Gold Strike Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Gold Strike Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Boulder City, Nevada. Reported soak temperature: 105°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Soakable canyon hot pools reached by a very strenuous 5.3-mi Grade-2 canyoneering route near Hoover Dam in Lake Mead NRA — the trail is CLOSED annually May 15-Sep 30 for extreme heat (in effect today) plus pop-up closures whenever Willow Beach forecasts 95F+; springs stay reachable by boat via Lake Mohave; when the trail reopens Oct 1, expect heavy crowds and pools ~100-109F.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 4 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A town stay for a separate Lake Mead / Black Canyon trip.
Boulder City is about 5 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 Lake Mead NRA — 'Hike the Goldstrike Canyon Trail' official page (heat closure May 15-Sep 30, springs open by water, route stats, health warning, updated 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 105°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: No permit/reservation; standard Lake Mead NRA entrance fee covers the trailhead.
- Best time to go: Oct-Apr only (trail season); weekday mornings — one of the most-hiked hot-spring trails near Las Vegas; arrive early.
- Clothing reality: Official: no policy — NRA public land, no nudity rule posted for these springs. Customary: mostly swimsuited given heavy crowds; occasional skinny-dipping reported deep in the canyon. Legal: no federal nudity ban in NRA backcountry, but NV county exposure laws can apply.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — unmaintained boulder wash with rope climbs, wading, and steep scrambles.
- TRAIL CLOSED May 15-Sep 30 every year for lethal heat — temporary closures also trigger any day Willow Beach forecasts 95F+; check NPS Lake Mead alerts before driving
- As of today (2026-09-22) the hike is inside the annual closure — springs reachable only by boat on Lake Mohave
- Class 2 canyoneering: 7 dry pouroffs, ~1,200 ft elevation change; injuries and deaths happen every year
- Fixed ropes are left by other hikers — NOT installed, inspected, or maintained by NPS; assume they are unsafe
- NPS health warning: pooled water has tested high for fecal coliform, E. coli, enterococci; Naegleria amoeba possible — never drink, don't submerge your head; failures 'have resulted in significant health impacts or death'
- Do NOT dam/alter pools with sandbags or rocks (increases bacteria)
- No water/toilets on route — toilets only at trailhead; bring wag bags for waste
- Flash flood danger — do not enter canyon when thunderstorms threaten
- Lake Mead NRA entrance fee applies ($25/vehicle); keep pass with car for ranger inspection
- Lock car, take valuables — no cell service in the canyon
- Pets strongly discouraged (steep dryfalls); leashed if brought; hot ground burns paws
- Hazard: Extreme heat (canyon >115F in summer — annual closure)
- Hazard: Unmaintained ropes on dry pouroffs; falls injure/kill yearly
- Hazard: Naegleria fowleri + fecal bacteria in pooled water
- Hazard: Flash floods
- Hazard: No cell service, no water, no services
About this spring
One of Nevada's most famous adventure soaks: steaming hot-spring pools and waterfalls along Goldstrike Canyon just below Hoover Dam, ending at the Colorado River — multiple pools ~100-111°F; adjacent Sauna Cave. ~4-6 mi round trip with rope-assisted dry-fall scrambles. Fee: Lake Mead NRA entrance fee ($25/vehicle). ANNUAL TRAIL CLOSURE May 15-Sep 30 for extreme heat — multiple heat deaths have occurred. Class 2 canyoneering; Naegleria risk — keep head above water. NOTE: NPS closes the Goldstrike Canyon land trail annually May 15-Sep 30 — springs reachable only by boat/kayak from Lake Mohave during that window.
Gold Strike Hot Springs, also known as Goldstrike Hot Springs, Nevada Hot Springs and Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs are a group of hot springs near Hoover Dam on the Arizona/Nevada border near historic Boulder City. They are in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Gold Strike Hot Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
Trailhead off US-93 just east of Hoover Dam; follow the wash down-canyon ~2.5 mi. Springs also reachable by kayak from Willow Beach year-round.
Nevada geothermal context
Nevada has more hot springs per square mile than any other state — Basin and Range faulting brings deep thermal water to the surface across nearly every valley. Most sites are primitive seeps and tubs on public BLM land reached by long, unmaintained dirt roads. Carry extra water, and watch for flash floods in desert washes during storms.
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 | 105°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 105°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $25/vehicle — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | NPS Lake Mead NRA — 'Hike the Goldstrike Canyon Trail' official page (heat closure May 15-Sep 30, springs open by water, route stats, health warning, updated 5/8/26) |
Gold Strike Hot Springs FAQ
Is Gold Strike Hot Springs open right now?
Soakable canyon hot pools reached by a very strenuous 5.3-mi Grade-2 canyoneering route near Hoover Dam in Lake Mead NRA — the trail is CLOSED annually May 15-Sep 30 for extreme heat (in effect today) plus pop-up closures whenever Willow Beach forecasts 95F+; springs stay reachable by boat via Lake Mohave; when the trail reopens Oct 1, expect heavy crowds and pools ~100-109F. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Is Gold Strike Hot Springs free?
Gold Strike Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Boulder City. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Gold Strike Hot Springs?
Gold Strike Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 105°F and a historical source temperature of 105°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Gold Strike Hot Springs clothing optional?
Gold Strike Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Gold Strike Hot Springs?
Gold Strike Hot Springs 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 5 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 Lake Mead NRA — 'Hike the Goldstrike Canyon Trail' official page (heat closure May 15-Sep 30, springs open by water, route stats, health warning, updated 5/8/26) — official · 2026-05
- NPS Park Planning — 'Seasonal Closure of Goldstrike Canyon and Arizona Hot Springs Trails' project — official · 2022
- Everyday Vegas — Gold Strike Hot Springs trail guide (closure dates, $25 NPS vehicle fee, pool temps 100-109F) — community · 2026
- Nevada Trail Finder — Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs Trail (closure dates, 3-4 hrs each way) — community · 2025
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
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