Idaho

We woke up early again because we had a big day ahead of us. We also wanted to reach the summit before the real heat of the day started, so we began hiking in the early morning while it was still quite cold. Getting out of the sleeping bag wasn’t exactly pleasant, but once we started climbing, the cool air actually made the hike much more comfortable.

The trail felt fairly easy and relaxed at first, at least until the point where we left the main route to Sawtooth Lake and began heading toward Alpine Peak. We relied on AllTrails to estimate the route, because on our favorite Czech map app Mapy.cz, now mapy.com the trail wasn’t even visible. There were no signs either, so we suddenly found ourselves climbing a very steep slope along what could barely be called a trail.

I wouldn’t even dare to guess the incline — it was seriously steep. Still, I kept turning around every few minutes to admire the lake and the surrounding peaks. Those views never got old during the entire climb.

Even though the final push to the summit could be described as a bit of a struggle, I don’t regret choosing this hike for a second. The reward was absolutely worth it: incredible panoramic views and, of course, a snack at the top. Sometimes I feel like I climb mountains mainly so I can eat with a view, haha.

We stayed on the summit for about 20 minutes, but eventually it was time to head back down. By that point the heat was already building, and we couldn’t stop thinking about jumping into Sawtooth Lake on the way down. We expected the water to be freezing cold, but at that moment it sounded absolutely perfect.

After a quick stop at Redfish Lake—where we also refilled our drinking water—we continued toward our next destination: Goldbug Hot Springs.

Yes… more hot springs. We simply love this kind of reward after a long hike.

We arrived after dark and quickly realized that might actually be the best time to come. During the day the parking lot is often completely full, but in the evening there were only a few cars and we easily found a spot. From the trailhead it’s about a 3-kilometer hike to the springs — and another 3 kilometers back — all in the dark. Luckily our headlamps were fully charged, so no stress.

We grabbed our swimsuits, towels, and a couple of beers and started walking.

And wow… these hot springs instantly became one of our favorites. Maybe it was the darkness, but even though we knew other people were soaking in the pools, it somehow still felt private. We watched the stars, relaxed in the warm water, and simply enjoyed the moment.

We didn’t find any official information about overnight parking on iOverlander, but since there are campgrounds along the road and several cars stayed in the parking lot overnight, we decided to sleep there as well. No one knocked on our window during the night or in the morning, so it seems we weren’t bothering anyone.