Saratoga Hot Springs

What to expect

Saratoga Hot Springs is the easiest natural soak in the Salt Lake and Utah Valley area to reach, and the least dramatic. It is one shallow pool, roughly 20 by 30 feet and 1 to 2 feet deep, set in tall grass and reeds on the northwest shore of Utah Lake. Warm water seeps up through a soft mud bottom and spills out toward the lake.

The water is the thing to set expectations about. One trip report measured about 109°F43°C where the spring comes out of the ground, but the pool is big and shallow, so by the time the water spreads out it is warm, not hot. On a summer evening that feels about right. On a cold winter day it can feel lukewarm, and one visitor in December found it cold. People who dig their feet into the bottom often say the mud is warmer than the water.

The bottom is mud and algae grows around the edges. Some visitors love the earthy, swampy feel; others take one look and leave. A few benches and spots to hang a towel sit beside the pool. Since 2019, crews have cut back phragmites, an invasive reed, around the spring, which opened up views of the lake and the Wasatch Front behind it.

The spring is part of a long story. Natural hot springs near the head of the Jordan River led the Beck family to open a resort called Beck’s Saratoga Springs here in 1884, with lodge buildings and amusement park rides. Those buildings are long gone. The city that grew up around the old resort took its name, and the pool you can soak in today is the free, undeveloped remnant on the shore.

Getting there

The trailhead is Inlet Park, a city park at 222 S. Saratoga Road in Saratoga Springs. The city lists it as the trailhead for the Utah Lake Shoreline Trail, the Jordan River Trail and the Saratoga Hot Springs.

• From Salt Lake City or Provo on I-15: Take exit 278 at American Fork and head west on SR-145 (Pioneer Crossing) for about 3.5 miles. Turn left on Saratoga Road and drive about 2.6 miles to the signed entrance for Inlet Park. If you come in on the city streets instead, the park is reached from North Thanksgiving Way, Triumph Boulevard and West 7200 North, and is signed from there.
• Driving time: Plan on 35 to 40 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City outside rush hour.

From the parking lot, take the paved path south toward the lake, then follow the dirt trail where it bends slightly left. The pool is about 0.3 miles from the car, around 10 minutes on foot. One route description notes a loop junction about a quarter mile in: the left branch reaches the main pool in a minute or two, the right reaches the spring outlets a moment later.

The walk is flat, but the last stretch is dirt and gets muddy after rain or snowmelt. It is not wheelchair accessible.

When to go

The spring is open all year and there is no gate, so timing is about comfort and crowds.

Fall, winter and early spring are the best months for a warm soak if you go on a mild day. Cold, still mornings bring a little steam off the water. Note that the restrooms at Inlet Park are closed from October 15 to April 15.

Summer brings mosquitoes and biting insects to the reeds, and the pool can feel more like warm lake water than a hot spring. Evenings are the most pleasant time.

Weekends and evenings are the busy times. The pool is close to a large and growing suburb, and it fills up quickly on nice weekends. Weekday mornings are quietest.

Rules and etiquette

The city does not post a full rule list online, but guides agree on these, and police patrol the area:

• Free. No fee, pass or reservation.
• Hours: access is reported as 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Do not plan a late-night soak.
• No nudity. Wear a swimsuit.
• No alcohol at the spring.
• No camping. This is day use only.
• Dogs on leash along the trail.
• Pack it out. There are no trash cans at the pool. Bring a bag and take out what you bring, and pick up glass or wrappers if you see them.

Where to stay nearby

There is no lodging or camping at the spring.

• Lehi and American Fork, a few miles east around the I-15 corridor, have the closest chain hotels, restaurants and grocery stores.
• Utah Lake State Park, on the east shore of the lake in Provo, has a campground and is the nearest state park base for tent and RV camping.
• Salt Lake City is close enough for an easy day trip, so many visitors simply drive down for an evening soak and go home.

Safety notes

• Water quality. This is an untreated, shallow pool beside a large lake, used heavily by the public. Visitors have reported algae, floating debris and the occasional dead fish. Keep your head out of the water, do not swim with open cuts, and shower afterward.
• Utah Lake algae. Utah Lake often has harmful algal blooms in summer and early fall. If you plan to walk on to the lake itself, check the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s algal bloom updates and keep dogs out of green or scummy water.
• Glass and sharp objects. People have found broken glass in the mud. Wear water shoes.
• Supervise children. The pool is shallow and kids are welcome, but there is no lifeguard and the bottom is soft and uneven.
• Evenings. Some visitors mention feeling uneasy with groups hanging around after dark. Go with a friend and leave by closing time.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Jordan River Parkway Trail starts at Inlet Park and follows the river north out of Utah Lake, a good flat walk or bike ride before or after a soak. The Utah Lake Shoreline Trail runs from the same lot along the lakeshore. If you have a group, the Inlet Park pavilion has 10 tables and can be reserved through the city, which makes it an easy place for a picnic before walking down to the water.