Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs

Also known as: Mystic Hot Springs
Sevier County, Utah · Near Monroe
38.6330°N, 112.1070°W · 5,450 ft
169°F 45°F air · Good soaking weather 5,450 ft Roadside Camping nearby (16.5 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 169°F, the source water at Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Monroe Hot Springs, also called Cooper Hot Springs and operating today as Mystic Hot Springs, is a scalding spring on the northeast side of Monroe in Sevier County. The source comes out far too hot to touch, well past the point where water burns skin. It feeds a pair of smaller pools cooled down to soaking temperature. A mile from town and a few steps from a road.

Location

The spring is essentially at the roadside, under thirty feet from the nearest road, with no road name on record. Elevation is mid-valley for central Utah, about 5,400 feet, and the winters here carry around five feet of snow. Precipitation is moderate. The record does not name a land owner or manager.

Winter months are on record as the season. The source is scalding; do not put a hand in the outflow, and use the cooled pools Wikipedia describes. Adelaide Campground, around sixteen miles away, is the nearest camping on file. The chemistry reading is from 1966. No fee or access status is recorded, though the site operates under the Mystic name.

History of Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs

The spring has gone by Monroe Hot Springs and Cooper Hot Springs before taking its present name, Mystic Hot Springs, which is also how OpenStreetMap lists it. Wikipedia puts the source in scalding territory and says the water runs into two smaller pools held at bath temperature.

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 Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Monroe (Cooper) Hot 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.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the southeast.
Highest ground nearby
231 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
115 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 67% 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
27°
Jan
30°
Feb
38°
Mar
46°
Apr
56°
May
72°
Jun
77°
Jul
75°
Aug
66°
Sep
52°
Oct
39°
Nov
27°
Dec
Annual Precip: 15.4 in Annual Snow: 59.8 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 27°F · Water 169°F · +142° contrast
December Air 27°F · Water 169°F · +142° contrast
February Air 30°F · Water 169°F · +139° contrast
January offers 50°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
45°F
Cloudy N 0.0 mph 70% Good soaking weather
Today 84° Low 59° Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 17% precip
Spring is +85° warmer
Wednesday 83° Low 59° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 27% precip
Spring is +86° warmer
Thursday 82° Low 55° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 26% precip
Spring is +87° warmer
Friday 81° Low 53° Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 11% precip
Spring is +88° warmer
Saturday 80° Low 52° Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 11% precip
Spring is +89° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1966-05-17

The water at Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 7.6) with 2760 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in calcium (may support bone density and joint health), sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration), and sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation).

pH 7.6 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 257 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 17 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 578 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 932 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 625 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Adelaide Campground 16.5 mi away

Overview Adelaide Campground is located in Corn Creek Canyon on the south end of the Pahvant Mountain Range near Kanosh, Utah.Recreation Corn Creek offers brown and rainbow trout fishing. Hiking and biking trails begin nearby, and the Paiute ATV trail can be easily accessed from the site.Facilities The campground offers 1 group site which can accommodate 48 guests and up to 15 vehicles. 9 individual sites are also available. These sites can accommodate 6 to 8 guests and 2 vehicles. All of th...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 5,450 ft

Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs sits at 5,450 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 22% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
169°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 169°F (76°C)
Avg Air Temp 51°F
Above Ambient +118°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 29 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs?
Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs has a water temperature of 169°F (76°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs located?
Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs is located in Sevier County, Utah at 5,450 feet elevation, near Monroe. Coordinates: 38.6330°N, 112.1070°W.
How do I get to Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs?
Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs has Roadside road access (29 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs?
Yes, Adelaide Campground is located nearby (16.5 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.6 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 2,760 mg/L.
Is it safe to soak at Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Monroe (Cooper) Hot Springs reaches 169°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.