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| - This was and is my favorite hike here in the Vegas area.
The beginning starts off slow, but don't let that fool you. There's some medium level climbing, but ropes are there to assist. I would definitely recommend doing this hike with a partner so that you can spot one another and help with feet placement. It's probably about three miles each way, but so worth it. There are some parts with a lot of gravel, so be prepared for some serious butt burning work.
I hiked and then decided to camp out for the night. I must warn you, do not camp near the river. This is probably a 'der' moment for most, but we learned the hard way. Once the river started to rise, we lost our entire campsite. So don't be foolish like us, camp far from the river. Make sure to look at the ground to see if it's moist.. that's typically a good indicator that the river will surpass that point. If you are camping out, pack warmly. The canyon is like a wind tunnel at night. So even if you're hiking during the hot month of May, the temperature drops dramatically and the winds pick up once the sun sets. When you finally make it down to the river, the view of the bridge is jaw-dropping picturesque.
In my opinion, the sole reason for hiking this trail is for the hot springs. They're redonk. My favorite one is near where the trail meets the river and it's small (can fit about three to four people) and it has a waterfall. So not only are you sitting in a natural hot tub, but you have warm water splashing on you. It's AMAZING! Probably one of the most surreal experiences I've ever had when hiking. One more warning: Don't drink the water in the hot springs. Not sure why, but I've heard it's really, really bad for ya. Feel free to google it if you need additional information. The water in the river is perfectly fine. I've sipped from it many times and my hair hasn't fallen out and no abnormal growths. So, no worries. :)
Oh, be careful with small dogs. As I mentioned, there are some tricky climbs which could be super difficult for the little guys. And hydrate...hydrate...hydrate!
Five stars....Two enthusiastic thumbs up...Get at me...mmmmhmmm...This trail is awesome!
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