Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 3 5.8 miles 1500 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Jan 13, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs GPX Track

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Gold Strike Canyon is probably the most popular hot spring and hike in the area, and with good reason. The hike includes fun scrambles and down-climbs with ropes to aid, tall black canyon walls, colorful algae, a hot spring, and a wonderful view of the Colorado River. It's also promoted by the NPS and has quick access from the Hoover Dam. Unfortunately this means the route is riddled with graffiti, garbage, and even (omg seriously people?) literal poop. That all being said, it's a great local Las Vegas hike that I've used countless times to access other objectives deeper in this part of the Black Canyon Wilderness. Something to note is that there are multiple hot springs on this trail, though recently the only soakable set is near the Colorado River. Originally I believe Gold Strike Hot Spring was a named feature farther up the canyon, while Nevada Hot Spring is the spring the canyon is known for, but at this point everyone just refers to the primary pools as Gold Strike Canyon Hot Spring.

The trailhead is located at a small lot before descending into Gold Strike Canyon, and a dirt road begins the hike in to enter the wash. The first mile or so is just easy walking through the upper canyon's sandy floor, with the lovely sounds of trucks on Interstate 11 above, plus a view of the highway's support structure built into the canyon walls. I started getting little hints of narrows and some little bouldery obstacles popped in here and there. Soon the canyon narrowed for a time, where there was the first fixed rope in place. All obstacles can be down-climbed at Class 3 within the canyon if you choose to prefer not using the ropes.

A bit more than halfway down Gold Strike Canyon, the drainage opens up significantly for a short time before narrowing into the remainder of the hike, which then progressively deepens. There are a couple of narrow sections with dryfall obstacles, as well as wider portions choked with huge boulders. A couple of springs along the way add some lightly flowing water. As I neared the various pools, the canyon widened enough to give a fun perspective of the amazing space, and a series of micro-puzzles through a bouldery portion led down to the first of the soakable hot spring pools. Depending on the time of year, some pools are warmer or deeper than others. Stacked sandbags keep the water in place, so thank you to whoever comes out and does all that work.

The final quarter mile or so down to the Colorado River is the most beautiful, in my opinion. Impossible colors formed by algae, plant life, and mineral deposits line the canyon walls. Rivulets flow through fun rock formations, and there are even a couple of small waterfalls. The canyon opens up to reveal the Colorado River. After soaking at the hot springs, please take some trash back with you. This place is beautiful, but people really are trashing it.

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A locked gate at the start of the hike.
A locked gate at the start of the hike.
Descending Gold Strike Canyon.
Descending Gold Strike Canyon.
Interstate 11 above, a bit noisy for the first part of the hike.
Interstate 11 above, a bit noisy for the first part of the hike.
The first mile or so is easy downhill wash walking.
The first mile or so is easy downhill wash walking.
View back up the canyon.
View back up the canyon.
A peek at the narrows to come.
A peek at the narrows to come.
The first scramble obstacle.
The first scramble obstacle.
View back at a  boulder-choked section of the canyon.
View back at a boulder-choked section of the canyon.
More pretty narrows.
More pretty narrows.
View back within the first significant narrows.
View back within the first significant narrows.
Image 10 from gallery
A narrow portion of canyon with a fixed line to descend a dryfall.
A narrow portion of canyon with a fixed line to descend a dryfall.
View back at the narrow section, complete with graffiti. Lovely.
View back at the narrow section, complete with graffiti. Lovely.
Gold Strike Canyon opens up for a short time before narrowing into the deeper, lower portion.
Gold Strike Canyon opens up for a short time before narrowing into the deeper, lower portion.
View back at an obstacle just before entering the lower half of the canyon.
View back at an obstacle just before entering the lower half of the canyon.
Top of another narrow obstacle.
Top of another narrow obstacle.
View back at the obstacle.
View back at the obstacle.
Narrowing, deepening.
Narrowing, deepening.
Image 18 from gallery
A small hot spring. I believe this is the originally-named Gold Strike Hot Spring that has been mostly overlooked due to the more soakable Nevada Hot Springs farther down.
A small hot spring. I believe this is the originally-named Gold Strike Hot Spring that has been mostly overlooked due to the more soakable Nevada Hot Springs farther down.
Pretty lighting in the narrows.
Pretty lighting in the narrows.
A view back up the canyon at some colorful flowing water.
A view back up the canyon at some colorful flowing water.
A series of boulder-hopping obstacles.
A series of boulder-hopping obstacles.
View back at these obstacles.
View back at these obstacles.
The final descent, which has about a half dozen little route-finding puzzles, currently made easier using graffiti'd arrows.
The final descent, which has about a half dozen little route-finding puzzles, currently made easier using graffiti'd arrows.
Bouldery section before Gold Strike Hot Spring.
Bouldery section before Gold Strike Hot Spring.
Close-up at the final bend in the canyon.
Close-up at the final bend in the canyon.
A warm pool.
A warm pool.
Another contained pool.
Another contained pool.
Farther down the canyon.
Farther down the canyon.
View back up the canyon at the colorful algae.
View back up the canyon at the colorful algae.
Close-up at the pretty algae and plant life.
Close-up at the pretty algae and plant life.
Approaching the last major pool.
Approaching the last major pool.
View back up at the colorful stuff.
View back up at the colorful stuff.
At the top of a small waterfall.
At the top of a small waterfall.
A view at the largest pool.
A view at the largest pool.
Close-up of the contained pool.
Close-up of the contained pool.
Approaching the end of Gold Strike Canyon, the Colorado River seen ahead.
Approaching the end of Gold Strike Canyon, the Colorado River seen ahead.
At the Colorado River, view back up the canyon.
At the Colorado River, view back up the canyon.
View north toward the bridge over the Hoover Dam.
View north toward the bridge over the Hoover Dam.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!