7 Arizona Hot Springs to Visit this Fall
If you’ve been to , you know the blazing heat of the summer is not the best time to be looking for hot springs. But you also know that the temperature drops at night even in summer, and a view of starry desert skies in a hot spring is divine.
Castle Hot Springs
From deep within the Bradshaw Mountains of Arizona, a mineral elixir debuts above ground in a stunning canyon at Castle Hot Springs. What starts as rain, sinks through cracks in the ground and flows through underground streams to be warmed by the earth and filled with a unique mineral blend.
Welcome to the hottest non-volcanic natural spring in the world (yes, world!). At this luxury resort tucked in the Bradshaw Mountains about an hour north of Phoenix, the pools heat up to a therapeutic 120°F.
American Indians from the Apache and Yavapai tribes first reaped the benefits long before the resort was built. Since then, celebrities, historical figures and others have trekked to this secluded spot to seek the spring's healing power.
Note: Access to the spring is for resort guests only; children under the age of 16 are not allowed. If you are staying in the area longer and want to glamp it a bit, try the Crown King Cabins Bradshaw where you can enjoy being in the woods while relaxing in a clawfoot tub.
For centuries people have sought out hot springs all over the world for bathing, healing, socializing and spiritual intentions. Hot springs were the world’s first spas; the naturally warm, mineral-rich waters flowing from the ground have soothed aches and pains for millennia.
The unique water is particularly rich in lithium, magnesium, and bicarbonates, which help lift your mood, calm your mind, and ease aching joints and muscles.
The top pool is closest to the source and therefore the warmest pool. The average temperature of 106F puts you at the spot that the water emits from the earth. Relax in the clear water, reflecting a wall of stunning colors as the sound of multiple waterfalls surrounds you.
From the top pool, the water cascades into the next while cooling to an ideal temperature of about 96F. Best for extended soaking enjoy the canyon walls and the feel of natural desert floor under your feet, grounding you to the natural environment and heightening the senses.
From the first two pools, the water meanders down the canyon into the deepest pool where the temperature hovers around 86F. An idyllic desert swimming hole, surrounded by towering palm trees that have
Arizona Hot Springs Trail
The White Rock/Arizona Hot Springs/Liberty Bell Arch trails will reopen in September or October when the daytime high at Willow Beach is below 93 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius).
Part of the magic of Arizona Hot Spring at Lake Mead Recreation Area is actually getting there. Visiting the spring—nestled between the narrow rock walls of a slot canyon—requires travel by boat on the Colorado River, or hiking on foot for 2.5 miles. Hikers can take one of two trails: White Rock Canyon or Hot Spring Canyon. The latter is shorter, but it's steeper. After your restorative soak, plan to sleep under the stars at the on-site campground.
Arizona Hot Spring trail is strenuous and can be combined to make a loop going down a 20-foot ladder to the White Rock Canyon trail. With a 750-foot elevation change and some steep scrambling, this hike is considered very strenuous.
This trail is located in a strikingly beautiful volcanic area. There is a wide variety of desert plants to be found, including indigo bush, ground cherry, rabbit brush, Mormon tea, desert fir, cheesebush, globemallow, and rock nettle.
The water in the Arizona Hot Spring has been heated by the natural geothermal temperature conditions of the earth. This heated groundwater moves to the surface through faults and fractures in the rock and discharges at an estimated rate of about 30 to 50 gallons per minute. The water temperature of the spring ranges from 111 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Please know that the springs are free-flowing, and alterations are NOT permitted. Blocking water flow with sandbags or other items to create pools at the hot springs creates health risks and alters the natural flow of the spring systems.
Parking: Shared trailhead. Parking located just off U.S. Highway 93 before mile post 4, south of Hoover Dam.
Distance: 5 miles out-and-back / 5.69 miles round trip Arizona Hot Springs trail loop (Arizona Hot Springs trail + White Rock Trail)
Elevation Gain: 750 ft. elevation change
If you want to have more adventures, try a helicopter tour. You are pretty much in the middle of nowhere when visiting this hot spring, but Boulder City Nevada is not too far. Stay in the historic Boulder Dam hotel. In the 1930s, the hotel quickly became popular with movie stars who needed to establish Nevada residency so they could obtain a "quickie" divorce.
Some of the famous guests during 1934 included A.P. Gianni, founder of Bank of America; Bette Davis, who stayed at the hotel while on vacation following the filming of "Of Human Bondage;" and the cast and crew of RKO films, who stayed while they produced "Silver Streak." Famous 1935 guests included honeymooners Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr.; Will Rogers, who was performing on stage at the Boulder Theatre; the Maharajah and Maharani of Indore, India; and Cardinal Pascelli, who later became Pope Pius XII. The remainder of the 1930s welcomed the Duchess of Westminster; George Pepperdine, founder of Pepperdine University; Henry Fonda; Boris Karloff; Senator Robert Taft; Shirley Temple; and Howard Hughes, who recuperated at the hotel after wrecking his airplane on Lake Mead.
El Dorado Hot Springs
Guests coming to El Dorado Hot Springs, an hour west of Phoenix, will enjoy a rustic experience — think dirt paths, overgrown vegetation and a simple, wood-framed structure built over the underground natural hot spring. The soak zones range in size and style, from tiny clawfoot bathtubs to roomy stone pools.
Choose from public or private areas (for clothing-optional guests), and book your soak by the hour or stay overnight at the campground.
Note: The springs operate seasonally, from October 1 - June 1, and only by appointment during the summer. Call ahead to confirm hours.
Public Pools: The communal soaking area is also known as Desert Pete and features a few shared pools in an enclosed area. This area is adults only and is a no-clothes zone. You can soak by the hour or purchase an all-day pass. These pools don't have adjustable temperatures, but they're set at a comfortable warmth (around 107 degrees Fahrenheit) that seems just right for cooling off in the desert heat.
Private Pools: The private pools are my favorite because they have a separate private entrance and you can have your own space. These are charged per hour, with overnight camping available charged per person They're perfect for when you want quiet time or just to relax by yourself or with close friends or family. Each private pool area is fenced off, so it feels really private. You can rent these by the hour, and some have features like shade covers or seats in the water. The best part is that some private pools let you control the water temperature, so you can make it hotter or cooler, just how you like it.
The Oasis Bathhouse at El Dorado Hot Springs is a luxurious and private area designed to provide a serene and intimate soaking experience. Nestled within the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert, this bathhouse offers visitors a tranquil retreat where they can unwind and rejuvenate in mineral-rich hot spring water.
If you are staying near Phoenix, I love the hot air balloon rides. There’s nothing like flying above the landscape early in the morning watching wildlife in the fields - just make sure not to run into a cactus!
Stay in Phoenix at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and use up your Marriott Rewards points (earn 3 free nights if you don’t have a Marriott Card yet). I enjoyed the lazy river like pool and arcade, but you can also get in some golf while there.
Essence of Tranquility
Spend a relaxing afternoon in one of Essence of Tranquility's outdoor thermal pools, or make it a full weekend with an overnight stay at one of the casitas or on-site camping spots with communal kitchen and patio. If you prefer a hotel, there are only chain hotels in nearby Safford such as the Best Western Desert Inn which comes with free breakfast.
The facility offers five private pools and one communal pool, with temperatures ranging from 98-105°F / 37-40°C, and guests can book massages and other treatments by calling ahead.
Hot tub number 1 is called the Waterfall Room. It is 103 degrees and is private.
Hot tub number 2 is called the Cave. It is 102 degrees and private.
Hot tub number 3 is called the Blue Lagoon. It is 98 degrees and is open and communal.
Hot tub number 4 is called Asian Trek. It is 104 degrees and is private.
Hot tub number 5 is called Greek Vacation. It is 104 degrees and is private.
Hot tub number 6 is called Island Escape. It is the hottest at 105 degrees and it is private.
Smaller children are welcome but must be kept under close supervision.
This resort has clothing optional and clothing required hot spring pools.
Hot Well Dunes Hot Springs
Perhaps better known as an ATV recreation getaway than a wellness retreat, the 2,000-acre Hot Well Dunes does offer two hot-springs tubs for soaking.
Hot Well Dunes Hot Springs is a hidden gem in the southern desert of Arizona. It is an off road enthusiasts dream hot springs. The natural hot spring is on BLM land in the middle of 2,000 acres of off road trails and dunes.
The tubs, which reach about 106°F, utilize solar power to pump water into the pools from an underground hot spring. Keep in mind there might be others in the area riding the dunes and/or camping.
Access to Hot Well Dunes Hot springs depends on the road condition. You need to drive on a dirt road to get access to this hot springs. You can drive right up to the hot springs with the right vehicles.
Before you head out to the site, check the weather for rain; the road to Hot Well Dunes is prone to flooding.
There are toilets on site. It can get very hot in the summer. Check road conditions before going. The wet season greatly affects your ability to successfully getting to this hot springs. This natural hot springs is pet friendly. Dogs need to be on a leash. No dogs in hot springs.
Kaiser Hot Springs
This hidden hot spring features a shallow, rock-bottomed pool in Kaiser Spring Canyon near Burro Creek. Water temperatures reach a cozy 100°F and canyon walls give way to a sandy wash.
Located along US Route 93 between Wikieup and Wickenburg, Kaiser Canyon gives you the opportunity to explore some pretty narrows, soak in Kaiser Hot Spring, and visit Burro Mine all in one adventure. If you’re feeling extra energetic, you can take the old road up to the top of a peak for a great view up and down the canyon.
When you get to the hot spring at 1.4 miles, you will know it. Some fellow hikers have made some “improvements” to the area. There were three tubs when we went, two of which were lined with unsightly blue tarps and filled with cold, algae-filled water.
Be sure to bring food and water—no on-site amenities are available—as well as sturdy, closed-toed shoes for the three-mile round-trip hike to the spring.
Hiking shoes are a better choice than flip flops or river shoes. If you’re solo, consider packing a book or journal. There are plenty of amazing places to stop and immerse yourself in nature.
You may not have the spring to yourself when you go, but you need not worry about big crowds either.
Verde River Hot Springs
A once popular resort—said to be the vacation spot of gangster Al Capone—now remains abandoned in the woods of Arizona.
The primitive environs of Verde River Hot Springs in between Camp Verde and Payson belie its origins as a once-famous wellness retreat. But its deep soaking pool—heated to 98°F / 37°C—and the cluster of smaller cliffside pools that overlook the Verde River make the destination a popular site.
There are two hot springs areas to soak at Verde. There is the art gallery filled square tub that is 102 degrees. There is a outside deeper pool like tub that is next to the river. It is 99 degrees.
This is a unique hot spring that is off the grid. Verde is an adventure you need to go very far on rough dirt road and you have to forge a river to get to the hot springs. About 30 miles southeast of Camp Verde or 86 miles south of Flagstaff off paved and graveled roads some of which are always steep and rough and usually muddy after rains.
Especially for hot-springs purists, aka nudists. If you're not shy about a little skin, then you'll find that the tranquil natural beauty of this riverside spot makes it a worthy retreat.
There are no facilities at the springs, so bring plenty of water and food. It's at least a one-mile hike to the springs, and you'll have to cross the river, so dress (pre-springs) accordingly.
What to bring on an Arizona hot spring hike
Regardless of whether you hike to the springs for the day or overnight, you’ll want to make sure you have the following items in your backpack:
• Water: This hike is located in the desert, so until you hit the river at the end of the hike, there are no reliable water sources. Pack enough water for the 3.2 mile hike in, and bring a water filter so that you can safely fill up at the river before you hike out.
• Extra Food: Bring plenty of food, even if you’re not going to be camping overnight.
• Sun Protection: Desert hiking requires good sun protection to avoid sunburn and heat injury! In addition to sunscreen, we recommend a wide-brimmed hat and a UPF hiking shirt.
• Navigation Tools: A map of the trail can be found here. Bring along a compass or GPS that you feel comfortable using.
• Headlamp: In the event that you end up relaxing at the springs longer than planned, be sure to bring along a headlamp in case it gets dark before you return to the trailhead.
• Layers: The temperature swing in the desert is pretty significant, so be ready by packing several layers, including an insulation layer.
• Emergency Items: Pack a first aid kit, fire starter, and emergency shelter so that you’re prepared for the unexpected. You could also consider bringing an SOS/satellite messaging device if you have one.
• Water Shoes/Sandals: The unfortunate reality of many hot springs is that people are careless with their trash and there is occasionally glass in them. We always wear Chaco or Teva sandals at hot springs to protect our feet.
• Quick Dry Towel: We like to bring one of these lightweight, quick drying towels (instead of a regular beach towel).
