# Stinking Hot Springs, Utah

Stinking Hot Springs in Utah. 118°F (48°C). Short Walk. Box Elder County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/utah/stinking-hot-springs
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Stinking Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 118°F, hotter than any hot tub. It's a short walk from the road. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 118°F (48°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 6.3 (Slightly Acidic) |
| Total dissolved solids | 33,800 mg/L |
| Elevation | 4,261 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.1 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Box Elder County |
| Nearest town | Elwood |
| Coordinates | 41.57800, -112.23000 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BOX ELDER CAMPGROUND, 16.0 mi |

## About Stinking Hot Springs

Stinking Hot Springs, known locally as Stinky Springs, is a hot and extremely salty spring in Box Elder County, about eight miles from Elwood. The 1989 sample measured dissolved solids at a level closer to seawater than fresh water, with iron in the mix, which explains the name. The water is hot, above body temperature by a wide margin. No owner or access status appears on file.

About a tenth of a mile of walking separates the spring from the closest road, which the record leaves unnamed. Wikipedia puts the site near Utah State Route 83 northwest of Corinne and roughly six miles southwest of Bear River City. Elevation is around forty-two hundred feet. Winters bring about thirty inches of snow and the year totals seventeen inches of moisture.

Stinking Hot Springs is one of four hot springs along the Wasatch Range near the eastern border of Box Elder County, according to Wikipedia. OpenStreetMap carries the same name for the site.

Winter is the season on file. The walk is short. Hot water, so step in slowly and keep children back from the source. Box Elder Campground is sixteen miles off and is the camping listed. Access is not recorded, and the mineral profile means the water will smell and will be hard on any metal you bring near it.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1989-08-01 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 6.3 |
| Total dissolved solids | 33,800 mg/L |
| Calcium | 820 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 320 mg/L |
| Sodium | 10,000 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 94 mg/L |
| Chloride | 19,000 mg/L |
| Iron | 3,000 µg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Most acidic of Utah's 78 springs with a pH reading: pH 6.3
- Hardest water of Utah's 77 springs with calcium and magnesium readings: 3,365 mg/L
- Most iron of Utah's 15 springs with an iron reading: 3,000 µg/L

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Brigham City](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/utah/brigham-city), 11 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Utah](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/utah)
- [Little Mountain Hot Spring, UT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/utah/little-mountain-hot-spring): 108°F source, Roadside, near Elwood, Box Elder County
- [Springs, UT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/utah/springs-box-elder-county): 72°F source, Roadside, near Tremonton, Box Elder County
- [Crystal (Madsens) Hot Springs, UT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/utah/crystal-madsens-hot-springs): 129°F source, pH 7.3, TDS 40,700 mg/L, Roadside, near Honeyville, Box Elder County
- [Bothwell Warm Springs, UT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/utah/bothwell-warm-springs): 75°F source, pH 8.1, TDS 1,990 mg/L, Short Walk, near Tremonton, Box Elder County
- [Poulsen Spring (Salt), UT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/utah/poulsen-spring-salt): 72°F source, pH 7.7, TDS 3,750 mg/L, Roadside, near Tremonton, Box Elder County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, UT](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/utah/unnamed-spring-weber-county): 77°F source, TDS 24,900 mg/L, Short Walk, near Plain City, Weber County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Stinking Hot Springs?**
Stinking Hot Springs has a water temperature of 118°F (48°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Stinking Hot Springs located?**
Stinking Hot Springs is located in Box Elder County, Utah at 4,261 feet elevation, near Elwood. Coordinates: 41.5780°N, 112.2300°W.

**How do I get to Stinking Hot Springs?**
Stinking Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Stinking Hot Springs?**
Yes, Box Elder Campground is located nearby (16.0 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Stinking Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 6.3 (slightly acidic). Total dissolved solids measure 33,800 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Stinking Hot Springs?**
With care. At 118°F Stinking Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinking_Hot_Springs