Meadow Hot Springs

What to expect

Meadow Hot Springs is three spring-fed pools in an open field below the Pahvant Range, a few miles from the small town of Meadow in Millard County. The land is a private farm. The owner has built a fence and a walking path and lets the public in free, on the condition that people follow the rules posted at the gate.

The pools are the reason people drive here. The water rises out of an underwater cave in a travertine mound and fills round, steep-sided pools that are more than 20 feet deep. The first pool is the deepest and warmest, at about 100°F38°C, and very clear: on a still day you can see down the pale rock walls into blue water. Travertine ledges around the rim give you somewhere to sit or stand. A second pool, farther west along the path, is cooler and shallower. The third is cool enough to support small warm-water fish. KSL has also reported a long rope in the main pool that scuba divers use.

Wikipedia lists the spring itself at 106°F41°C, which may describe the source rather than the pool surface. Most visitor reports put the first pool near 100°F38°C, so think of it as very warm rather than hot.

There are no buildings, no toilets and no trash service you can count on. The setting is flat farmland with mountains to the east. In winter, steam rises off the water against snow on the Pahvants.

The springs got much busier in the late 2010s after videos spread on social media. A Wasatch Magazine report from April 2026 described the damage that followed: vehicles driven onto the site and widening the tracks, a run-over entrance gate, dumped furniture, beer cans, burned firewood and human waste near the water. The springs are still open, but the owner can change or close access at any time. How visitors behave is what keeps this place public.

Getting there

Meadow is on I-15 in central Utah, south of Fillmore. Visit Utah puts the springs about 1.5 hours south of Provo and 2 hours northwest of Bryce Canyon National Park.

• From I-15: Take the Meadow exit and turn into town. Drive south out of Meadow, then turn right (west) onto a dirt road just past the last buildings on your left. OpenStreetMap names it Hot Spring Road. Follow it west across the fields to the parking area. The springs are roughly 5 miles from town in total.
• From the parking area: Walk through the gate and along the path. The first pool is about 150 yards from the lot. The other two pools are farther west along the same path.

The dirt road is fine for a normal car in dry weather. After rain or snowmelt it gets muddy and rutted. Park in the parking area only. Do not drive past the gate or across the field. Vehicle damage is one of the main complaints from locals and the owner.

When to go

The springs are open year-round with no posted hours.

October to April is the best time. The air is cold, the 100°F38°C pool feels warm, and you can watch steam lift off the water. Central Utah winters bring snow and freezing nights, so check the road conditions on I-15 and be ready for a muddy final stretch.

Summer is busy and hot. The field has no shade, and biting insects can be bad near the water.

Weekends and holidays draw crowds from the Wasatch Front and passing I-15 travelers. Go on a weekday morning for the best chance of a quiet soak.

Rules and etiquette

The rules are set by the landowner and posted on signs at the main gate. Read them when you arrive, because they can change. The ones reported by Visit Utah and KSL:

• Wear a swimsuit. This is not a clothing-optional spring.
• No alcohol.
• Keep the area clean. The owner allows visitors on the condition that they leave no trash.
• Stay on foot. Park in the lot and walk in. Do not drive onto the site.
• Donate. Entry is free, but there are donation boxes marked “Enjoy, please donate.” Use them.
• Pack out everything, including toilet paper and human waste. There are no toilets.
• No glass, soap or shampoo near the pools.

Where to stay nearby

There is no campground at the springs. Some visitors bring tents or trailers and stay overnight, but sources disagree on whether camping is permitted, and this is private land under strain. Follow the gate signs. If they say no camping, there is no camping.

• Fillmore, the Millard County seat a short drive north on I-15, has motels, restaurants and fuel.
• Meadow itself is a small farm town with very limited services.
• Fishlake National Forest covers the Pahvant Range east of I-15 and has Forest Service campgrounds for those who want to camp on public land. Check the forest’s current site list and seasons.
• Richfield, to the southeast on I-70, has more lodging if you are combining this with a trip to Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe.

Safety notes

• Deep water and drownings: The pools are more than 20 feet deep, with an underwater cave at the source and rock ledges below the surface. Wikipedia notes that a man drowned here in 2019 after fully submerging, and that his death was one of four drownings at the springs in about 10 years. Do not dive, do not swim down into the cave, and do not soak alone.
• Kids: Children do use the springs, but there is no shallow area and no lifeguard. Only bring kids who swim well, and keep them within arm’s reach or in life jackets.
• Keep your head above water. Do not put your head under in any natural hot spring.
• Slippery rock: The travertine ledges are smooth and slick, especially at the edge of the drop-off.
• Remote at night: There is no lighting. Bring a headlamp if you will walk back after dark.

Nearby stops worth adding

Territorial Statehouse State Park in Fillmore preserves Utah’s first territorial capitol building, built in the 1850s, and is a good stop on the way north. Heading south, Cove Fort is a restored 1860s stone fort near the I-15 and I-70 junction. If you are working through central Utah’s springs, Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe is a little over an hour away via I-15 and I-70.