Goldstrike Hot Springs Trail Head — Attraction in Boulder City

This hike is seriously SO MUCH FUN! If you're not at all in shape or not down for some scrambles, then you might want to rethink this hike, but I still saw plenty of people who looked to be a little out of shape and did just fine—it just took them longer. Pretty much the whole trail is inside a canyon, so you have a gorgeous view. There are plenty of ropes tied in along the trail to help you get down and up the most difficult drops and slides, but we also found that in plenty of places where there we ropes, we could find other routes that were often even easier to take. You just have to be willing to look around a bit if you don't like one option. I read a review beforehand that said to allow 1 hour to get to the river and 1 hr 15 min. to get back to the parking lot. I would agree with that. We took a little longer because I was doing the hike with tendinitis in one knee and a sprained ankle, but it still wasn't too long. You're essentially climbing down into a canyon/ravine the whole way down and then climbing out of it when you leave, so it definitely takes more work getting out. The hot springs start showing up about 2/3 of the way in. Several are big enough for a whole group to sit in and some are only deep enough to wade in. Each spring varies in temperature, so try several out if you have the time! We mainly went to the spring right by the river, and I wished we had more time for some of the other warmer ones on the way back. The river is also fun to swim in, but it was cold when we went (late October). We both wore Chacos and regretted it a little. While they're great for the scrambles that take the majority of the hike, the beginning of the trail is made up of fine gravel that gets stuck in your Chacos really easily. On the other hand, I really enjoyed getting to walk through the hot spring/creek flowing down into the river. So you might want to keep both aspects in mind. I sprained my ankle misstepping in the gravel at the very beginning of the hike, so I would probably opt for my hiking shoes (with ankle support) next time and bring sandals for the last leg...

Absolutely no admission fee and the bonus of complimentary parking enhance this natural attraction's appeal. However, take note that it is closed during the peak of summer heat for safety reasons.

Embarking on this trail offers a delightful hiking experience. Whether I'm seeking solitary communion with nature, introducing my children to the great outdoors, participating in rescue exercises with the Red Rock Search and Rescue team to ensure the well-being of overzealous summer adventurers, or sharing an adventurous date, this hike never disappoints.

A piece of advice to future hikers: opt for footwear that provides traction. Wet boulders along the path can be treacherously slippery and challenge your balance. While this trail offers a unique experience, it is not the most conducive environment for our furry friends due to the technical boulder climbs that may require the use of ropes or some climbing prowess. I'd also like to extend a gentle reminder to all visitors to respect our natural spaces by packing out what you bring in.

As you venture down the trail, you'll be rewarded with a series of geothermal delights – multiple hot springs that increasingly beckon the further you trek. The culmination of the hike greets you with a refreshing contrast as the river at the trail's end offers an invigorating plunge into its...

Goldstrike Canyon Hike “This strenuous hike leads to the Nevada Hot Spring and the Colorado River. The trail is 2.6 miles from the trailhead marker (4.1 km) one way with a 945-foot (288-meter) elevation change and requires rock scrambling and climbing.”

It is a fun hike that does include rock scrambling and ropes (We added pictures of each rope section in the picture). We did not complete the entire hike in this outing as it was just a scouting mission for a future full hike (found out later that we were VERY close to the end on this trip)!

Our notes: wear real hiking shoes! Water is present on the trail, the smooth boulders become quite slippery even with the rope assist.

The trail begins with a nice easy meandering gravel descent (uphill was more of a challenge and it was warmer on the way back).

The trail is very noisy at the start for about a mile (traffic noise from the spectacular bridge, planes and lots of helicopters; it does quiet down after the first mile.

Great scenery for this hike and really pretty clean for as much foot traffic that this trail must get (this trail is closed in the summer months-due to extreme heat).

We will be hiking this trail again, however we would recommend this is a week day hike-it would be extremely busy on the weekend and the wait to use the only set of ropes...