Goldmyer Hot Spring

Goldmyer is a remote, very beautiful hot spring emerging from inside an old mine shaft. The water temperature at its source is about 120 degrees. The water inside the "cave" is around 110 degrees. The water cascades into several nearby rock pools, with progressively lower temperatures. A cool water pool is located close by for cool downs. Goldmyer is located at approximately 1800 feet elevation.

The spring is surrounded by ancient forest containing trees over 800 years old. The entire Burntboot valley as well as the Middle Fork Snoqualmie valley from Goldmyer on up has miraculously never been logged and provides a rare opportunity to visit one of the last remaining low elevation, intact ancient forest ecosystems.

      Hot springs were very popular in the late 1800's and early 1900's as health retreats. Many springs were developed as resorts with bath houses, hotels, clinics and other facilities. Over time many of these have deteriorated and been trashed and abused. Some, like Goldmyer, have been returned to nature, cleaned up and restored by volunteers. Others may be current commercial facilities. A few, like Breitenbush in Oregon, have been restored and function as retreat centers.

Access to Goldmyer Hot Springs

      Caretakers reside on the property all year so the spring is open if you can get there. It is best to make a reservation because the number of visitors is limited to 20 per day. If you travel to the spring during week days rather than weekends and during the off season rather than the summer you may be able to have a little privacy in this pristene setting. The fee is $15 per person per day.

      Goldmyer is approximately 25 miles east of North Bend, WA on the S.E. Middle Fork Road (FS Road 56). FS Road 56 is gated with a locked gate at the Dingford Creek trailhead. The road is usually passable by a car with regular clearance from late spring to early fall. Most years though, the road surface is damaged by fall and winter storms, requiring higher clearance vehicles thru the winter season and until the Forest Service repairs the damage in the spring. Mountain bikes offer a good alternative when the road is snow free. There are also several hiking trails of varying lengths.

      Parking at the trail head requires a Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass, which can be obtained at REI, Forest Service offices, such as the office in North Bend and the three Shell stations in North Bend. It is about a 4.5 mile hike from the locked gate to the bridge across the Middle fork River. Driving instructions can be obtained from the Goldmyer office.

      The closest weather forecast is the National Weather Service forecast for the West Slopes Central Cascades and Passes Here.

Goldmyer Contact Information

      Contact the Goldmyer office at (206) 789-5631 for more detailed directions, latest water and road conditions and reservations. The office has a live person answering the phone from 1-6 PM on Tuesdays and 3-8 PM on Fridays.

      Contact the local forest service office for hiking trail maps and a Northwest Forest Pass to park at the trail heads.

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forestz
902 SE North Bend Way, Bldg 1
North Bend, WA 98045

(425) 888-1421

Driving Directions to the forest service office:

      Drive I-90 to Exit 32. Turn north at end of exit ramp. Turn left at "T" intersection on North Bend Way. In approximately one mile, the Ranger Station is on your right.

The Vision Quest and Goldmyer Hot Springs

      Because Goldmyer is not a private area, doing a vision quest there is not appropriate. Goldmyer is, however, surrounded by national forest land including great old growth trees and interconnected with numerous hiking trails. One does not have to go very far to find suitable locations with all the privacy needed for a vision quest. Get the maps of the area, explore the nearby hiking trails and pick your spot. Check in at the Goldmyer cabin for a soak after your retreat. (And perhaps before as well.)

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