Quick FactsOverview
About Cofer Hot Springs
Cofer Hot Springs, Arizona, known as Ha' Kamwe' in the Hualapai language, are geothermal springs located on the Cholla Canyon Ranch near Wikieup in Mohave County. The springs sit in the Big Sandy River basin, at a point where the Mojave and Sonoran deserts converge in western Arizona, and are fed by hot water forced upward through a volcanic fault. They discharge approximately 290 acre-feet of water annually and are surrounded by a palm grove that marks the site visually against the surrounding desert terrain.
The springs hold deep significance for the Hualapai Tribe, who regard Ha' Kamwe' as a sacred healing place and ceremonial site. The Hualapai have used the springs since time immemorial for healing, prayer, and ceremonies connected to birth, coming-of-age, and other cultural practices. The site is part of the Salt Song Trail, a sacred cultural landscape shared by the Hualapai and several neighbouring tribes. The Cholla Canyon Ranch, on which the springs are located, is owned by the Hualapai Tribe, and a tribal member serves as the on-site caretaker. The springs and surrounding land function as a traditional cultural property of the tribe.
The springs are privately owned and are not open to the general public. Any person wishing to visit natural hot springs in Arizona should be aware that access to Cofer Hot Springs is not available without the permission of the landowner. The site has been the subject of significant conservation attention due to a proposed lithium mining project on adjacent federal land that the Hualapai Tribe and local ranchers have argued would threaten the spring's water source.
Location & Access
Reaching Cofer Hot Springs
Cofer Hot Springs is located on private tribal land within the Cholla Canyon Ranch near Wikieup, approximately 2 miles from the community of Wikieup on US Route 93 in Mohave County. The springs are not accessible to the general public, and the route to the ranch is not a public trailhead or road open for visitor use.
Wikieup itself is a small unincorporated community on US-93, located roughly 139 miles northwest of Phoenix and approximately 162 miles southeast of Las Vegas. For those travelling through this corridor who have an interest in hot springs near Wikieup, the nearby Kaiser Hot Springs is a separate and publicly accessible geothermal site located along the Big Sandy River, and represents the accessible soaking option in this part of Mohave County.
No driving directions to the Cofer Hot Springs site are provided here, as the springs sit on private land and access without permission constitutes trespassing. Those with a specific academic, cultural, or professional interest in the site should direct any enquiry to the Hualapai Tribe directly, as the landowners and stewards of the property. The springs are listed in the USGS Geographic Names Information System at coordinates 34.6956, -113.5738, placing them on the USGS Wikieup quadrangle map in the eastern part of the Wikieup area.
Suitability & Accessibility
Who Cofer Hot Springs Is Suitable For
Cofer Hot Springs is not suitable for general visitor access, as the springs sit on private tribal land and are not open to the public. The site functions as a sacred cultural and ceremonial place for the Hualapai Tribe and is maintained by tribal land stewards. Members of the general public, including those seeking natural hot springs in Arizona for recreational soaking, should not attempt to access this site without explicit permission from the Hualapai Tribe.
The site is of significant interest to those studying the intersection of Indigenous land rights, geothermal resources, and extractive industry in the American Southwest. The proposed lithium mining project on adjacent BLM land has brought sustained attention to the site from environmental advocates, tribal sovereignty researchers, and journalists. For visitors with this kind of professional or academic interest, the appropriate route is to contact the Hualapai Tribe's natural resources office directly.
For those travelling US-93 through Mohave County who are looking for a publicly accessible soaking option in the area, Kaiser Hot Springs is located within a few miles and offers a free, undeveloped soaking experience in natural rock pools along the Big Sandy River wash. It represents the appropriate public alternative for those wishing to soak in this part of Arizona. The cultural significance of Ha' Kamwe' should be respected by all visitors to the region, regardless of whether they seek access to the site itself.
Safety & Etiquette
Safety and Access Considerations at Cofer Hot Springs
Cofer Hot Springs requires visitors to be mindful that the site is on private tribal land and is not open for general access. Entering the Cholla Canyon Ranch or attempting to reach the springs without permission from the Hualapai Tribe would constitute trespassing on private property. The site is a sacred cultural location, and uninvited entry would be both legally and culturally inappropriate.
For context on the broader setting, the springs are located in a remote area of western Arizona where temperatures can be extreme, mobile phone coverage is limited, and emergency services are not quickly available. These conditions are typical of the wider Mohave County desert environment and represent natural hazards that would apply to anyone travelling through the area. Visitors to the region travelling on US-93 should carry adequate water and fuel regardless of their destination.
The ongoing concern around the proposed lithium mining project adjacent to the springs has prompted discussion about the long-term flow and viability of the spring water. The Hualapai Tribe has documented concern that groundwater withdrawal from exploratory drilling may already have reduced flow at the spring. This is an active and unresolved situation as of the time of writing. Anyone with an interest in the preservation of Ha' Kamwe' and sacred sites like it can follow developments through the Hualapai Tribe's public communications or the Bureau of Land Management's environmental assessment process for the Big Sandy project.
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