Clark County, Nevada
Goldstrike Hot Springs
Goldstrike Hot Springs is a series of natural pools in a slot canyon at the edge of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, just south of Hoover Dam in Nevada.
- Day use
- LGBTQ-friendly
About this place
Goldstrike Hot Springs is a series of natural pools in a slot canyon at the edge of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, just south of Hoover Dam in Nevada. The pools cascade down the canyon from a hot source near the top to cooler pools and finally a connection to the Colorado River at the bottom. The setting is striking — a narrow desert canyon with high walls, cottonwood trees clinging to the water, and the river at canyon's mouth. Access is a moderately strenuous out-and-back hike from a parking area off Highway 93 near the Hoover Dam approach. The route descends roughly 1,000 feet over about three miles, with rope-assisted scrambles down dryfalls in several places. The climb back out is the hard part — desert sun, real elevation gain, and limited shade. Clothing-optional culture at the pools is established and consistent; the canyon's remoteness keeps the community small. Goldstrike is dangerous in summer. Boulder City summer highs regularly exceed 110°F, and the canyon traps heat. Multiple deaths have occurred from heat exhaustion and dehydration on the return hike. The springs are closed by the National Park Service in summer (typically May through September) for this reason — verify current closures before traveling. Winter and early spring are the safe seasons, with cooler hiking conditions and reliably-open access. Flash flood risk is the other major hazard. The slot canyon section can fill rapidly during desert storms even if the storm is dozens of miles upstream. Never enter the canyon when storms are forecast anywhere in the watershed.
Etiquette & ground rules
Pack everything in and out — there's no service. Don't use soap or sunscreen in the pools; the mineral chemistry is sensitive. Clothing-optional culture is consistent; photography of others is not done. Voices low; the canyon carries every sound. Glass is prohibited; the bottoms of pools are sometimes sharp basalt and broken glass would be devastating.
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