State guides
Arizona Hot Springs: Verde, Ringbolt, El Dorado and Castle
Last updated October 22, 2026 · 2 min read
Arizona’s hot springs are scattered across desert canyons and old mining country. The best time to visit almost all of them is late fall through early spring, when daytime temperatures are pleasant and the water feels like a treat rather than a sauna.
Verde Hot Springs
Verde Hot Springs sits on the Verde River near the remains of a 1920s resort that burned down decades ago. Concrete foundations and painted walls frame the pools. Reaching it requires rough roads and a hike that includes crossing the river, which can be impossible at high water.
Arizona Hot Spring (Ringbolt)
This hike-in spring in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, just below Hoover Dam, involves a slot canyon and a ladder beside a small waterfall. The National Park Service closes the trails here during the hottest months, usually from mid-May to the end of September, after heat-related rescues and deaths. Kayakers on the Colorado River can also reach several springs in the Black Canyon.
Near Phoenix
Castle Hot Springs is a historic resort north of Phoenix that reopened as a luxury property in 2019. Access is for overnight guests.
El Dorado Hot Spring in Tonopah, west of Phoenix, offers private and shared soaking tubs in a simple desert setting.
Southeast Arizona
Indian Hot Springs near Eden, and the springs around Clifton and Safford, are in old ranching and mining country.
Northwest Arizona
Kaiser Hot Spring near Wikieup is a small pool in a canyon reached by a short desert hike.
Desert safety
- Never hike to desert springs in summer heat.
- Carry more water than you think you need.
- Watch for flash floods in canyons during monsoon season (July to September).
See hot springs near Phoenix and the Arizona map.
Springs in this guide
- Verde Hot Springs104°F
- Castle Hot Springs115°F
- El Dorado Hot SpringNot recorded
- Kaiser Hot Spring99°F
- Indian Hot Springs118°F
Listed Arizona hot springs
The 10 best-documented of 12 Arizona springs in our directory. See all Arizona hot springs on a map.
| Hot spring | Water temp | Type | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verde Hot Springs | 104°F | Developed | Pine, AZ (15 mi) |
| Castle Hot Springs 1981 record | 115°F | Developed | Black Canyon City, AZ (13 mi) |
| El Dorado Hot Spring | Not recorded | Developed | Buckeye, AZ (22 mi) |
| Clifton Hot Springs 1981 record | 102°F | Natural | Clifton, AZ |
| Cofer Hot Spring 1981 record | 97°F | Natural | Bagdad, AZ (22 mi) |
| Gillard Hot Spring | 180°F | Natural | Clifton, AZ (6 mi) |
| Indian Hot Springs 1981 record | 118°F | Natural | Pima, AZ (8 mi) |
| Kaiser Hot Spring 1981 record | 99°F | Natural | Bagdad, AZ (17 mi) |
| Lost Man Hot Spring | Not recorded | Natural | Boulder City, NV (5 mi) |
| Radium Hot Springs 1981 record | 140°F | Natural | Wellton, AZ (7 mi) |
Frequently asked questions
When is Arizona Hot Springs (Ringbolt) open?
The National Park Service closes the trails to Arizona Hot Spring and nearby springs in Lake Mead National Recreation Area during the hottest months, usually mid-May to the end of September, because of heat danger.
What hot springs are near Phoenix?
Castle Hot Springs, a luxury resort north of the city, and El Dorado Hot Spring in Tonopah, west of Phoenix, are the closest. Verde Hot Springs is a longer trip into the Mogollon Rim country.
Is Verde Hot Springs clothing optional?
Verde Hot Springs has a long tradition of being clothing optional. It is on national forest land, reached by rough roads and a hike that includes a river crossing.