Arizona Hot Spring & Goldstrike Canyon: A Lake Mead RV Guide

Goldstrike Canyon carves down toward the Colorado River below Hoover Dam, and the National Park Service describes the route to its hot springs as a very strenuous Grade 2 canyoneering descent with around 1,000 feet of elevation change and seven dry falls of varying heights. It sits in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which spans Arizona and Nevada near Boulder City.

This is rugged desert terrain, not a roadside soak. The agency notes that hikers routinely underestimate the trail's difficulty, and that ropes placed in the canyon are not maintained or inspected by the Park Service. The experience is the canyon and the river as much as the springs themselves.

Because of extreme summer heat, the NPS closes this and other strenuous Lake Mead trails annually from May 15 to September 30, with additional temporary closures on very hot days. For RV travelers, Boulder City makes a practical base, and the cooler months are the only window. Confirm current closures on the official NPS page before you go.