Quick FactsOverview
Little Jamaica Hot Springs, Arizona was a warm spring pool area along the Virgin River in Littlefield, in the far northwest corner of the state near the intersection of I-15 and the Arizona Strip. The pool sat beneath Interstate 15 bridge crossing and was fed by a cluster of natural springs emerging from the canyon embankment, creating small waterfalls and a lush pocket of vegetation in an otherwise dry desert landscape. Today the site is closed: the pool was permanently dismantled by the Arizona Department of Transportation in 2021-2022 as part of a bridge reconstruction project, and the springs have been fenced off to prevent future diversion.
History of Little Jamaica Hot Springs
The springs at Little Jamaica were active for at least several decades, fed by eight natural spring vents on the embankment above the Virgin River. At some point visitors constructed a pool using sandbags that were later reinforced with concrete, capturing the spring outflow into a soaking area roughly four feet deep. The falling water created a small waterfall effect surrounded by ferns, reeds, and moisture-adapted vegetation that gave the spot its informal nickname, a reference to the tropical feel of the green-blue water and lush plant life set against the surrounding desert. For years it attracted visitors from the St. George area, Mesquite, and Phoenix, particularly in summer, when the shaded canyon and flowing water offered relief from the heat. Because the springs are natural hot springs in the broad geothermal sense, they represent a genuine warm groundwater discharge, though the soaking pool itself was a human-made structure rather than a natural formation. The site sat within the right-of-way of the Arizona Department of Transportation, which cited public health concerns including waste, lack of water quality monitoring, and risk to endangered species when announcing its removal.
Location & Access
Little Jamaica Hot Springs is located near Littlefield, Arizona in Mohave County, roughly 30 minutes south of St. George, Utah, and about 10 minutes from Mesquite, Nevada, just off Interstate 15 at approximately exit 9. The site sits along the Virgin River corridor in the far northwest corner of Arizona, immediately below the I-15 Virgin River Bridge No. 1. When accessible, visitors parked in a dirt lot off a short unpaved road from the Desert Springs exit and walked roughly a quarter mile to the spring area. That access route is now blocked by construction fencing, and ADOT has placed boulders over the spring discharge points and installed perimeter fencing to prevent entry. Those passing through looking for hot springs near Littlefield will need to plan alternative destinations, as no soaking access is available at this site. The physical spring vents are still present underground, but public access to the Virgin River in this zone remains subject to ADOT restrictions tied to the ongoing bridge reconstruction work.
Getting to Little Jamaica Hot Springs
No visitor access is currently possible. The site is within ADOT right-of-way and has been actively closed, fenced, and modified to prevent entry. Navigation apps and older travel guides still show directions to this location, but following them will lead to a fenced construction zone rather than a soaking area. Anyone driving through the Virgin River Gorge area on I-15 and interested in the geothermal character of the region should note this site as a geographic reference rather than a functional destination. The nearest alternative open hot spring destinations in the broader region include sites in Nevada or southern Utah, both of which require separate research to confirm current access.
Suitability & Accessibility
Little Jamaica Hot Springs is not currently suitable for any visitor due to the permanent closure and removal of the pool, making active trip planning to this site inadvisable at this time. When the site was accessible, it was generally described as family-friendly and easy to reach, drawing a wide range of visitors from families with children to adults seeking a cooling swim in summer. Those interested in the natural warm spring history of northwest Arizona will find this location mentioned throughout the historic record of the region, though those seeking natural hot springs in arizona with current access will need to look elsewhere. The Virgin River corridor itself remains a remarkable natural setting, and the broader landscape around Littlefield and Beaver Dam is worth exploring through established parks and viewpoints that remain open.
Visitor Notes on Little Jamaica Hot Springs
If you are researching this site because you encountered it in an older travel guide, on a hot springs list, or in an online map, it is important to know that those references describe conditions that no longer exist. The pool has been dismantled, the springs have been diverted back to their natural path and fenced, and no legal access is available from the old dirt parking area or the former approach trail. Community efforts to petition for the site's restoration were organized in the late 2010s but did not prevent the closure. As of the most recent documented reports in 2022 and 2023, the site remains closed and the pool has not been rebuilt. Visitors curious about the area are encouraged to respect the fencing and posted signs rather than attempting to enter.
Safety & Etiquette
Little Jamaica Hot Springs is not safe to visit in its current closed state, because the site is fenced off within ADOT right-of-way and unauthorized entry constitutes trespassing on state transportation property. Attempting to access the spring area past the construction fencing or boulders places visitors at legal risk and may interfere with ongoing or future infrastructure work. Beyond the legal concern, the Virgin River in this canyon zone carries real flood risk during monsoon season and can rise rapidly; without managed access infrastructure, the area around the riverbank poses a hazard to anyone who enters informally.
Safety and Closure Information for Little Jamaica Hot Springs
The springs that fed the former pool still discharge water naturally, but ADOT has directed that flow back toward its original path and installed fencing explicitly to prevent future diversion and pool construction. This means that even if a visitor were able to locate the spring discharge point, there is no pool or safe soaking area remaining. The rocks on the embankment above the Virgin River were noted even when the site was open as slippery and requiring care; without the maintained rope assists that visitors had previously installed, they present additional risk. For those who visited Little Jamaica before its closure and are returning to check conditions: current reports from 2022 onward consistently confirm the site is closed and the pool is no longer present. Planning a trip to the Littlefield area with the expectation of soaking at Little Jamaica will result in disappointment and potentially a fine for trespassing. Respectful visitors honor the closure, and if interest in restoring the site continues within the community, the appropriate path is through contact with the Arizona Department of Transportation rather than informal re-entry.
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