Hot Spring
Hot Spring within Lake Mead National Recreation Area produces 82-degree water at 830 feet elevation with notably high total dissolved solids at 3,000 mg/L. Recent USGS data shows 699 mg/L sodium, 1,100 mg/L chloride, and 732 mg/L sulfate, creating highly mineralized water that flows 7.6 degrees above the 74.4-degree ambient temperature.
The spring emerges in Mojave Desert backcountry near Boulder City, where National Park Service management preserves the thermal feature under protection status 2. Elevation places it slightly higher than the nearby Lake Mead reservoir surface, in terrain receiving 5.3 inches of annual precipitation and negligible snow. The 1.6-mile hiking approach crosses exposed desert where sparse creosote and brittlebush survive on minimal moisture. OpenStreetMap data includes this spring as a recognized feature within the park's thermal inventory.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, established in 1964 following Hoover Dam's creation of the reservoir in the 1930s, incorporated existing natural features including thermal springs. The 1980 NOAA survey and later USGS water chemistry sampling documented this spring's unusual mineral concentration. Whether Indigenous peoples or early desert travelers used this moderately warm water source remains unclear in available historical records.
Visit October through April only; summer temperatures exceed 115 degrees on this exposed 3.2-mile round-trip hike. Carry double the water you expect to need and start before dawn. The high TDS and chloride content makes this water unsuitable for drinking and potentially irritating for extended soaking. Boulder City provides services and information at the Alan Bible Visitor Center. National Park Service regulations require permits for backcountry camping. This excursion suits geothermal enthusiasts and experienced desert hikers rather than casual visitors.
Is Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Mineral-rich therapeutic bathing
The water at Hot Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.5) with 3000 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in calcium (may support bone density and joint health), sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration), and sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation).