Mystic Hot Springs
Monroe, Utah · on Bertlesen Ditch
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- hot spring
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Mystic Hot Springs
Mystic Hot Springs is a privately operated geothermal soaking destination on the east side of Monroe, Utah, where naturally heated mineral water emerges from the ground at 168°F and cascades down a travertine mound into a series of cooler soaking pools. It is less a swimming hole than a soaking spot: visitors settle into a mix of cast-iron bathtubs and natural travertine-lined pools kept around 100-111°F, on a property that also offers camping and unconventional lodging (converted vintage buses, a cabin).
The springs sit on a hillside of rust-colored travertine mineral deposits built up by centuries of mineral-laden water flowing from the spring at about 200 gallons per minute. The site has a rustic, hippie/bohemian character with grassy camping areas, vintage converted buses and cabins for lodging, and a history as a live-music venue.
Swimming at Mystic Hot Springs
Soaking (not swimming laps) in small pools: guests sit in freestanding cast-iron bathtubs positioned on the travertine terraces and in natural rock-lined pools fed by the cooling spring water, with temperatures ranging roughly 100-111°F depending on distance from the 168°F source; staff can increase heat to individual tubs on request.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 475 E 100 N, Monroe, Utah 84754, on the east side of town.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up site: paved road leads directly to the property at 475 E 100 N, Monroe, and parking is right at the soaking/office area. One visitor testimonial quoted on the operator's own site mentions 'hiking up to the tubs' for a nighttime soak, which likely refers to a short uphill walk on the travertine terraces between the office/lower area and individual tubs rather than an approach trail, no separate trailhead or mileage exists.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Not a natural swimming hole but a soaking hot spring: pools/tubs run 99-111°F with the true spring source emerging at 168°F (scalding) just uphill, so young kids need supervision near the hot end. Children 12 and under get a discounted soaking-pass price ($22.73 vs $28.41 adult), indicating families do visit, but no minimum-age policy is published and tubs are cast-iron (hard edges) shared with other booked parties.
Parking
Lot
Property sits at the dead end of 100 North; directions say to go up the hill 5 blocks from Highway 118 to 'the big white [building] at road's end,' all paved until the last block. On-site parking at the end of this road near the office/soaking area; no separate parking fee is published (any cost would be bundled into the soaking-pass price).
Restrooms
Yes
On-site restrooms and hot showers ('Hot showers and clean bathrooms welcome the traveler' per the operator's About page); testimonial quotes on the operator's site describe them as clean and reachable via a short walk from the campground area.
Hours
Marketed as 24/7 soaking access, but booking is reservation-only in 2-hour time slots (max ~10 people per group), walk-ins are not guaranteed a slot. Office/gift shop (towel rental/purchase) hours are Friday-Sunday 9am-8pm, or by appointment. Quiet hours on the grounds are 9pm-9am.
What regulars say
Independent visitor commentary on this spot is thin. The only visitor-voice material available comes from testimonial quotes displayed on the operator's own site, which mention 'clean bathrooms,' a short uphill walk to reach tubs for a nighttime soak, and a note that the ground-level tub and bed setups can feel 'limiting to certain bodies' (that is, not easy for people with mobility issues to get in and out of). Treat these as single-source, operator-curated impressions rather than confirmed independent consensus.
Backstory
Used historically by Ute, Piute, and Shoshone peoples and as a stop on the Old Spanish Trail; Thomas Cooper homesteaded the site in 1886 and by 1905 a bathhouse, dance floor, and indoor pool had been built; the property was known as Monroe Hot Springs/Cooper Hot Springs before being renamed Mystic Hot Springs in 1995 and purchased by Mike Ginsburg in 1996, who has continued its tradition as a live-music and soaking destination.
Mystic Hot Springs: FAQ
Is Mystic Hot Springs kid friendly?
Not a natural swimming hole but a soaking hot spring: pools/tubs run 99-111°F with the true spring source emerging at 168°F (scalding) just uphill, so young kids need supervision near the hot end. Children 12 and under get a discounted soaking-pass price ($22.73 vs $28.41 adult), indicating families do visit, but no minimum-age policy is published and tubs are cast-iron (hard edges) shared with other booked parties.
Do I need to hike to reach Mystic Hot Springs?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Mystic Hot Springs?
Property sits at the dead end of 100 North; directions say to go up the hill 5 blocks from Highway 118 to 'the big white [building] at road's end,' all paved until the last block. On-site parking at the end of this road near the office/soaking area; no separate parking fee is published (any cost would be bundled into the soaking-pass price).
What are the rules at Mystic Hot Springs?
Quiet hours 9pm-9am; dogs allowed leashed in the campground and permitted overnight in some lodging units for a non-refundable fee; no cats allowed; soaking is by timed passes (e.g., 2-hour passes) booked in advance.
What water body is Mystic Hot Springs on?
Mystic Hot Springs is on Bertlesen Ditch, a natural hot spring verified in USGS hydrography data.
