Gold Strike Hot Springs

What to expect

Gold Strike Hot Springs is a string of warm seeps and small pools in the lower end of Goldstrike Canyon, a narrow volcanic gorge that runs down to the Colorado River just below Hoover Dam. Hot water drips out of fractures in the canyon walls, runs over moss and mineral crusts, and collects in shallow rock-and-gravel pools that hikers have shaped over the years. The springs sit on a fault zone, and you can see the effect in the gypsum and carbonate crusts along the walls.

At the source the water comes out at about 109°F43°C. As it spreads into the pools it cools to somewhere around 98-110°F37-43°C, depending on how far you are from the seep and how much air is moving through the canyon. One of the first pools you reach is a sand-and-gravel basin at about 100°F38°C. Below it the canyon tightens into grottos and small hot waterfalls before it opens onto the river.

This is not a quiet place on a winter weekend. It is the closest wild hot spring to Las Vegas, and thousands of people walk the canyon every year. The pools are small. Expect to share them, and expect to meet groups on the dry falls.

There are toilets at the trailhead and nothing at the springs. The park asks hikers to carry a waste bag and pack out human waste along with all trash.

Getting there

The trailhead is in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, a short way before the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, roughly 45 minutes from downtown Las Vegas.

From Las Vegas or Henderson, head southeast on I-11 past Boulder City toward Hoover Dam. Leave the interstate at the Hoover Dam exit and follow the Hoover Dam access road past Hoover Dam Lodge, then turn onto Goldstrike Canyon Road. The NPS lists free parking off that road. The last quarter mile of the old road to the traditional trailhead is closed to cars because parked vehicles used to block it, so leave the car in the formal lot and walk the short connector path.

The route itself follows a dirt road past a gate and then drops into the canyon. It is about 5.3 miles round trip with roughly 1,200 feet of elevation change, and the NPS grades it as a very strenuous Class 2 canyoneering route. There are seven dry falls of different heights. You climb down them going in and climb up them coming out, using both hands and feet. Ropes hang at some of the harder spots, but hikers left them there and the park says plainly that they are not maintained and should not be relied on. Before you lower yourself down any pouroff, ask whether you could climb it again without that rope.

Most people need half a day or more for the round trip plus time to soak. Start early. The climb out is the hard part and it comes at the end, when you are tired and warm from the water.

You can also reach the springs from the river. Launching directly below Hoover Dam is only possible with one of the outfitters that hold a permit for that security zone. Paddlers can also start from Willow Beach, Arizona, at river mile 52.5, and work about 11 river miles upstream toward the dam at mile 64. Motorized boats are banned in this stretch on Sundays and Mondays year-round, and engines over 65 horsepower are banned from the Tuesday after Labor Day to the Friday of Memorial Day weekend.

When to go

October to mid-May is the only window for the trail. Lake Mead NRA closes Goldstrike Canyon every year from May 15 to September 30, and it can close the trail on other days when the forecast for Willow Beach reaches 95°F35°C or more, or when flash floods are possible. Check the park’s conditions page the morning you go.

The coolest months, roughly November through March, are the most comfortable for the climb out. They are also the busiest, especially on weekends. A weekday start at first light gives you the best chance of an empty pool.

Do not enter the canyon if thunderstorms are anywhere in the forecast. The canyon has a history of flash floods and there are few places to climb out of a flood channel.

Rules and etiquette

• Seasonal closure. No hiking in Goldstrike Canyon from May 15 to September 30. The springs stay open to people arriving by water.
• No camping. This is a day trip. Travel Nevada notes overnight camping is not permitted at the springs.
• No glass. Glass beverage containers and Styrofoam are banned throughout Lake Mead NRA.
• Do not dam the springs. The NPS warns that blocking the flow with sandbags or rocks raises bacteria levels in the pooled water.
• Pack out waste. Bring a waste bag. There are no toilets past the trailhead.
• Leave rocks and plants. Removing plants, wildlife, rocks and artifacts is illegal in the park.
• Pets. The NPS advises against bringing dogs. Never leave a pet in the car at the trailhead.

Where to stay nearby

There is nowhere to stay at the springs. Boulder City has motels and restaurants a short drive back up the highway, and Hoover Dam Lodge is near the turnoff. For camping, Boulder Beach Campground on Lake Mead is the closest NPS campground. On the Arizona side, Willow Beach has a 38-site campground, an RV park, a marina with kayak rentals and a store, and works well as a base if you plan to paddle in. Las Vegas has every other kind of lodging and is less than an hour away.

Safety notes

• Heat. The summer closure exists because people have died here. Hikers underestimate this route every year, and the NPS reports injuries and deaths. In January 2026 a hiker fell down a ravine in the canyon and a Boulder City firefighter was hurt during the rescue. Carry at least 2 liters of water per person even in winter.
• Water quality. The NPS does not routinely test the springs and does not treat them as swim areas. Past testing of pooled water found fecal coliform, E. coli and enterococci. The springs can also contain Naegleria, an amoeba that enters through the nose and can cause a rare, usually fatal infection. Keep your head above the surface and never drink the water.
• Ropes and footing. The worst accidents come from the dry falls, not the pools. Wear shoes with real grip and gloves if you have them.
• Flash floods. Stay out of the canyon when storms threaten.
• Car break-ins. Lock the car and take valuables with you.

Nearby stops worth adding

Arizona Hot Springs sits a few miles downstream on the other bank and has its own trail from US 93 in Arizona; see Arizona Hot Springs. It falls under the same summer closure. Boy Scout Hot Springs is another canyon spring on the same stretch of river; see Boy Scout Hot Springs. The Historic Railroad Trail near Boulder City stays open in summer and gives you desert views and old tunnels without any scrambling.