Marissa Shin

Marissa Shin

Hike & Soak in Goldbug Hot Springs

03/03/17

I'm from downtown Richmond, VA so natural hot springs are not something I've experienced very much. I have only ever been to super commercialized hot springs but nothing like this so you can imagine that this was utterly breathtaking. The hike is not hard and the landscape will keep you distracted while walking. Make sure you watch your feet as I'm assuming you'll be wearing Chacos or some type of sandal. There are cactus. The last little section of the hike was unexpected for me. There were wooden stairs built in but for good reason. The trail gets very steep very fast. This part was a bit difficult for me but, again, it is worth it! There are several pools that differ in temperatures and sizes. Also, there are plenty of small areas that you can leave your backpack and not worry too much about someone running off with it. But as a general rule don't bring anything that you don't want to lose. There are no outhouses or anything up there, of course, so if you are wanting to change into dry clothing after... you may need to dodge behind some rocks or a tree. I've heard there are some nudists so keep that in mind if you are bringing younger eyes or something. Photography wise, this is a great location. The view from all the pools is fantastic. You get a taste of the landscape in front and the open sky above so there is a lot to work with. If you are bringing your tripod to do some long exposure work, please be careful since the ground is not exactly smooth and leveled in all areas.

5.0