Rogers Spring (Lake Mead National Recreation Area) - Hot Springs in Nevada

The area around Lake Mead, one of the largest man-made lakes in the United States, is one of the five most popular national parks in the country.

Of the several hot or warm springs in the park, Rogers Spring is the most easily accessible.

Sunken ghost town

The main attraction at Lake Mead National Recreation Area must be the Hoover Dam, which holds back the huge lake.

Boating, jet skiing, canoeing, fishing, and other water recreation activities are also popular.

Tydence Davis - Ice Cream Parlor (2018)
CC BY 2.0

For something a little different, take a trip to St. Thomas on the far north side.

The town, which was submerged in the 1930s when the dam was built, has been exposed as the lake level has dropped.

Full of fish

On the north side of the park, where one might think there is not much to see, there is another spot that hot spring enthusiasts should not miss.

That is Rogers Spring.

It is located on top of a hill overlooking Lake Mead and is maintained as a park.

Pavilions and a pond can be seen from the parking lot.

This pond is actually the warm spring.

There was a sign that said rain that fell in the desert in the northeast was heated by geothermal energy and gushed out in this area.

This was not just a place to admire, but to swim freely.

There are no specific rules specified, but as there are many families here, clothing would be required.

I noticed the warning to keep your nose out of warm water.

This is because the Naegleria fowleri, also known as the "brain-eating amoeba," lives in ponds.

It is known to be highly lethal if it invades the brain through the nostrils.

However, there is no need to fear unnecessarily.

They are merely microorganisms of a species that inhabit most of nature's warm waters.

Alpaca

You're very bullish.

People will die someday.

Capybara

The source of the spring was located on the opposite side of the parking lot, facing the hill.

Tasteless and odorless spring water gushed from beneath the bedrock, creating ripples on the surface of the water.

The water temp is 86 degrees F throughout the year.

It would be a nice soak in the hot season.

It was only as deep as your feet can reach, but there was a surprisingly large number of small fish swimming around.

I would snorkel if it weren't for the amoebas.

Warm water was spilling out from the area where the picnic tables were lined up.

The overflowed water seemed to pass under the boardwalk and flow to the lake.

The abundant flow was spectacular.

The tropical atmosphere of the forest blocked out the sunlight, making it feel a bit like a resort.

Blue Point Spring

Another warm spring is just a two-minute drive from Rogers Spring.

That is Blue Point Spring.

This one is also maintained like a park but on a smaller scale.

The area where the palm trees grew was marshy, but the water was cold.

I decided to look for the source of the water.

Walking in the direction of the hill, I saw a hole in the dense underbrush that appeared to be the spring.

It seemed that the warm water that flowed out from here was stagnant around the palm trees mentioned earlier.

A white flow meter was installed.

Even a small stream like this must be a target for the national park to manage.

The tepid water, with a spring temperature of 84 degrees F, gushed gently from all parts of the sandy soil.

As expected, it was too shallow and I gave up soaking here.

Summary

Official website