Lake Mead NRA – Goldstrike Hot Springs

on January 15, 2025

Introduction:

What? :

This strenuous challenging 5.3-mile out-and-back trail leads through a desert canyon to a natural hot spring and the Colorado Riverbank.

There are several amazing hikes near Las Vegas, NV but in my opinion, this is probably the most rewording one-of-a-kind hiking experience in the area.

The he second hike on my list is hiking to Arizona Hot Spring just on the Arizona side of the Colorado River.

The trail will lead you into a narrow deep canyon with several dry falls of varying heights where you need to get the help of ropes to climb them down. Along the way you will need to overcome some large boulders blocking your way down. Just near the end of the canyon there is a large year-round flowing hot spring, there are additional hot springs right at the connection point of this canyon with the Colorado River.

On your way up the canyon back to the parking lot you will need to climb up the dry falls using the rope, overall, on your way back you will climb 1,000 ft back up to the parking lot.

The trail is located near Boulder City, Nevada and the Hoover Dam, area that is inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

This can be 4-8 hours hike.

Hike duration may be highly varied so plan accordingly.

Depending on your group and yourself personal abilities and shape.

Depending on the number of hikers on the trail slowing down at obstacle and creating a line of people waiting to descend at every waterfall.

Depending how long you will stay at the hot springs.

Bring enough of water for a day, especially when it is a hot day.

Where? :

The trailhead is located near Boulder City, Nevada and the Hoover Dam, area that is inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

From Las Vegas valley head southeast on I-11 (highway 95) the highway changed into 93 in the direction of Hover Dam and Arizona. Take exit 2 for US-93 toward Boulder city/Hoover Dam. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit to the right onto Goldstrike Canyon Rd. you will see the parking lot will be on your right.

If the parking lot is full you need to find additional parking spots up the dirt road.

Google Map Link

When? :

The best times to visit this trail are October through April.

For the hot summer months that has extreme high temperatures the trailhead for Gold Strike Canyon is closes from May 15 to September 30.

Please respect this limitation, this is for your one safe and the safety of people hiking with you. Hot temperatures kill!

The temperatures during the long summer months are extremely hot, easily reaching over 115f and even early morning temperatures are above 80f.

Due note 1:

The ropes installed in the waterfalls are not managed, maintained, or inspected by the National Park Service. Visitors who choose to rappel do so at their own risk. Please use caution and self-judgment regarding rope condition and your personal ability to overcome the obstacles.

Due note 2:

Officially, Goldstrike Canyon Trail is in a fee area, like the rest of Lake Mead NRA. Keep your park pass or proof of admission with your vehicle for rangers to inspect.

I do not think they are doing active check here at the parking lot.

There are portable restrooms at the parking lot.

No water filling.

Due note 3:

Gold Strike Hot Springs hikes should be completed during daylight hours.

Overnight camping is not permitted.

Due note 4:

Bring enough water with you for a full hiking day.

If you want refill fresh water at the Colorado river you must use Water Filter.

In any case do not drink the hot spring water.

Due note 5:

This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter many other people while hiking here.

You can have the hot spring to yourself if you will come really early in the morning or late afternoon.

Another way to avoid the crowd is to go during the weekdays.

Due note 6:

Although dogs are welcome in Lake Mead NRA (they must be on a leash) it is NOT recommended that you bring your pets on the trail.

Do remember that some of tall waterfalls will be difficult for dog to overcome and you will need to carry than (bag is preferred).

Due note 7:

I highly recommend having good hiking shoes with grip traction for this hike.

When you are walking near the hot springs try to keep your shoes dry so when you are climbing the smooth rocks you will not slip and fall.

As always in the desert I recommend long sleeves shirt, heat, sunblock, and sunglasses. The benefit of walking in a deep narrow canyon is that you have protection from direct sun many hours of the day.

If you plan to soke in the pools, then bringing a small towel is good thing to do.

Due note 8:

Check the weather before heading out and be aware of the danger of flash floods, especially during summer monsoon.

It is extremely dangerous to be in a canyon when it rains in the area and for this hike it is even more problematic because all rock will be very slippery when they are wet.

Due note 9:

As in many other open outdoor hot springs some people see it as “clothing are optional”, take this into consideration.

Due note 10:

Beware of brain-eating amoeba, a risk in thermal pools. Do not get the pool water into your mouth and try not to get your head into the water.

Due note 11:

Because you are near Arizona the time zone may change in your phone, be aware of that when you are hiking, make sure you have enough sunlight for the long hike from the hot spring back out to your car.

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My thoughts:

In my opinion this is probably the best hike near Las Vegs, it combine impressive desert narrow canyon walk, bouldering and waterfalls, oasis hot springs and the view of the impressive Colorado River. What more can you ask from a nature hike.

It can be crowded so its losses some of the charm but if you come midweek days it is amazing place to visit.

You can combine it with another challenging hikes in the nearby canyons or the high-point Hoover Dam South Viewpoint.

The Hike:

From the parking lot walk and pass the locked gate, this will be the start of the hike heading down.

The dirt road begins the hike when you enter the wash. After a short hike where the highway is above you on the left you will pass under a highway bridge and from here the canyon turn right, away from the highway.

Keep walking on the open canyon, here you will pass under several high-voltage electric line crossing the canyon from high above you.

The first mile or so is just easy walking through the upper canyon's sandy gravel floor.

At some point the canyon start to narrow with tall rock walls on both sides.

This is a very beautiful narrow desert landscape canyon with some trees growing in the creek.

At the narrow section you will need to cross pile of boulders and small waterfalls.

The canyon is doing a U turn and soon after this narrow section you will reach the first waterfall with a fixed rope.

at some point you will reach a waterfall were a huge boulder block the waterfall, and you will find the rope on the right side.

The rock is very smooth and slippery but there are some steps carved into the lower section of the rock.

When you are using the ropes to climb down it is better to go backward where you face are directing up.

Right after this waterfall descend the narrow Gold Strike Canyon opens-up, this will be 1.8 miles from the hike starting point. Here 3 side-creeks are joining into the main canyon, and you can also see here an electric line crossing the canyon.

Keep hiking down the main canyon, from here the trail really start to be fun.

Note: in this opening in the canyon the creek that is coming from the left is where the hike to Hoover Dam South Viewpoint connect to this hike, see:

Lake Mead NRA –Hoover Dam South Viewpoint, Off Trail Hike

Soon after the canyon opening you will reach the second waterfall obstacle.

You can use the rope on the right side and climb down the smooth rock or find your way over the left side boulders.

I find it easier to climb down the rope.

As you progress hiking from here the canyon get a lot narrow and losing elevation faster with a series of several 20-foot waterfalls and boulder obstacle climbing.

Wherever you are confused which way is better path look for spray painted arrows marked on the rocks.

They will guide you to the right path in between the boulders, it make it easy to find the simplest way to go down.

At the next waterfall the rope is on the left climbing down a narrow slide.

As the canyon twisting downward the towering rock cliffs on both sides of the canyons are closing on the canyon.

You will cross another large boulder obstacle that you will climb down it last section with the help of short rope.

On your way you will start to see small indication of springs, most are semi dry and some manage to flow in the middle of the gravel/sandy creek for some length and then disappear.

Anytime you cross a boulder section or waterfall look for the spray-painted arrow directions.

Right before the main hot spring area you will reach the final bend in the canyon.

here you can find the first hot spring pools, they are shallow and not so much impressive.

The final quarter mile section of the canyon before the Colorado River is the most beautiful.

Here you will see more water flowing, green moss and algae on the canyon walls and even small palm trees and vegetation.

The canyon keep heading down where there are more and more water flowing.

You will pass a small pool but keep hiking down and soon after you will reach the top of the small waterfall filling the large hot spring pool.

The trail going down on the left and you will reach to the large pool area.

A wall created of many filled sandbags contained behind it the large pool; this is probably the best place to soke in the hot spring if it is not already full of people.

There are smaller and warmer pools on the back side of the large pool, just below the waterfall.

Depending on the time of year, some pools are warmer or deeper than others, most are around or below 100f.

Keep walking pass the large hot springs and soon after you will see the opening of the canyon and getting into the Colorado River Black Canyon area.

Here you may find another place to soke in hot spring bathtub.

Depending on the Colorado river flow you may find here a large pebble area or the river took them away.

From the canyon opening you can see the impressive arch highway bridge crossing over the Colorado river.

You can get into the Colorado River cold water but be careful, do not underestimate the power of this river.

Here, at the Colorado River, there is another interesting place to explore.

Look to the left and you will see a short trail over the rocks, follow this rock ledge and you will see behind the rock at the end another hot spring flow from the cliff, flowing directly to the Colorado river.

You can climb down to the base of the cliff and see up close the hot water bursting out of the rock.

This is a very hot water spring, so I do not recommend touching the water here, maybe near the river water it is better.

After enjoying the Colorado River opening walk back to the hot spring and enjoy a good warm water soke.

Respect other people that are there and do not make a music noise.

After your soke time in the hot spring water, dry up and get ready to walk back to the trailhead.

The hike back is challenging as your shoes will be wet at start, so the rock are slippery, be careful.

Climb over the obstacles using the rope, climbing up is usually simpler so your progress will probably be faster.

Keep hiking up the lower section of the canyon, pass the wide section and overcome the last roped waterfall.

From here it is manly hiking in the canyon gravel sandy wash and overcome few simple boulders.

Final walk up the canyon, under the highway section and back to your starting point.

Goldstrike Hot Springs; What a rewording hike !

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