Journal Entries

By far, the most intriguing, adventurous, and least known part of the Hot Springs Trail is the Nevada Trail. While the Hot Springs Trail is an official proposal for a Hot Springs National Scenic Trail, the Nevada Trail is an official proposal for a Nevada State Scenic Trail. An adventure within the adventure, this was personally my favorite part of the journey, for reasons we'll get into later. For now, I want you to know that currently, once on the ground, there are no Hot Springs Trail badges to follow, and at times no trail. More to come on this as well.

In this journal, I'll be taking you from end-to-end on the Nevada Trail, a 603-mile odyssey that in my opinion, has it all. I'll also be sharing details and strategies which helped me to not only survive this hike, but ultimately, have the adventure of a lifetime.

So without further ado, welcome to The Hot Springs Trail, and especially, The Nevada Trail.

The Nevada Trail begins on top of the highest point in the state, Boundary Peak. At 13,140ft, it's an inspiring way to begin the journey, which I've completed twice now. Throughout this journal, I'll be referencing both of these trips.

In 2012, during the initial hike, I was dropped off at the Boundary Peak Trailhead, in Trail Canyon, where I stashed my things then headed to the top. In 2016, I reached the summit by hiking over Montgomery Peak, the highest point on the entire Hot Springs Trail. Either way you go, reaching Mile 0 of the Nevada Trail requires a hike-in.

On both occasions, I continued from the summit then took full advantage of a year-round creek which runs down Trail Canyon before heading towards the next goal - Fish Lake Valley.

The Hot Springs Trail is a 2,421-mile journey to not just hot spring areas, but to hot springs culture. This trail is comprised of 4 parts, each of which is its own unique adventure, with its own guidebook. Hikers who complete the entire trail will visit tropical, alpine, desert, and rainforest hot springs and will travel encounter those environments as well.

The HST was first completed as an end-to-end journey in 2016. That year, 2 triple crown hikers and myself, the creator of this trail, spent the summer traveling, soaking, and enjoying the diverse landscapes we encountered along the way. Prior to that, during the initial designing of this trail, I had completed it by following each of the 4 major sections as its own hike.

In this journal, I'll be sharing with you some of my favorite, and least known portions of the trail.