A 3-day loop through Utah and Nevada's most stunning desert hot springs, from red rock canyon pools to remote valley oases and a hidden gem inside a limestone crater.
Duration
3 days
Distance
~350 miles
Difficulty
easy
Vehicle
any
Best Season
Fall through spring (October-April)
5 springs need verification before departure. Check conditions and official sources before visiting.
Start at Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville — a commercial resort with hot and cold mineral pools and slides. Then drive south to Meadow Hot Springs near Utah Lake for natural limestone pools. Overnight in Provo or Spanish Fork.
Hike 2.5 miles to Fifth Water Hot Springs in Diamond Fork Canyon — milky-blue natural pools with a waterfall. Then drive south to Zion Canyon Hot Springs near La Verkin for a luxury soak with 50+ geothermal pools. Overnight in Springdale.
Drive north to Midway and visit Homestead Crater — a 90°F geothermal spring inside a beehive-shaped limestone dome. Snorkel or soak in the crater. Return to Salt Lake City via Provo Canyon.
Springs
The Desert Canyon Soak Loop showcases the surreal beauty of desert hot springs, where steaming mineral water emerges from arid landscapes. You’ll soak in natural limestone pools, hike to waterfall-fed springs in red rock canyons, and even soak inside a 10,000-year-old limestone crater.
This trip is best in cooler months — the desert can be brutally hot in summer, and soaking in 100°F water when it’s 110°F outside isn’t pleasant. October through April is the sweet spot, when the contrast between cool desert air and hot mineral water is perfect.