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LVBareHiker
Forum Member
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Posted - 12/31/2003 : 4:40:31 PM
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Goldstrike Hot Spring is a series of natural hot springs located in primitive Goldstrike Canyon near Hoover Dam, less than 40 miles from the famous Las Vegas Strip. It's accessible by hiking either down the canyon from a wash just off of Highway 93, or hiking up the canyon from the lower Colorado River, if you have a boat or jet ski. The source of the springs begins to surface from the ground about 2 miles down from the trailhead. Water seeping from more springs further down the canyon joins to form a small creek that flows about a half-mile or so into the Colorado River, where Goldstrike Canyon joins Black Canyon.
Directions to Goldstrike Hot Springs: From Las Vegas, take I-515/US Hwy 93/95 south through Henderson, and stay on Hwy 93 south to Boulder City at Railroad Pass. Continue south on US 93 through Boulder City toward Hoover Dam (from the intersection of US 93 and Buchanan in Boulder City, it's about 4 miles to the Alan Bible visitor center, located at the left turnoff from Hwy 93 to Boulder Beach). As you pass the main entrance to the Hacienda Hotel & Casino (used to be named Goldstrike before it burned down), reset your vehicle trip odometer. At .5 miles past the Hacienda entrance, look for an opening in the guardrail on the right side of the highway, with a dirt road sloping down from the highway. This is the turnoff to the trailhead. Be sure to slow down before you get to this point, as it's more than a 90 degree right turn and a steep drop from the highway shoulder. If you're approaching this road from the Hoover Dam, look for a brown sign with white lettering that informs travelers to tune in to your radio to 1610AM for Lake Mead info. This sign is located at the end of a paved turnout, and the road to the trailhead is directly across the highway.
Follow the dirt road to the bottom of the hill, take the first left, and continue down the wash for less than 1/4 mile. This road is passable with 2WD passenger cars. The road ends where the canyon starts to narrow. Find a parking spot, and start hiking down the canyon. The hike is along mostly gravel wash at the bottom of Goldstrike Canyon. There are a couple of boulder jams along the way to negotiate, but nothing too difficult. It's about 2 miles to the first set of hot spring pools. Most people stop there, since these are the best soaking pools in the canyon. It's about another half mile to the Colorado River from the first pools. The lower canyon is the most difficult to hike, with several large boulders, some steep drops, and tamarisk and cat's claw trees providing obstacles. Ropes are usually present at a couple of the tougher boulder scrambles. Near the Colorado River, also called upper Lake Mohave, there's another set of warm pools and a hot shower flowing from the canyon wall. From there, it's about 100 yards to the refreshing waters of the river (53 degrees F year-round).
An alternate route to the springs is to continue 1.2 miles past the Hacienda entrance, and park along a dirt turnout area on the right side of the highway, located between two power line service roads. If you look over the edge of the turnout, you'll notice a trail at the bottom of the steep drop-off. Follow this trail downhill and continue to the right where it connects with a small, shallow wash. Continue along the wash for about 30-40 yards after it enters a narrow canyon. Look for the trail where it breaks to the left and goes uphill. If you get to the sharp right turn in the deepening canyon, you've probably missed the trail to the left. The uphill trail summits a small ridge, then descends down a steep canyon on the other side, along a few switchbacks. At the bottom of this canyon, the trail connects with Goldstrike Canyon (the first route described). Turn left at Goldstrike Canyon and continue for about 150 yards to the first pools.
Best times to hike are October thru April. When the daytime temperatures rise above 85F,desert hiking combined with<
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Country: USA
| Posts: 36 |
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Cheri
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/01/2004 : 12:07:05 PM
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Just be polite and don't take photos of strangers. Regards, Cheri
Doing what I can to positively promote nudism - -
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Country: USA
| Posts: 3519 |
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LVBareHiker
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/01/2004 : 8:03:10 PM
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Of course, always polite, you may want to take pictures along the way; the canyon offers many photo opportunities during the hike, at the pools and at the river.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 36 |
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tucsonnude
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/06/2004 : 10:19:19 AM
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I have been to Goldstrike pools a few times. Great hike down the canyon. Met some textiles but they were very accomodating each time. Some would not let us soak nude but others did. At times they would join in when they found that we were non chalant about our nudity while others stayed dressed. Another great hike and pool is Ringbolt Rapids spring. It is on the river itself down a wash. It is several miles past Goldstrike Inn,,sorry to hear it burned down..I have not been there in several years. Live in SE AZ now..best thing to do is get directions from the rangers at the Alan Bible visitors center..happy soaking..
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Country: USA
| Posts: 110 |
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nudeisntlewd
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/06/2004 : 3:04:25 PM
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Guys,
I haven't been to Vegas in years. This is just the excuse I need to go! My question is: Are Goldstrike pools and Ringbolt Rapids spring legal areas to be nude, or is it just remote enough to get away with it? I don't want to get in trouble with the law.
Randy
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Edited by - nudeisntlewd on 01/06/2004 3:08:56 PM |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1191 |
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LVBareHiker
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/06/2004 : 3:08:23 PM
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Ringbolt Rapids (or Arizona Hotsprings) is still there. During the cooler months, October - May, I will average one to two hike per week to AZHS, the trail head is 4.2 into AZ from Nevada. I'm hoping to get down to the springs tomorrow. I'll post more about these springs soon.
--LVBareHiker
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Country: USA
| Posts: 36 |
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tucsonnude
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/07/2004 : 9:18:52 PM
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I want to go back too. Used to live in vegas and loved it..but love az more, (was born here). But would love to go back and hike to the springs. Both of the springs are in the lake meade recreation area..federal lands so no problems with the law. If someone objects they have to get a ranger to ticket you. Not too many rangers like to go on a nudist call hiking to either site...if someone objects, which i doubt, act accordingly...have a good soak
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Country: USA
| Posts: 110 |
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nudeisntlewd
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/08/2004 : 05:19:50 AM
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Thanks for the info. What about access? It sounds like a major hike. I'm not as young as I used to be. Could I, and/or should I bring a little tent in and camp?
Randy
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Edited by - nudeisntlewd on 01/08/2004 05:35:29 AM |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1191 |
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Kimberly
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/08/2004 : 07:32:36 AM
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Uhm; Randy, you look pretty fit to me.
Kim =^.^=
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Country: Canada
| Posts: 3235 |
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nudeisntlewd
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/08/2004 : 3:33:01 PM
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Kim, you're embarassing me. Please go on! (Just kidding.)
Thanks, I do take care of myself as much as I can, but 7 years ago when I was 40, I had a quadruple bypass.
Randy
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Edited by - nudeisntlewd on 01/09/2004 12:50:47 PM |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1191 |
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Kimberly
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/17/2004 : 5:05:00 PM
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Wow Randy that sounds terrible, and at such a young age, glad you pulled through it and are able to enjoy life again. Sounds like you are doing all the right things now.
Kim =^.^=
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Country: Canada
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nudeisntlewd
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/18/2004 : 12:07:46 AM
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Yeah, it did suck. Mostly the recovery. I did recover quickly though. Even in the recovery room, they caught me out of bed sitting in the chair, and forced me to lay down again.
Randy
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Edited by - nudeisntlewd on 01/18/2004 12:08:19 AM |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1191 |
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LVBareHiker
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/26/2004 : 1:56:48 PM
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FYI, Goldstrike Canyon is closed! On my way home from the Arizona Hot Srpings this weekend, as I approached the check point by Hoover Dam, there was a sign that indicated the GS Canyon is closed, this is due to the construction of the Hoover Dam bypass. It still might be possible to visit these springs during the weekend, when there isn't any construction or blasting. I always liked to alternate my hikes between AZHS and GSHS, I will miss going to Goldstike.
Note: you should still be able to hike up from the river to the the springs at GS; I need to get a boat!
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Country: USA
| Posts: 36 |
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nudeisntlewd
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/27/2004 : 03:28:34 AM
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Thanks, LVBareHiker. If I finally get the chance to go, I'll check back for updates.
Randy
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1191 |
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J0hnnyVegas
New Member
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Posted - 01/27/2008 : 04:26:12 AM
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i read somewhere that there were two ways to get to the hot springs. i went out there on a whim a few months ago and i think i took the hard route there. i got as far as that huge drop off. i had to turn back because there was no other way to get down other than to have ropes and all that stuff.
has anyone been to sauna cave? your help is much appreciated.
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Country: USA
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acoustixman
Forum Member
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Posted - 08/08/2008 : 7:08:30 PM
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Howdy all, with a new update on Gold Strike Canyon access. Based on the initial posting in this thread (great directions LVBH; thanx!) I recently ventured down there... The Hoover Dam Bypass project has progressed to the point that the access is open again, apparently for good! The turnoff is the same, only now it's paved (and thus much easier to safely depart than I'd heard prior). Just drive under the new overpass where there is a set of ramps for bypass access, continue through and follow the road down to the left, where it goes back to a dirt surface, and parking is where the road deteriorates, as before.
Having lived in Boulder City for 8 years, I'm not sure why I never went down there before, but what a nice hike with a bit of 'bouldering'. I left my clothing at the car other than the sneakers, socks and hat. As prepared as I was, I didn't see a soul. I was a little scared to go in over my neck because of the Amoeba scare, but oh well. Tremendously worthwhile trip which I will make more often...
Seeking my role in opening the eyes of the world to the simple harmless pleasure of being naked in our great outdoors.
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Country: USA
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