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| - Let me start by saying this hike isn't for the faint of heart - but it is worth it. It will take you 4+ hours round trip and it will be physically challenging for some, although not impossible. It's fun and interesting! Don't forget to bring at least 1 gallon of water per person.
Getting there: it's about 45min-1hr drive from Vegas. From Vegas, take I93, take exit 2, turn right. The road will almost immediately tee (gold strike canyon rd), turn left and you will see a sign for the gold strike hot springs trail head. The paved road will turn into a gravel road, follow road until you find a parking space.
36.00987N 114.76884W
GPS: not necessary. The trailhead has signs. The trail follows a wash, enclosed by canyon walls. Getting lost is the least of your worries on this trail.
Cell coverage: minimal to none for most of the trail. Let someone know where you are. Expect to be out of touch with civilization for 4-5 hours.
Dogs: not recommended. They will do okay on the first 1-1.5 miles of the hike. This first part is a gravel wash that a dog can get through no problem, but you won't get to see any water or hot springs to make it worth your while to be on this trail. After the first mile or so, there are huge boulders you have to climb down on the way to the river and back up on the way out. Furthermore, there are holes in between rocks that can break ankles or legs if fallen into. A dog is sure to be a burden & you might be risking their health - there are better hikes for you to take them.
Kids: not recommended (it's a 4hr+ hike), but some will be okay. Consider their age/physical nature/endurance, etc. Most kids will find this to be burdensome & will be tired; we saw many people on the trail, but only saw 1 kid under 10. Some of the rocks are huge that need to be scaled. So expect to boost them and possibly carry them when they're tired. See the danger previously mentioned for dogs, these apply to kids too!
Terrain: it's about 5 miles round trip from the parking area to the river. The first 1.5 miles are easy (gravel wash) & boring, and it gets harder from there. After that, the terrain gets interesting. Expect large boulders that have sheared from the canyon walls to be obstacles that you'll have to climb up/down. There are occasional ropes to help. As you get closer to the water, you'll find your shoes getting wet, especially if you take the "easiest" route. I personally gave up on trying to keep my shoes dry by the time I got past the hot springs
Difficulty: I would say I'm a beginner hiker w/ minimal upper body strength. There were 2 spots on the way back that I needed a boost. If I didn't have help, I could've probably gotten over those spots, but it would've sucked. If you're short, then you might have some difficulty getting over spots. In all, if you're in average shape you should be able to complete this trail, but expect to be sore. As others have mentioned, this hike requires your entire body. The key to this trail is to look for the easiest & safest path past the obstacle in front of you.
Dangers: Heat! Heat! Heat! Did you get that? Heat kills! And it's killed at least 3 on this trail and injured dozens more! Don't be a statistic. Bring plenty of water. At least 1 gallon per person. No joke. Bring that much. It's a 4+hr hike in the desert- you aren't better that that. And DON'T DRINK THE HOT SPRINGS WATER! It has an amoeba that can make you sick if inhaled or ingested.
Other dangers include snakes (we saw 2 on our hike) & other wildlife , slipping hazards, falling rocks, falling off rocks, falling in between holes between rocks, etc. Be aware of your surroundings. Watch the people you are with. Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (if they aren't sweating this is the tell tale sign that heat exhaustion has escalated to a heat stroke-get the person to a hospital ASAP as this means their insides could be overheating=death)
Bring spare water to leave in the cooler located about 20 min into the hike. This could potentially save a life, so be considerate and bring extras for those who didn't.
Happy hiking!
With all that said, this hike is worth it. Just be prepared and don't forget to stay hydrated. Have fun and enjoy yourself!
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