Knoll Springs

White Pine County, Utah · Near McGill
39.2490°N, 113.8770°W · 4,870 ft
68°F 48°F air · Good soaking weather 4,870 ft Open Short Walk SLB
Aerial view of the ground around Knoll Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Knoll Springs
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.

Knoll Springs is a cluster of barely warm springs in White Pine County, about seventeen miles from McGill. The ground is state trust land administered by Utah's School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, and public access is recorded as open. The water is too cool to call a soak.

Location

Old 6 & 50, the road on record, passes within a tenth of a mile, so the walk is short. The land is marked on file as an SRMA under the state trust. Elevation is under five thousand feet, basin country with a dry climate, about nine inches of precipitation a year and light snow.

The listing puts the winter months first, and with a short walk and light snow that is workable. No campground is on file nearby. The sample on record is from 1983 and gives a pH on the alkaline side, with iron among the minerals. The open-access status is one of the few firm things here; the rest, including any fee, is blank.

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 Knoll Springs.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
13 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
72 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 7% 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
31°
Jan
33°
Feb
44°
Mar
52°
Apr
61°
May
74°
Jun
81°
Jul
79°
Aug
69°
Sep
55°
Oct
41°
Nov
30°
Dec
Annual Precip: 8.6 in Annual Snow: 24.5 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 31°F · Water 68°F · +38° contrast
December Air 30°F · Water 68°F · +38° contrast
February Air 33°F · Water 68°F · +35° contrast
January offers 51°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
48°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 40% Good soaking weather
Today 86° Low 54° Partly Sunny 1% precip
Wednesday 85° Low 54° Sunny 1% precip
Thursday 84° Low 51° Sunny
Friday 80° Low 48° Sunny
Saturday 80° Low 49° Sunny 1% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 1983-12-15

The water at Knoll Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 7.7).

pH 7.7 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 65 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 27 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 49 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 58 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 54 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 10 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Temperature
68°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 68°F (20°C)
Avg Air Temp 54°F
Above Ambient +14°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Old 6 & 50
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership State
Agency SLB
Designation SRMA
Unit The State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration 2977
Manager SLB
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Knoll Springs?
Knoll Springs has a water temperature of 68°F (20°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Knoll Springs located?
Knoll Springs is located in White Pine County, Utah at 4,870 feet elevation, near McGill. Coordinates: 39.2490°N, 113.8770°W.
How do I get to Knoll Springs?
Knoll Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Old 6 & 50 (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Knoll Springs free to visit?
Knoll Springs has Open access. It is managed by SLB.
What minerals are in the water at Knoll Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.7 (slightly alkaline).
Sources: USGS NWIS