Snow Spring

Washington County, Utah · Near Ivins
37.1780°N, 113.6340°W · 3,100 ft
70°F 73°F air · Good soaking weather 3,100 ft Open Short Walk SDNR Camping nearby (13.0 mi)

Snow Spring is a tepid spring inside Snow Canyon State Park in Washington County, in the warm southwest corner of Utah, a few miles from Ivins. Public access is open; this is state park land. The water is about swimming-pool temperature, so do not come expecting a hot soak.

Location

Snow Canyon Drive is the nearest road, a bit over half a mile off, so reaching the spring is a walk within the park. At 3,100 feet this is low desert, with an annual average in the mid sixties, hardly any snow, and only about eight inches of rain. The land owner on record is SDNR, Snow Canyon State Park.

Winter is listed as best, and in this desert that is the comfortable season for walking. State park rules apply; the record does not list a fee. Red Cliffs Campground is the nearest camping on file, about thirteen miles. The water was sampled in 1996 and showed low mineral content.

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 Snow Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Snow Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Snow 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.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
346 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
141 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 90% 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
41°
Jan
45°
Feb
54°
Mar
62°
Apr
70°
May
84°
Jun
88°
Jul
86°
Aug
78°
Sep
64°
Oct
51°
Nov
40°
Dec
Annual Precip: 7.8 in Annual Snow: 6.6 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 40°F · Water 70°F · +30° contrast
January Air 41°F · Water 70°F · +29° contrast
February Air 45°F · Water 70°F · +25° contrast
December offers 48°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
73°F
Mostly Clear N 0.0 mph 36% Good soaking weather
Today 91° Low 68° Sunny 10% precip
Wednesday 89° Low 68° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 20% precip
Thursday 88° Low 66° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Sunny 12% precip
Friday 89° Low 64° Sunny 1% precip
Saturday 90° Low 64° Sunny 1% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 1996-10-27

The water at Snow Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.8) with 226 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 7.8 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 37 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 13 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 13 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 45 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 13 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Red Cliffs Campground 13.0 mi away

Overview Red Cliffs Recreation Area includes a campground, day use areas, a non-motorized trail system, and interpreted public use sites. Dinosaurs left their footprints, now visible in the sandstone. Ancestral Puebloans lived here in the 10th century, growing corn, beans, and squash along Quail and Leeds Creek. Mid-19th century pioneers farmed here, supplying the area’s silver miners with food. Located within the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, the Recreation Area is managed to cons...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
70°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 70°F (21°C)
Avg Air Temp 64°F
Above Ambient +6°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Snow Canyon Drive
Distance to Road 0.6 mi
Land
Ownership State
Agency SDNR
Designation State Park
Unit Snow Canyon State Park
Manager SPR
Protection 4 - No known protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Snow Spring?
Snow Spring has a water temperature of 70°F (21°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Snow Spring located?
Snow Spring is located in Washington County, Utah at 3,100 feet elevation, near Ivins. Coordinates: 37.1780°N, 113.6340°W.
How do I get to Snow Spring?
Snow Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Snow Canyon Drive (0.6 mi from the road).
Is Snow Spring free to visit?
Snow Spring has Open access. It is managed by SDNR.
Can I camp near Snow Spring?
Yes, Red Cliffs Campground is located nearby (13.0 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Snow Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.8 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 226 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS