Midway Hot Springs
Midway Hot Springs at the Homestead Crater flows at 100°F inside a beehive-shaped limestone dome created by millennia of mineral deposition. The spring emerges at 5,763 feet elevation, just 32 meters from the nearest road, running 52.9°F above ambient temperatures. The dome structure, known locally as The Crater
rises approximately 55 feet above ground level with an interior pool accessed through a tunnel.
The formation has attracted attention since Mormon settlement in the 1850s. Early accounts describe the dome as a natural curiosity, with the spring's constant 100°F temperature making it suitable for bathing year-round. The Homestead Resort developed around the feature in the early twentieth century, eventually cutting a tunnel for easier access to the interior pool. Scientific study has documented the dome's growth rate and the chemistry of ongoing tufa deposition. The site now operates as a commercial soaking and scuba diving destination.
The crater occupies the Heber Valley floor where the Wasatch Range creates the western skyline and the Uinta foothills rise to the east. Thermal water deposited calcium carbonate layer upon layer, building the distinctive dome visible from surrounding farmland. The valley receives 25.2 inches of annual precipitation and 105.5 inches of snow, supporting agricultural operations on surrounding properties. Inside the dome, constant temperature and high humidity create a microclimate unlike the external Great Basin-montane environment.
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Overview Albion Basin Campground, just 15 miles from Sandy, Utah, is set among shady white pines and aspens in its beautiful namesake basin in Little Cottonwood Canyon at an elevation of 9,500 feet. Recreation Hiking and mountain biking are very popular activities. Hikers enjoy the path to Cecret Lake, which begins at the campground, as well as the Catherine Pass/Sunset Peak Trail just down the road. Mountain bikers often ride the Albion Basin Road and the trail to Germania Pass. Other trail...
Midway Hot Springs sits at 5,763 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 23% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Midway Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear.
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