Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt) is a primitive hot spring listed near Mohave County, Arizona. Reported soak temperature: 110°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Famous NPS-managed canyon hot spring in Lake Mead NRA south of Hoover Dam — 111-120F source feeding sand/gravel pools above a 20-ft steel ladder in a waterfall slot; reached by a strenuous unmaintained 5-mi desert hike (or ~5.7-mi White Rock Canyon loop) OR by boat/kayak on Lake Mohave. LAND TRAIL IS SEASONALLY CLOSED May 15-Sep 30 for extreme heat (in effect today, 2026-09-22); springs stay open to river arrivals year-round.
Checked May 2026 · verified against an official source · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A town stay for a separate Lake Mead / Black Canyon trip.
Boulder City is about 6 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via NPS — Hike the Arizona Hot Springs Trail (heat closure notice dated 5/8/26).
- Cost: Reported $25/vehicle — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 110°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Clothing policy unknown — verify locally; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None for the trail or soaking — just the Lake Mead NRA entrance fee. Kayak rentals/launches at Willow Beach (AZ side).
- Best time to go: October-April only for hiking (trail open); weekday mornings to avoid the Vegas-weekend crowds that pack the pools in winter. Summer = boat/kayak access only.
- Clothing reality: No official clothing policy posted by NPS; customarily most visitors wear swimsuits though occasional nudity occurs in the upper pools. Arizona indecent-exposure law applies on-site.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — strenuous unmaintained canyon route with boulder scrambling and a 20-ft ladder in a waterfall.
- TRAIL CLOSED May 15-Sep 30 every year for extreme heat — hiking access is illegal during closure; kayak/boat access via Lake Mohave remains open
- Temporary closures any time Willow Beach forecast hits 95F; reopens when forecast drops below ~93F (typically late Sept/early Oct)
- Lake Mead NRA entrance fee required at trailhead ($25/vehicle typical)
- Unmaintained trail — soft sand, boulders, dry waterfalls, 20-ft ladder climb at your own risk (ladder is in a flowing waterfall, stays wet)
- No altering the springs — sandbag dams are prohibited by NPS
- Multiple heat deaths on this trail system — 1 gallon water/person minimum in warm months
- Pit toilets ~200 yards downstream at the Colorado River beach; pack out all trash/human waste
- Camping allowed on river beaches below the springs (Lake Mead backcountry rules) — not at the pools themselves
- Lock vehicle, no valuables visible — trailhead break-ins reported
- No cell service in canyon
- Hazard: Extreme heat — multiple fatalities on the trail (reason for seasonal closure)
- Hazard: Flash floods in slot canyons when thunderstorms threaten
- Hazard: 20-ft ladder in flowing waterfall — climb at own risk
- Hazard: Naegleria fowleri warning historically associated with warm pools — don't get water up nose
- Hazard: No cell service; trailhead vehicle break-ins
- Hazard: Rattlesnakes
About this spring
Geothermal spring in a narrow volcanic slot canyon in Lake Mead National Recreation Area just south of Hoover Dam — 111-120°F water flows through stacked canyon pools above the Colorado River. Reached by a strenuous hike (20-ft ladder, scrambling) or by boat/kayak from Lake Mohave. Fee: $25/vehicle Lake Mead NRA entrance fee. Seasonal trail closure May 15-Sep 30 — springs accessible by river only in summer. Extreme heat has caused numerous rescues. Dogs must be carried up the ladder.
Arizona (Ringbolt) Hot Springs is a group of three geothermal springs tucked in a narrow volcanic side canyon of the Black Canyon of the Colorado, on the Arizona shore of Lake Mead National Recreation Area downstream of Hoover Dam near Ringbolt Rapids. Per the National Park Service, geothermally heated groundwater rises through faults and fractures in the volcanic rock, discharging an estimated 30-50 gallons per minute at 111-120°F; the water spills over a roughly 25-foot waterfall, cooling to about 95°F in gravel-bottomed soaking pools stacked into the canyon below. The springs are reached by a strenuous route — 5 miles out-and-back or a 5.69-mile loop through White Rock Canyon — with 750 feet of elevation change, boulder scrambling, and a 20-foot ladder. Because extreme heat has caused repeated rescues, NPS closes the trail annually from May 15 to September 30, though the springs remain accessible by water on Lake Mohave. Pit toilets sit 200 yards downstream along the river.
Directions & trailhead access
Trailhead on US-93 ~4.2 miles south of Hoover Dam; Arizona Hot Springs Trail ~3 miles down the canyon, or loop via White Rock Canyon Trail and the 20-ft ladder.
Arizona geothermal context
Arizona's hot springs are products of Basin and Range crustal stretching, surfacing mostly along rugged canyon country around the Verde and Gila rivers. Many sit at the bottom of steep desert drainages where monsoon storms (July–September) can trigger flash floods. Desert heat makes winter the comfortable soaking season for most sites.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Best time to visit
October – April (Fall, Winter & Spring)Desert thermal zones experience high summer ambient heat. The cooler months from late autumn to early spring offer the most refreshing ambient conditions for open-air soaking.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 110°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 111–120°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $25/vehicle — verify |
| Clothing policy | Unknown — verify locally |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | NPS — Hike the Arizona Hot Springs Trail (heat closure notice dated 5/8/26) |
Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt) FAQ
Is Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt) open right now?
Famous NPS-managed canyon hot spring in Lake Mead NRA south of Hoover Dam — 111-120F source feeding sand/gravel pools above a 20-ft steel ladder in a waterfall slot; reached by a strenuous unmaintained 5-mi desert hike (or ~5.7-mi White Rock Canyon loop) OR by boat/kayak on Lake Mohave. LAND TRAIL IS SEASONALLY CLOSED May 15-Sep 30 for extreme heat (in effect today, 2026-09-22); springs stay open to river arrivals year-round. (Status verified against an official source, last checked May 2026.)
Is Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt) free?
Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt) is listed with reported fees near Mohave County. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt)?
Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt) has a reported soak temperature of 110°F and a historical source temperature of 111–120°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt) clothing optional?
Directory records do not confirm the clothing policy at Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt) — verify current rules before visiting.
How do you access Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt)?
Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt) is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Boulder City
A town stay for a separate Lake Mead / Black Canyon trip. Check seasonal heat closures, permits and trail or river access first.
Boulder City is about 6 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- NPS — Hike the Arizona Hot Springs Trail (heat closure notice dated 5/8/26) — official · 2026-05
- NPS Lake Mead — Alerts & Conditions (2026 seasonal trail closures May 15-Sep 30; springs stay open via Lake Mohave) — official · 2026-05
- Las Vegas Review-Journal — Lake Mead summer trail closures — news · 2026-04
- AllTrails — Arizona (Ringbolt) Hot Springs via White Rock Canyon — community · 2025
- Hiking Project — Arizona Hot Springs trail notes — community · 2024
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.