Irvine Spring

Washington County, Utah · Near Enterprise
37.3930°N, 113.6100°W · 5,700 ft
70°F 73°F air · Good soaking weather 5,700 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (7.8 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Irvine Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Irvine Spring
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Irvine Spring is a tepid spring in the Dixie National Forest in Washington County, about fourteen miles from Enterprise. The water is cool, well short of soaking temperature. Public access is open, as national forest land usually is. The water is clean by the numbers, with very low dissolved solids.

Location

About half a mile on foot from North Baker Lake Road. Elevation is high enough to count as mountain country, roughly 5,700 feet. A winter's snow comes to around three feet and the area gets moderate precipitation. The Forest Service is the land manager.

The record leans toward winter. Pine Valley Guard Station is about eight miles away for camping. No fee is listed. The sample dates to 1968 and recorded only a couple of measures, so chemistry is thin. There is no photo on record.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Irvine Spring.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
434 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
166 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 96% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
34°
Jan
37°
Feb
45°
Mar
53°
Apr
61°
May
75°
Jun
79°
Jul
78°
Aug
70°
Sep
57°
Oct
45°
Nov
34°
Dec
Annual Precip: 14.4 in Annual Snow: 35.6 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 34°F · Water 70°F · +36° contrast
December Air 34°F · Water 70°F · +36° contrast
February Air 37°F · Water 70°F · +33° contrast
January offers 45°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
73°F
Mostly Clear N 0.0 mph 36% Good soaking weather
Today 78° Low 63° Sunny 11% precip
Wednesday 77° Low 64° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny 20% precip
Thursday 76° Low 62° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Sunny 13% precip
Friday 77° Low 59° Sunny 1% precip
Saturday 78° Low 59° Sunny 2% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 1968-10-22

The water at Irvine Spring contains 202 mg/L total dissolved solids.

Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Chloride 8 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Pine Valley Guard Station 7.8 mi away

Overview Pine Valley Guard Station is located in scenic Pine Valley Recreation Area, about 45 minutes from St. George, Utah. Built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the station was used to house a recreation guard during the summer months to assist the visiting public. The cabin is open year-round and is accessible by vehicle during good road conditions. Winter use of the cabin may require snowshoeing, hiking or cross-country skiing about 1.5 miles from the trailhead at the entran...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 5,700 ft

Irvine Spring sits at 5,700 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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Temperature
70°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 70°F (21°C)
Avg Air Temp 56°F
Above Ambient +14°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road North Baker Lake Road
Distance to Road 0.5 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Dixie National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Irvine Spring?
Irvine Spring has a water temperature of 70°F (21°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Irvine Spring located?
Irvine Spring is located in Washington County, Utah at 5,700 feet elevation, near Enterprise. Coordinates: 37.3930°N, 113.6100°W.
How do I get to Irvine Spring?
Irvine Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being North Baker Lake Road (0.5 mi from the road).
Is Irvine Spring free to visit?
Irvine Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Irvine Spring?
Yes, Pine Valley Guard Station is located nearby (7.8 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Irvine Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of Total Dissolved Solids, Chloride. Total dissolved solids measure 202 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS