One Of Washington's Best Hikes Leads To Secluded Natural Hot Springs You Must Win A Lottery To Visit

North Bend is an ideal city in the Pacific Northwest that's loaded with mountain charm and endless outdoor adventures. Only 30 minutes east of Seattle, North Bend is tucked into an area known as the Issaquah Alps, a vast area of protected wilderness anchored by the nearby trailhead city of Issaquah. It's a rugged area of Washington state that's also close to the amenities of the big city. And just outside of North Bend, hidden deep within the woods, is one of Washington's best hikes that leads to a secluded hot spring.

Goldmyer Hot Springs has existed since ancient times. Officially founded and commercialized by explorer William Goldmyer in the early 1900s, the springs are today managed by the Northwest Wilderness Program. It's undergone serious conservation efforts, and has a daily limit of only 20 visitors, who need to enter a lottery in order to gain access.

The entire trip from Seattle to Goldmyer takes four to five hours one way, using a combination of driving and hiking. From Seattle, take Exit 34 off of I-90 and drive east on Middle Fork Road before connecting with Forest Service Road 5620. This road is not paved and can only be accessed via a truck or SUV with four-wheel drive and 8 to 9 inches of ground clearance. Follow this to the Dingford Trailhead, which requires either a Northwest Forest Pass or an America the Beautiful Pass in order to park. From the trailhead, proceed on foot or mountain bike on the scenic, waterfall-filled trail that's being billed as one of Washington's best.

The efforts to conserve Goldmyer Hot Springs for future generations are taken very seriously. As such, you need to seriously want to experience it yourself. You cannot make same-day or day-prior reservations, and walk-ins are not guaranteed a spot. If you're going to put in the maximum effort to access these hot springs, make sure you enter their lottery reservation system to be guaranteed access.

Now, before you enter the lottery, note that there are two different types of experiences offered. Wednesday through Monday are shared-use soaking days where visitors share the springs. It is worth mentioning that swimsuits are optional. The cost of access varies, and as of 2025, adult pricing is $30, seniors are $25, and children under 17 are free. Tuesdays are exclusive reservation days where you can rent out the springs and experience them privately in four-hour time slots, which cost $240 at the time of this article's writing. Groups cannot be larger than eight people.

The lottery reservation system runs two months in advance. For example, if you're entering in March, you'll be looking at May access dates, and you will be contacted in the first few weeks of April to be informed that you've gotten in. You submit a form online, choose your dates, and wait. Once your dates are chosen, you will need to make a 15-minute phone call to confirm your reservation. A good bet for getting chosen is to apply near the end of the month and choose days that have very few requests.

There are lots of hidden scenic wonders in Washington, like the free-to-visit Stonehenge replica in the Columbia River Gorge. Goldmyer Hot Springs, however, is on another level. Once you've gotten through the car travel portion to Dingford Trailhead, it is still an hour or more of uphill hiking or mountain bike riding before you reach your destination. It's a great, challenging hike, filled with streams, tall pines, and waterfalls. Follow the signs for Goldmyer to reach the springs.

Check in at the caretaker's cabin once you arrive and get ready to experience the wonders of geothermal heat. This place is a very natural experience. Very little has been done to alter or build it up. The springs emerge from a mine shaft and maintain consistent temperatures of around 111 degrees Fahrenheit in the cave. There are lower temperature pools outside, as well as a cool-down pool if you get too hot in the springs.

Take time to breathe in your surroundings. When you're deep in the mountains of Washington and surrounded by trees that are nearly a thousand years old, you'll truly feel as though you've stepped back in time. Be prepared to stay close by overnight, as it's another five hours back to Seattle. Your best bet would be to camp at one of Goldmyer's 20 tent spots, but just like your spot at the springs, these spots are not guaranteed and are very primitive camping spots without any hookups or campfires allowed. Therefore, these spots are meant for experienced, rugged campers. However, if you're looking for more creature comforts, an alternative accommodation could be found at the Roaring River Bed and Breakfast in North Bend, as well as some other hotels, although they are all a few hours away.