Gold Fork near Donnelly.
McCall is about 19 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Gold Fork Hot Springs — official homepage (Wed–Mon 12–8pm, closed Tue, 2-hr max).
- Cost: Reported $15/person — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 105°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — pay cash/check at the gate.
- Best time to go: Weekday afternoons (Wed/Fri) are quietest; arrive near noon opening on weekends; Thursdays are the adults-only day.
- Clothing reality: Official: appropriate swimwear required at all times — no street clothes in pools. Customary: standard swimwear. Private property; no nudity.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Heated changing rooms, handicap parking and restrooms listed by regional guides; pools are natural-rock terraced — step-free entry not documented.
- CLOSED EVERY TUESDAY
- CASH OR CHECK ONLY — no credit/debit cards accepted anywhere on site
- 2-HOUR maximum soak time enforced
- THURSDAYS are adults 18+ only; on all other days children must leave by 4 PM
- Non-swimmers pay full admission — everyone through the gate pays
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times; swim diapers required for diapered kids
- Operator closes early for cleaning when capacity nears ~600 people on holidays/weekends
- Last entry 7:30 PM; pools close during electrical storms with no refunds
- Dirt access road off Highway 55 — condition varies by season; AWD strongly recommended in winter months
- Pets NOT permitted — service animals only; no alcohol, no glass, no soaps/lotions, no smoking within 50 ft of pools
- Remove jewelry/watches before soaking — metal damages in mineral water
- Open all holidays but holiday hours may vary
- Hazard: Hottest pools reach ~105–110°F — enter gradually, limit sessions to 15–20 min per operator rules
- Hazard: Dirt road deteriorates in winter/spring mud — AWD advised
- Hazard: Health restrictions: pregnant guests and heart/BP conditions told to consult a physician; open wounds/infections barred from pools
About this spring
Six tiered mineral pools from cool to hot (top pools ~100-105°F) including a sand-bottom pool, ~5 mi south of Donnelly — open Wed-Mon 12-8, CLOSED TUESDAYS. No lodging; 2-hr max soak. Fee: $15/person — CASH OR CHECK ONLY. Cash/check only; closed Tuesdays.
Gold Fork Hot Springs lies in the North Fork Range foothills along the Gold Fork River in Valley County, about six miles east of Highway 55 south of Donnelly — the last stretch on graded dirt that is plowed year-round. An untreated, chemical-free mineral spring emerges at roughly 127°F and feeds six terraced rock-formed pools that cascade down the hillside, stepping from about 110°F at the top to around 85°F at the bottom on a natural flow-through system that recycles the full volume in roughly four hours. The water is notably alkaline — pH around 9 — with lithium, calcium, sodium and fluoride, and one pool has a sandy bottom suited to children. Geothermal heat keeps the walkways and changing rooms ice-free in winter. The property was once owned by Boise Cascade before being developed as a public soaking facility. It is day-use only — no lodging, no camping, cash or check only — and famously closed Tuesdays.
Directions & trailhead access
1026 Gold Fork Rd, Donnelly — off ID-55, 15 min from Cascade.
Idaho geothermal context
Idaho's thermal water rides the old track of the Yellowstone hotspot across the Snake River Plain and surfaces along faults in the surrounding mountains. Many of the best soaks are roadside or river-access pools inside national forests — including springs that only emerge when river levels drop. Backcountry sites demand real navigation skills and long dirt-road drives.
What a resort site means here
A resort spring is a commercial operation: developed pools or tubs with controlled temperatures, changing facilities, and usually day-use fees or lodging packages. Expect posted rules (swimsuits, quiet hours, age limits), staff on site, and in many cases required reservations — especially on weekends and holidays.
Best time to visit
Year-Round (Best: May – October)Pool temperatures and access can change with weather and season. Outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly across Idaho. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 105°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 105°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $15/person — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Gold Fork Hot Springs — official homepage (Wed–Mon 12–8pm, closed Tue, 2-hr max) |
Gold Fork Hot Springs FAQ
Is Gold Fork Hot Springs open right now?
Open Wednesday–Monday noon–8 PM (last entry 7:30 PM, CLOSED TUESDAYS) at 1026 Gold Fork Rd near Donnelly — six flow-through mineral pools ~85–110°F including a sand-bottom kids' pool; admission now $15/person age 1+ CASH OR CHECK ONLY, 2-hour max soak, no reservations; Thursdays are adults 18+ only and children must leave by 4 PM all other days; reached by a dirt road where AWD is strongly recommended in winter. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Gold Fork Hot Springs free?
Gold Fork Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Donnelly. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Gold Fork Hot Springs?
Gold Fork Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 105°F and a historical source temperature of 105°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Gold Fork Hot Springs clothing optional?
Gold Fork Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Gold Fork Hot Springs?
Gold Fork Hot Springs is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in McCall
Stay in McCall for a separate drive south to Gold Fork near Donnelly. Check the pool’s current admission rules.
McCall is about 19 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Gold Fork Hot Springs — official homepage (Wed–Mon 12–8pm, closed Tue, 2-hr max) — operator · 2026-09
- Gold Fork Hot Springs — official FAQ (cash/check only, no reservations, non-swimmers pay, dirt road/AWD note, pools 85–110°F) — operator · 2026-09
- Gold Fork Hot Springs — official Rules page (under-16 adult supervision, last entry 7:30pm, ~600-person cleaning closures, swim-diaper rule, service animals only) — operator · 2026-09
- Aerial.travel — Gold Fork visitor guide ($15/person cash-only admission effective 8/1/2025, Thursday 18+ rule) — community · 2026
- McCall Rentals — McCall-area hot springs guide (cash-only, 2-hr limit, owners slow to update site — check Facebook) — community · 2025
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.goldforkhotsprings.com/about
- www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/gold-fork-hot-springs-idaho-united-states
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
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