Unnamed Thermal Spring

Summit County, Utah · Near Snyderville
40.6970°N, 111.4930°W · 6,790 ft
70°F 34°F air · Good soaking weather 6,790 ft Restricted Short Walk CITY Camping nearby (7.6 mi)

An unnamed thermal point near Snyderville in Summit County, barely three miles from town and sitting on a city-owned parcel called McMillian Round Valley. The water is tepid at best, on the line between warm and cool. Access is recorded as restricted, and that single word is the most important thing about this entry. It appears in the USGS thermal inventory.

Location

High mountain valley ground, close to seven thousand feet, in the snowiest climate of any spring here: more than a hundred inches falls in a typical winter and the year is wet overall. The spring is about two thirds of a mile from the nearest road, whose name is not on file. The land designation on record is LCA, under city ownership.

The listed months are December through February, which on a restricted parcel under deep snow is a hard combination. Redman Campground is around seven and a half miles off. Before doing anything, confirm with the city whether the restriction means closed to the public. No chemistry or survey date is on file for the water.

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 this spring.

Aerial view of the ground around the spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around the 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
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the east.
Highest ground nearby
143 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
85 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 22% 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
21°
Jan
24°
Feb
31°
Mar
36°
Apr
46°
May
60°
Jun
69°
Jul
67°
Aug
58°
Sep
43°
Oct
30°
Nov
20°
Dec
Annual Precip: 25.3 in Annual Snow: 105.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 20°F · Water 70°F · +50° contrast
January Air 21°F · Water 70°F · +49° contrast
February Air 24°F · Water 70°F · +47° contrast
December offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
34°F
ESE 6.8 mph 85% Good soaking weather
Today 74° Low 45° Partly Sunny 7% precip
Wednesday 72° Low 47° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 64% precip
Thursday 71° Low 43° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 69% precip
Friday 70° Low 39° Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 20% precip
Saturday 71° Low 39° Sunny 5% precip
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Redman Campground 7.6 mi away

Overview Redman Campground is located in scenic Big Cottonwood Canyon at an elevation of 8,300 feet. Salt Lake City is conveniently close. Visitors enjoy hiking, biking and fishing.Recreation Hiking and mountain biking are popular activities on area trails, including the Donut Falls Trail, which begins nearby. Fly-fishermen enjoy casting on Big Cottonwood Creek.Facilities The campground contains two group sites and numerous single, double, and triple-family sites, all with picnic tables and c...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 6,790 ft

this spring sits at 6,790 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 27% 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 42°F
Above Ambient +28°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Restricted
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.7 mi
Land
Ownership Local
Agency CITY
Designation LCA
Unit McMillian Round Valley
Manager CITY
Protection 2 - Permanent protection, some use allowed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at ?
has a water temperature of 70°F (21°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is located?
is located in Summit County, Utah at 6,790 feet elevation, near Snyderville. Coordinates: 40.6970°N, 111.4930°W.
How do I get to ?
has Short Walk road access (0.7 mi from the road).
Is free to visit?
has Restricted access. It is managed by CITY.
Can I camp near ?
Yes, Redman Campground is located nearby (7.6 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS