Moonscape Hot Springs in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Moonscape Hot Springs Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

Class 2 7.8 miles 2300 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Apr 8, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Moonscape Hot Springs GPX Track

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I love hiking to all the Lake Mead hot springs. There are a bunch of them, and while most are accessible via kayak/boat from the Colorado River, I consider that cheating and would prefer to trudge through the desert. Despite evolution telling us walking downhill at midday in a 90 degree desert, Tara and I were enthusiastic about finding Moonscape Hot Spring. I noticed the name on a topo map, but didn't have information on how to get there. This route starts the same as Weeping Spring Canyon, a technical route I've done a few times, so I was familiar with the start of the route plan.

We started down a broken glass and scree-covered dirty slope from the parking lot into the obvious wide wash below. We followed this wash until just before the head of Weeping Spring Canyon. You'll know you've gone too far in the wash if you hit a dryfall. We scrambled out of the wash and headed northeast over open desert toward the next canyon, which took us down some Class 2/3 obstacles and through short section of narrows. We were able to avoid most of the unpleasant brush in this canyon by keeping to the east side, cairns helping a bit. We later found out this canyon is sometimes called Emerald Pools Canyon. The canyon led into a junction with a wider canyon, where going left you we found Moonscape Hot Spring, and right led to a beautiful cove on the Colorado River. We returned the way we came.

A couple of years after doing this route, I returned to Moonscape Hot Spring via the technical Devil's Drain Canyon. I would highly recommend the Devil's Drain loop route over just the out-and-back described in this trip report. That is of course, assuming you have technical rappeling knowledge.

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Tara being basic and yoga posing before we head down the dirty, glass-filled cliff.
Tara being basic and yoga posing before we head down the dirty, glass-filled cliff.
Looking back up at the cliff.
Looking back up at the cliff.
Continuing down the wash.
Continuing down the wash.
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Approaching the head of Weeping Spring Canyon.
Approaching the head of Weeping Spring Canyon.
Heading north instead of going down Weeping Spring Canyon.
Heading north instead of going down Weeping Spring Canyon.
Looking back as we traverse through open desert for a while.
Looking back as we traverse through open desert for a while.
Heading through open desert.
Heading through open desert.
We found a nice canyon to head down.
We found a nice canyon to head down.
Hard to judge how far to go.
Hard to judge how far to go.
Looking back up the canyon/gully we chose to descend.
Looking back up the canyon/gully we chose to descend.
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The canyon starts to get more narrow, and lots of brush grows within. There is a cairn on the right that marks an easy way to avoid the vegetation.
The canyon starts to get more narrow, and lots of brush grows within. There is a cairn on the right that marks an easy way to avoid the vegetation.
Looking back up the canyon along the cairned section helping to avoid the vegetation.
Looking back up the canyon along the cairned section helping to avoid the vegetation.
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Short narrow section.
Short narrow section.
Algae in the narrow section.
Algae in the narrow section.
A lady for the ladies. Also, this was awesome.
A lady for the ladies. Also, this was awesome.
The canyon gets more choked with vegetation for a bit, so expect some scratches.
The canyon gets more choked with vegetation for a bit, so expect some scratches.
Some light Class 2/3 obstacles.
Some light Class 2/3 obstacles.
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More vegetation.
More vegetation.
Exiting the side canyon and entering the canyon where Moonscape Hot springs hangs out.
Exiting the side canyon and entering the canyon where Moonscape Hot springs hangs out.
Looking down toward the Colorado River. We'll head that way after.
Looking down toward the Colorado River. We'll head that way after.
Approaching Moonscape Hot Springs.
Approaching Moonscape Hot Springs.
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Lower pool of Moonscape Hot Spring.
Lower pool of Moonscape Hot Spring.
Moonscape Hot Spring, Tara taking advantage of the solitude.
Moonscape Hot Spring, Tara taking advantage of the solitude.
Continuing past the lower springs to see what I could find. Maybe naked men instead of the naked lady I left at the lower springs?
Continuing past the lower springs to see what I could find. Maybe naked men instead of the naked lady I left at the lower springs?
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Beautiful little waterfall marking the upper pool of Moonscape Hot Spring.
Beautiful little waterfall marking the upper pool of Moonscape Hot Spring.
You can go above Moonscape Hot Springs' upper pool and maybe keep going? It was too hot and we were running out of water. Maybe next time.
You can go above Moonscape Hot Springs' upper pool and maybe keep going? It was too hot and we were running out of water. Maybe next time.
Looking down into the creek from above.
Looking down into the creek from above.
Heading down toward the Colorado River.
Heading down toward the Colorado River.
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A little cove on the side of the Colorado River. Very cold, but very welcomed.
A little cove on the side of the Colorado River. Very cold, but very welcomed.
On the way out, I snapped one more photo of Tara to show scale of the crazy formations of the Black Canyon Wilderness.
On the way out, I snapped one more photo of Tara to show scale of the crazy formations of the Black Canyon Wilderness.

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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!