Warm Ditch Spring

Wasatch County, Utah · Near Midway
40.5360°N, 111.4780°W · 5,730 ft
115°F 39°F air · Good soaking weather 5,730 ft Roadside Camping nearby (7.5 mi)

Warm Ditch Spring is a hot spring near Midway in Wasatch County, a bit over a mile from town. Hot enough that you would not want to sit in it undiluted. Nobody has written down who owns it or who may visit, which matters in a valley as built up as this one. There is a photograph on file. No water chemistry has been recorded.

Location

Jerry Gertsch Lane comes within about two hundred feet of the source. Elevation is around fifty-seven hundred feet, high valley. This is the snowiest Utah spring in the batch, close to nine feet of snow in an average winter, with twenty-five inches of moisture through the year. No land is on record.

Winter is the rated season, and the snow makes that a serious statement here. Roadside, but no access is on record, so confirm you may stop. Water hot enough to burn with a long soak. Albion Basin is the nearest campground on file, about seven and a half miles away, and it will be buried for much of the year.

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 Warm Ditch Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Warm Ditch Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Warm Ditch 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
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northwest.
Highest ground nearby
343 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
109 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 60% 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
26°
Jan
28°
Feb
36°
Mar
41°
Apr
51°
May
65°
Jun
74°
Jul
72°
Aug
63°
Sep
48°
Oct
35°
Nov
25°
Dec
Annual Precip: 25.2 in Annual Snow: 105.5 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 25°F · Water 115°F · +90° contrast
January Air 26°F · Water 115°F · +89° contrast
February Air 28°F · Water 115°F · +87° contrast
December offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
39°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 79% Good soaking weather
Today 82° Low 45° Mostly Sunny 11% precip
Spring is +33° warmer
Wednesday 80° Low 47° Showers And Thunderstorms 78% precip
Spring is +35° warmer
Thursday 79° Low 43° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 73% precip
Spring is +36° warmer
Friday 77° Low 39° Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 21% precip
Spring is +38° warmer
Saturday 78° Low 40° Sunny 6% precip
Spring is +37° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Albion Basin 7.5 mi away

Overview Albion Basin Campground, just 15 miles from Sandy, Utah, is set among shady white pines and aspens in its beautiful namesake basin in Little Cottonwood Canyon at an elevation of 9,500 feet. Recreation Hiking and mountain biking are very popular activities. Hikers enjoy the path to Cecret Lake, which begins at the campground, as well as the Catherine Pass/Sunset Peak Trail just down the road. Mountain bikers often ride the Albion Basin Road and the trail to Germania Pass. Other trail...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 5,730 ft

Warm Ditch Spring sits at 5,730 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
115°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 115°F (46°C)
Avg Air Temp 47°F
Above Ambient +68°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Jerry Gertsch Lane
Distance to Road 209 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Warm Ditch Spring?
Warm Ditch Spring has a water temperature of 115°F (46°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Warm Ditch Spring located?
Warm Ditch Spring is located in Wasatch County, Utah at 5,730 feet elevation, near Midway. Coordinates: 40.5360°N, 111.4780°W.
How do I get to Warm Ditch Spring?
Warm Ditch Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Jerry Gertsch Lane (209 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Warm Ditch Spring?
Yes, Albion Basin is located nearby (7.5 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Warm Ditch Spring?
With care. At 115°F Warm Ditch Spring is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.
Sources: USGS NWIS