Goldmyer Hot Springs
- Kati Cooke
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Consider this a warning... once you visit Goldmyer Hot Springs, every other hot springs will be ruined forever!
About a month ago, I saw a random FaceBook post about Goldmyer Hot Springs, and decided to enter the May lottery to visit. Shockingly, my name was drawn for May 1 tickets and I had only a few weeks to figure out how to make the trip happen.
It was a great exercise in spontaneity and having less anxiety about travel. I almost cancelled many times, but I am so glad I didn't! Goldmyer was quite the adventure, and took a lot of planning - it's not something you can just hike to at the drop of a hat.
History of Goldmyer Hot Springs
Most likely, indigenous groups in the area knew about the hot springs, but there's no real record before the early 1900s when a farmer named William Goldmyer "discovered" the springs and opened a resort.
The resort was expanded upon in the 1930s, but work had to stop as resources were devoted to World War II. In 1972, squatters burnt down the remaining structures. The owners created a nonprofit (that still manages the property today) to ensure the springs would be preserved.
The current cabin at the springs was built in the 1980s, and caretakers still live there full time. A gate was installed at the Dingford Creek trailhead in 2007, which blocked the road to Goldmyer and increased the hiking distance required to access the springs. In the 2010s, the website and reservation system was refined for a more streamlined visitor system.
How to Enter the Goldmyer Lottery
Goldmyer only allows 20 people per day, which keeps the springs beautifully pristine and peaceful, but makes it very difficult to visit.
The lottery and walk-in system rules get pretty complex, so I'll direct you to the website for details, here. For those who want simple instructions, I'll share how I easily got reservations to Goldmyer on the first try.
The lottery for two months in advance opens on the first day of the current month. I applied for May reservations in late March. (For example, it's currently May, so you can reserve July dates right now). In April, the staff drew names and notified the May winners to schedule a call-back to confirm and pay for reservations.
To simplify the slightly confusing lottery process:
Go to the Goldmyer lottery page here.
Answer their questions to ensure you watched and understood their disclaimer video.
Review the calendar and decide on a day to apply for (be strategic - choose a weekday and review how many other parties have applied!)
Add your contact information and submit your form - even if you don't plan on camping, select a camping "leave date" for the time being.
If you win, you will receive an email to schedule a call-back - do not ignore this or your reservation will be forfeited!
When the staff calls, let them know if you wish to camp or not, provide payment information, and confirm your reservation. It is $30 per person for day use, and $40 per person for camping.
You could also hope for a walk-in spot ...If you're a less anxious person than I am, and you're okay with taking the risk of driving for hours and hiking 10-miles round trip and possibly getting turned away.
Two people arrived as walk-ins during my visit, and they had space available. Personally, I'd never risk this. You can check their online calendar here to see current walk-in availability. Bring exact cash, and get there early, as it is first-come-first-serve.
Yes - the Road IS That Bad!
The absolute most important thing to consider before even applying for the Goldmyer lottery is the horrific forest road you'll need to drive on. When I read the Goldmyer website, I thought they were possibly just trying to legally cover their butts by overstating the condition of the road... I was wrong.
You will require an AWD or 4WD vehicle with about 8-10 inches of ground clearance! My Subaru Crosstrek barely made it. Rent a Jeep if you have to. There is no cell service, and it's a one-way road in many places. Don't be the person who gets stuck and blocks the trail for everyone. We ended up parking about 1.5 miles from the actual trailhead because of a massive trail washout. Better safe than sorry!
The caretakers also recommend bringing a saw, axe, or chainsaw to clear debris from the road. We forgot ours and luckily didn't need it, but saw so many recently fallen trees that we'd absolutely bring a small saw next time.
Additional Logistics
I told you this wasn't going to be an easy trip... if you've already gotten your reservations and acquired a car that can handle off-roading, read through this detailed document for more information.
A few important details to note - DO NOT FOLLOW GOOGLE MAPS! The linked document has detailed driving directions that are easy to follow. Google Maps will take you to the wrong place and you will be disappointed. The forest service road is in such bad shape that it is literally not on Google Maps. Allow way more time for driving than you expect. We were averaging about 5 miles per hour on the forest road.
The Fun Part! Hiking or Biking to the Springs
Now that the yucky part is out of the way... let's talk about the fun adventure you'll have!
From the Dingford Creek Trailhead, you'll take the Dutch Miller Gap Trail to the springs. It's about 5 miles each way and quite flat. The forest road to reach the trailhead has a huge washout about a mile from the gate, so expect a 6 mile trip unless you're an expert off-roader.
We chose to bike the trail! There is a slight incline getting to the springs, which we didn't feel much on the way up, but it felt great going back downhill. A regular road bike won't work - the trail is so rocky and washed out that you need a gravel bike, mountain bike, or hybrid with chunky tires. We saw one other couple biking, but most people were hiking or backpacking.
As you hike, you can see the Alpine Lakes Wilderness! The trail follows the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River, and the views are incredible. I looked for mountain goats on the rugged peaks and didn't see any, but could easily imagine a black bear or goat spending time here.
After several miles of biking, we reached the turn to Goldmyer. It is clearly marked, you won't miss it. The trail gets narrower and steeper, so we walked our bikes.
The Springs
Upon arrival, you'll ring a bell to alert the caretakers. They have waivers to fill out, and they will give you a quick introduction to the property. The caretakers are observing and roaming the property, so don't try and sneak in without a reservation - you will be caught and sent away.
From the caretaker cabin, it's about a half mile hike to the springs. After biking almost 7 miles, it felt brutally steep (but really wasn't that bad). Photos and videos are not allowed at the springs when other guests are present, as it is clothing optional, and no one wants to be a part of your instagram model photoshoot. My husband and I had the springs all to ourselves, so I managed to get a few photos.
There is a small pool at the base of the springs that would only fit 2-4 people. Up the stairs is another small pool for maybe 2 people, and then a cave that goes surprisingly deep into the cliffside. The water gets hotter the further you go into the cave, but I am used to scalding hot showers so I was comfortable.
We spent about an hour and a half at the springs before a large group came in, and we were very hungry after biking, so we packed out and enjoyed lunch at the campground. After that, it was a quick downhill 7 mile bike ride to the car, and we were done!
The whole adventure took us several hours: driving on the forest road, biking the trail, enjoying the springs and eating lunch, biking back, and driving the awful road again before sunset. Don't rush this trip! It's worth setting aside an entire day.
Need-to-Know Facts
Goldmyer Hot Springs is now one of my all-time favorite PNW adventures - that's saying a lot for almost three decades spent here. If you're at all interested, and up for a challenge, just go for it!
You must have a 4WD/AWD car with 8-10 inches ground clearance, or be prepared to bike an additional 7 mile forest road on top of your hiking/biking to the springs.
Do not follow Google Maps to the springs! Use the driving directions here.
The trail to the springs is about 5-6 miles each way (10-12 round trip), mostly flat, and can be biked (with a gravel or mountain bike) or walked. Due to road washouts, it will likely be longer (I clocked 14 miles total).
There is no cell service on the forest road, the trail, or at the springs.
There is no drinking water at the springs, so bring your own, or a water filter.
The springs is clothing optional, and no phones or photography is allowed when other guests are present.
More Information
Goldmyer Hot Springs website
Dingford Creek Trailhead - you can access several trails from here!
article from Living Snoqualmie on the history of the springs
Best of luck with your lottery entries! I'm already looking forward to my next trip to Goldmyer, and feel slightly disappointed that no other hot springs will ever live up to this standard! It felt otherworldly, like it was too whimsical and enchanted to exist! A fellow guest and I compared it to a Lord of the Rings fairytale experience.
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