Super Soakers: Utah’s Best Hot Springs
Photo: Renata Stone
Warm up this winter at one of these 7 local hot springs, just a short jaunt from Salt Lake City or Park City. Pack your suit, bring some cold bevvies, and spend the afternoon soaking up good times with good friends at these nearby hot spots.
DIAMOND FORK HOT SPRINGS (a.k.a. FIFTH WATER HOT SPRINGS)
Good things come to those who hike: Upon completing the 2.5-mile walk from the trailhead on Diamond Fork Road, you’ll be rewarded with a variety of hot natural pools and scenic waterfalls. Don’t be alarmed if you happen upon bathers in the buff—swimsuits, while required, are often optional. From SLC: Take I-15 S to Exit 258/Price and drive east for 11 miles to Diamond Fork Rd.
MYSTIC HOT SPRINGS
Owned by artist Mike Ginsburg, a.k.a. Mystic Mike, this funky Monroe-area resort features two soaking pools and eight bathtubs built into the red-rock landscape. Buy a daily pass, or spend the night in a restored pioneer cabin or a converted school bus; tent and car camping are also permitted. From SLC: Take I-15 S to Exit 188/Scipio. Head east on Hwy 50 to I-70 W. Pull off at Exit 31 to Monroe.
MEADOW HOT SPRINGS
These three crystal-clear pools are deep enough for snorkeling and scuba diving with the proper gear—not exactly the Bahamas, but in the dead of winter we’ll take it. The pools are located on private property in Meadow, just south of Fillmore, but they’re open to the public and camping is allowed. Pack your suit and pack a picnic. From SLC: Take I-15 S to a left off Exit 158; drive 4 miles to the hot springs.
LAVA HOT SPRINGS
Just a quick road trip from Salt Lake City lies the kitschy town of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, named for the mineral water pools located there. The pools range in temp from 102 to 110 degrees. Make a weekend of it and book a room at the Home Hotel. When you’re sufficiently pruned, grab a post-soak beer and burger at the Blue Moon Bar & Grill. From SLC: Take I-15 N to Exit 47, then drive east for 11 miles.
CRYSTAL HOT SPRINGS
These 100-year-old pools outside of Honeyville have an interesting history: during World War II, wounded soldiers were sent to rehab at these springs by President Roosevelt. Today, you’ll find a large natural soaking pool, a steamy Olympic-size pool, and a hot pool with a cool waterslide. From SLC: Take I-15 N to Exit 372 at Honeyville.
THE HOMESTEAD CRATER
You’ll feel like you’re on another planet when you walk into the massive limestone rock dome to access the 65-foot-deep geothermal pool at the Homestead Resort (reservations required). Water temps hover around a constant 90 to 96 degrees, so it feels balmy and blissful even when there’s a blizzard outside. From Park City: Take US 40 E to a right turn on River Rd, then follow the signs.
BAKER HOT SPRINGS
The water in the three large soaking tubs at Baker Hot Springs can be extremely hot, but you can adjust the temp via two hot- and cold-water ditches that fill the tubs. Admission is free, but all maintenance is performed by volunteers, so be respectful and remember to pack out your trash. From SLC: Take I-15 S to Hwy 132 W (Nephi) to Hwy 174 and follow the signs.