Goldmyer Hot Springs - Day-use fee or pay-per-soak in North Bend, WA (2026)
A crystal-clear cave spring cascades into soaking pools deep in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, reached via 15 miles of rugged Forest Service road plus a 4.5-mile hike.
Goldmyer is the Pacific Northwest's most carefully protected wild hot spring — a non-profit-managed soak in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of King County, Washington, accessed by 15 miles of rough Forest Service road plus a 4.5-mile hike. A permit-required, $25/person, hard-capped 20-visitors-per-day system run by the Northwest Wilderness Programs nonprofit since 1976 keeps the place pristine. Three pools cascade down from a small cave where the spring emerges. No soap, no sunscreen, no fires. Permit violations result in lifetime bans and the system actively enforces.
What to expect
Reserve a permit weeks ahead via the Goldmyer website. Drive 15 miles up FR 56 from North Bend (high-clearance recommended; closed by snow much of the year), then hike 4.5 miles each way along an old Forest Service road and singletrack. Three pools ranging from very hot (in the cave) to mild (lowest tier). Clothing-optional, quiet, deeply rule-bound. No commercial signage, no facilities. Plan a full day or overnight (camping permitted at designated sites only).
Temperature
100°-111°F
Pools
3 soaking pools
Best season
Year-round
Reservations
Required
Dog policy
No pets at pools
Family policy
Adults only
Safety notes
- The access road requires high clearance and is closed by snow or washouts for much of the year.
- Dumping soap or sunscreen is prohibited—violations lose permit privileges.
Amenities & etiquette
Official references
FAQ
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Nearby hot springs
Carson Hot Springs Resort
Carson, WA
Historic 1930s bathhouse overlooking the Columbia River Gorge with mineral clawfoot tubs, massage rooms, and the Elk Ridge golf course.
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Port Angeles, WA
Inside Olympic National Park, Sol Duc pairs rainforest cabins and hikes to the namesake falls with family-friendly soaking decks.
Editor’s picks nearby
- Carson Hot Springs day use — the historic 1923 St. Martin's bathhouse in the Columbia River Gorge — $40 mineral bath and wrap, hour east of Vancouver.
- Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort — the developed Olympic National Park option — three pools, hotel rooms, $20 day passes.