Admittedly, many of the best hot springs in the US are in Colorado and Idaho. Fortunately, Utah isn’t totally devoid of hot springs. When I wrote my Utah guidebook, I got to experience all of these Utah Hot springs. Some have been built into resort pools, while others remain unimproved from their natural state. Whether you hike to the hot springs or find a public spring to soak in after a day on the slopes, these mineral-rich hot springs are one of the best features of Utah!
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Blue Lake
Unless you are off-roading, you’ll have to travel through Nevada to get to this hidden spot in the western Utah desert. This 85-degree geothermal pool is located 17 miles south of Wendover, with the last 8 miles on a bumpy dirt road that’s suitable for passenger cars when dry. Surprisingly, this is a somewhat popular SCUBA diving spot, and my GPS directed me right to the “Blue Lake SCUBA dock.” The last 100 yards or so to the lake are on an older wooden boardwalk, so you’ll park and walk the plank until you reach the lake. A fishing dock and ladder stairs have been installed in the lake for easier access. Don’t forget the bug spray – mosquitoes and horseflies are out in full force during the summer months.
Crystal Hot Springs
Located just off I-15 near Logan and Brigham City in Northern Utah, Crystal Hot Springs has been open for business since 1901. With the highest mineral content spring in the world, people flock from all over the world to soak in Crystal Hot Springs. Today, you’ll find an Olympic-size swimming pool, a large soaker pool, three mineral hot tubs, and two huge waterslides. Your entry fee allows access to all of the pools, although the waterslides are an additional $2. They have a small gift shop on-site, and you can rent a locker and pool towel for the day. This is my go-to spot when I need a winter soak.
Fifth Water Hot Springs
If you want picturesque hot springs in the secluded woods, Diamond Fork or Fifth Water is the perfect hot spring. Reaching these soaking pools requires a 2 ½-mile hike, but that doesn’t deter crowds from arriving on the weekends. There are three waterfalls along the trail, as well as several pools where you can adjust the temperature with water from the adjacent creek. This can turn into a bit of a party scene in the evening, so be prepared to encounter nude soakers. If you plan to visit with kids, go earlier in the morning for a more family-friendly environment. The pools get hotter as you climb, so work your way up as you adjust to the temperatures.
Homestead Crater
As part of the Midway Geothermal Area, the Utah Crater, or Homestead Crater, is the perfect place for an apres-ski soak. This is the closest hot spring to Park City. The hot spring was discovered by Swiss immigrants in the 19th century, inside a calcite dome that is nearly 60 feet high. A resort was built up around the spring, but the crater remains pretty close to its original form as it was discovered. To visit the crater, you just need to reserve a time slot to soak in the crater. You’ll have 40 minutes to enjoy the warm mineral waters while gazing up at the sky through a hole in the top of the crater. You can also SCUBA dive or snorkel in the carter. Book early as this is one of the most popular attractions in Midway!
A new hot springs resort, Ameyalli, is slated to open in Midway in 2027. In the meantime, you can book a stay at the newly renovated Homestead Resort and walk to the crater from your room!
Inlet Park Hot Springs
Sometimes called Saratoga Springs, these hot spring pools sit on the edge of Utah Lake, sandwiched between a city park and a housing development. From the parking lot at Inlet Park, follow the paved trail southwest of the parking lot for about eight minutes to reach the two pools, which are quite hot. Be prepared for muddy conditions, and it can be quite buggy in the summertime. Although this feels like it’s remote, it’s apparently patrolled quite often by the local police, so pay attention to the park hours and make sure you’re out before the park closes. Inlet Park is also the southern end of the Jordan River Parkway, so it’s a great destination for cyclists to enjoy a soak during a ride.
Meadow Hot Springs
These are some of the most unique hot springs in Utah, as they are totally camouflaged by the surrounding fields. You’ll have to follow your GPS because the gravel road leading to the springs is not labeled. The pools are just ten minutes from the Meadow exit off I-15, and there’s a small parking lot and donation box letting you know you’ve arrived. After a short hike down a bumpy dirt road, you’ll come upon the first of three hot pools, each averaging around 100 degrees. There are no facilities here, so come in your bathing suit or be prepared to change in your car. Although these hot springs sit on private property, they are open to the public as long as visitors continue to respect the property owners. At 160 miles, this is a popular day trip from Salt Lake City.
Mystic Hot Springs
The water at Mystic Hot Springs comes out of the mountain at 168 degrees and then cascades into several pools on the property, including a handful of cast-iron bathtubs that appear to be melted into the mountainside, thanks to mineral buildup that is absorbing the tubs. You must purchase a 2-hour soaking pass ahead of time online, and they do sell out, especially on the weekends so plan ahead. It’s definitely a unique location with an old-school hippie vibe, and they have a stage set up for live music and events in the summer.
They have converted some old buses into overnight accommodations, but the campground is a little rough around the edges, so I would recommend skipping it and staying elsewhere. I had planned to stay in a cabin on-site, but I got weirded out and went to a hotel nearby. Richfield is just 15 minutes away, but I have yet to find a good place to stay in Richfield. The usual chains are there, but the Fairfield and Hampton Inns are pretty awful. Maybe I will check out Big Rock Candy Mountain Resort next time!
Veyo Pool Resort
Just 25 minutes north of St. George, Veyo Pool & Crawdad Canyon features an all-natural spring-fed swimming pool. With depths ranging from 3’ to 7’, this is a popular spot for local families to enjoy a day in the pool. The water is not hot, but a nice swimming temperature. The concession stand sells food, pool floats, and toys, and they host a bi-weekly movie night in the summer. There’s also a rustic campground on-site, as well as a rental home. The canyon walls hold climbing routes, and the creek has lots of crawdads that you can easily catch. If you are not camping on-site, you’ll park at the top of a small hill and walk down the road to the pool entrance.
There’s an old hot spring, Pah Tempe, near Zion National Park that is set to reopen in the near future. This spot in La Verkin has been closed for over 10 years. Zion Canyon Hot Springs will have over 50 individual hot spring pools. It’s set to open in the summer of 2025, and I’ll be planning a road trip to Zion as soon as they do!