Red Hill Hot Springs
Monroe, Utah
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- hot spring
- ACCESS
- Local spot, unofficial
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Year-round
About Red Hill Hot Springs
Red Hill Hot Springs is a free, undeveloped natural hot spring about 1.3 miles east of Monroe, Utah, where 168°F mineral water surfaces atop a distinctive deep-red travertine mound and cascades through three to four small soaking pools of varying temperature. It sits on land donated/allowed for public use roughly a mile from the separate, commercially developed Mystic Hot Springs (formerly Monroe Hot Springs).
The spring sits on an open, shadeless red-colored travertine mound in the high-desert Sevier Valley, part of the Monroe-Red Hill geothermal system that runs along the Sevier Fault. The mound itself is roughly a third of a mile across and stained deep red by mineral deposits, visible from the surrounding flat approach road.
Swimming at Red Hill Hot Springs
This is a soaking spot rather than a swimming hole: three to four small, shallow pools cascade down the hillside from a near-boiling source at the top, cooling as they descend. The uppermost pool can be too hot for sustained soaking, middle pools run roughly 100-110°F and are the most popular, and the lowest pool is the coolest. Pools are small, each holding only a handful of people at a time.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Main Street (State Route 118) in Monroe, turn east onto 300 North and follow it about 1.3 miles; the final roughly 0.4 miles is a graded dirt road to a small parking area at the base of the hill. Visitors report that GPS map apps sometimes misdirect toward Mystic Hot Springs instead.
Parking: Small parking area at the end of the dirt road; described by one visitor as having 'plenty of parking,' no fee.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. No trail or hike is needed - the pools are visible from and directly adjacent to the parking area. Visitors describe only 'a short walk on uneven dirt and mineral terrain' from the car to the pools; water shoes or grippy sandals are recommended for the slick mineral surface, not for distance.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Visitors describe it as family-popular and 'great for families,' with shallow pools (roughly 1-2 ft in the lower/middle pools, up to 3 ft in the uppermost). But the top source pool is near-boiling (168°F) and one visitor 'couldn't even get in all the way,' pool bottoms can hide sharp debris (rocks, occasional glass), and mineral surfaces are slippery. No lifeguards or supervision on site, so close adult supervision near the hot source is warranted.
Parking
Free
Small dirt parking area at the end of a graded dirt road (final ~0.4 mi off 300 North from Monroe's Main St/UT-118); described as having 'plenty of parking.' No fee. Road is reported passable by most vehicles in dry conditions.
Restrooms
Yes
Sources conflict: RoadTripRyan and HotSpringsGuides both report a pit toilet at the parking area (also usable for changing); the Girl on a Hike first-hand account states there were no bathrooms or changing facilities at all. Treat a pit toilet as likely present but not guaranteed maintained.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
Sources disagree: Girl on a Hike's photos/description show clear water with reddish-brown mineral tones; HotSpringsGuides describes the pools as murky mineral water with a reddish tint from iron minerals and thermophilic organisms, and warns the water can temporarily stain skin and permanently stain light-colored clothing/swimwear.
Hours
No official hours found; one aggregator (hotspringsguides.com, not independently confirmed by a .gov source) states the site 'closes at dusk' with no overnight camping permitted.
On the water
Restrictions: Not applicable - this is a series of small, shallow (1-3 ft) hillside soaking pools fed by a hot spring, not a navigable body of water.
No watercraft use is possible or mentioned at this site.
What regulars say
Regulars report heavy visitor use, so expect crowds, especially in the popular mid-temperature pools. Many visitors warn that GPS and map apps sometimes misdirect people to the separate paid Mystic Hot Springs resort in town instead of this free, undeveloped spot. Swimmers advise wearing water shoes for the slippery, mineral-crusted pool bottoms and bringing dark-colored swimwear, since the mineral water can stain light fabrics.
Backstory
Part of the Monroe-Red Hill geothermal system along the Sevier Fault; a separate, larger travertine deposit in town (Monroe Mound) was developed commercially starting in the 1880s-1900s and today operates as Mystic Hot Springs, while Red Hill Hot Springs itself has remained an undeveloped natural site.
Red Hill Hot Springs: FAQ
Does Red Hill Hot Springs charge a fee?
Free, no entrance fee.
Is Red Hill Hot Springs kid friendly?
Visitors describe it as family-popular and 'great for families,' with shallow pools (roughly 1-2 ft in the lower/middle pools, up to 3 ft in the uppermost). But the top source pool is near-boiling (168°F) and one visitor 'couldn't even get in all the way,' pool bottoms can hide sharp debris (rocks, occasional glass), and mineral surfaces are slippery. No lifeguards or supervision on site, so close adult supervision near the hot source is warranted.
Do I need to hike to reach Red Hill Hot Springs?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Red Hill Hot Springs?
Small dirt parking area at the end of a graded dirt road (final ~0.4 mi off 300 North from Monroe's Main St/UT-118); described as having 'plenty of parking.' No fee. Road is reported passable by most vehicles in dry conditions.
When is the best time to visit Red Hill Hot Springs?
Reported as open and visited year-round.
What are the rules at Red Hill Hot Springs?
No overnight camping permitted; visitors asked to pack out all trash; one source reports hours ending at dusk. Dogs are commonly seen on site; sources differ on whether leashes are required.
