Arizona Hot Springs Lava Flow

Arizona Hot Springs is a natural geothermal oasis on the Arizona side of the Black Canyon of the Colorado River below Hoover Dam, accessible only by a scenic 6-kilometer round-trip hike through a dramatic slot canyon—or by kayak from the dam's tailwaters—where bicarbonate-enriched thermal water cascades down a travertine waterfall into natural soaking pools carved into the volcanic basalt walls of Black Canyon in one of the American Southwest's most spectacular hot spring settings. The springs emerge at approximately 43°C from the volcanic geology of the Mojave Desert transition zone, creating a warm bathing experience that contrasts dramatically with the cold, swift Colorado River flowing nearby in a canyon where bighorn sheep pick their way across basalt cliffs above. The proximity of Hoover Dam—one of the engineering wonders of the 20th century—the Black Canyon's polished volcanic walls, and the experience of soaking in desert thermal water accessible only on foot or by paddle make this one of the most adventurous hot spring experiences in the American Southwest.