Three Great Lake Mead Hikes

Ladder just before the hotsprings

Fortification Hill

Liberty Bell Arch

It's cold and the forecast calls for more cold weather. There's ice in Red Rock and Mt. Charleston is bitterly cold. Fortunately we have good hikes around Lake Mead, where it's warmer and virtually never snows.  In this post I will write about three very different hikes around Lake Mead. All of these hikes are across Hoover Dam in Arizona. 

Arizona Hot Springs
Cold? This hike will warm you up. The hike travels through the scenic White Rock Canyon to the Colorado River. From the river it's a short scramble to the canyon the contains the hidden hot springs. After climbing a 20 foot ladder, hikers walk in water to the hot springs. There are actually three pools, each one hotter then the next. The hot springs produce 400 gallons of water per minute with a temperature range from 85 to almost 120 degrees. The warm water feels good on sore muscles. Hikers have the option of retracing their steps or going out the backway. 
STATS:
Hike: Arizona Hot Springs — up and back or round trip
Trailhead: Paved parking lot off Highway 93 — marked
Distance: 5.6 miles — up and back
Elevation gain: 586 feet (on the return trip)
Time: 4 to 5 hours – Up and back
Difficulty: 2
Class: 2
How easy to follow: 2
Children: No

There is another route to the Arizona Hot Springs that first climbs Fortress Butte and then follows the backway to the hotsprings. This is an advanced hike with some exposed climbing. 

Fortification Hill 
Fortification Hill is a massive mountain that can be seen from the summits at Red Rock! It has one of the best vistas of any summit in Southern NV. On a clear day you can see the snow-capped peaks in Mt. Charleston. The hike is almost all trail and path with one Class 2+ short climb. Once on top of the mountain it's about a half mile to the summit. Here you will find a summit register to sign. This hike has been done as a night hike with all hikers having headlamps. The city lights are something to see!
The descent has some loose rock. You will need a high clearance vehicle to drive to the trailhead.

STATS:
Hike: Fortification Hill — trail/path
Trailhead: Along Kingman Wash Road — marked
Distance: 4 miles — up and back
Elevation gain: 1,500 feet
Elevation of peak: 3,657 feet
Time: 2 to 3 hours –up and back
Difficulty: 2
Class: 2
How easy to follow: 2
Children: Yes, if they are hikers

Liberty Bell Arch

This is a must do hike. Thousands of years of wind have formed an arch through conglomerate rock. If that wasn’t enough, the lunch spot overlooks the Colorado River. The rugged terrain and the solitude of this hike will appeal to anyone who likes the outdoors.  This is a great family hike!

STATS:
Hike: Liberty Bell Arch — trail
Trailhead: White Rock Canyon —marked
Distance: 6 miles — round trip
Elevation gain: 800 feet
Time: 3 to 4 hours – up and back
Difficulty: 2
Class: 2
How easy to follow: 3
Children: Yes

You can download the complete hiking directions for all these hikes here.
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