Hot springs next to the Colorado River, you say?
True story, so get your hiking boots on and be sure to bring a swimsuit.
The hot springs are at the bottom of Goldstrike Canyon in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The hike to get there starts near Hoover Dam and takes about 1.5-to-3 hours each way depending on your pace.
HOT SPRINGS POOL
There’s one large pool that fits a dozen or more people comfortably. It’s fed by a small hot-water waterfall that spills over the huge rocks surrounding the pool.
It’s a beautiful place for a soak and it can get busy on weekends because of it. Take note that there are no bathrooms or trashcans at the hot springs or anywhere in the canyon. So bring a towel for changing and a bag to take your trash with you.
There’s a little space on the edge of the hot springs to drop a backpack and towel, and more space by the river only a few hundred feet away.
THE TRAIL
Depending on your point of view, the trail to get to the hot springs can either be a lot of fun or a little daunting. That’s because there are several dry waterfalls and boulder fields that can only be passed using a series of ropes.
It’s one of the few hikes where upper-body strength comes in handy.
For the first leg of the trail, hikers cover a mile or so of sandy desert wash as the canyon gradually descends towards the Colorado River.
Before long you’ll reach the first rope. This is where the canyon gets deeper and narrower. Boulders the size of houses are unavoidable obstacles that must be overcome. One rope section is 20-feet tall.
You know you’re getting close to the hot springs when a small flow of water begins to appear in the wash. Water shoes are useful at this point because it’ll be difficult to keep your hiking boots dry in this section of the trail and the pool has a rocky bottom as well.
Stop to admire the multi-colored algae growing on the canyon walls where the warm, mineralized water seeps from the rock.
There’s a small beach at the river good for picnicking, enjoying the view, and swimming. The water is cold but there’s not much current close to shore. There’s a rock to jump off into deeper water on the right side of the beach.
TRAILHEAD
The trailhead for Goldstrike Canyon is just off of Highway 93 at the Hoover Dam exit (Exit 2). You can see the parking area on the south side of the highway. On weekends there will be plenty of vehicles parked to mark the spot.
Remember that all hiking trails in Lake Mead National Recreation Area are closed from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend because of the heat.
Take a look at other Hiking Trail Reports on Outdeezy including other hikes in the Las Vegas area.
