Warner Valley Spring

Washington County, Utah · Near Washington
37.0960°N, 113.4470°W · 2,720 ft
70°F 73°F air · Good soaking weather 2,720 ft Open Roadside SLB Camping nearby (9.0 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Warner Valley Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Warner Valley 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.

Warner Valley Spring is a tepid desert spring on Utah state trust land in Washington County, a few miles outside the town of Washington. The water comes up lukewarm and carries a heavy mineral load. Access is listed as open. The state manages this block of trust land as a recreation area, and it sits in low, hot country near the southwest corner of the state.

Location

You can park beside it. The spring lies within a few feet of a road the record leaves unnamed, on the Warner Valley block of state trust lands. Low desert here, dry nearly year round, with winters that bring almost no snow. Red Cliffs Campground is the closest developed camping on file, roughly nine miles off.

The record scores December through February best for a visit. Drive-up access, no walk. Water sampled in spring 2018 came back heavy with dissolved solids, so expect a mineral taste and some residue. No fee is on record. Trust land rules can differ from federal land, and nothing on file covers overnight stays, so check before you camp close by.

History of Warner Valley Spring

The USGS carries this as a monitored thermal site and took its water sample in April 2018.

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 Warner Valley Spring.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the southeast.
Highest ground nearby
125 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
93 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 36% 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
40°
Jan
45°
Feb
54°
Mar
63°
Apr
71°
May
85°
Jun
88°
Jul
87°
Aug
78°
Sep
64°
Oct
51°
Nov
40°
Dec
Annual Precip: 9.0 in Annual Snow: 6.1 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 40°F · Water 70°F · +30° contrast
December Air 40°F · Water 70°F · +30° contrast
February Air 45°F · Water 70°F · +25° contrast
January offers 48°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
73°F
Mostly Clear N 0.0 mph 36% Good soaking weather
Today 89° Low 70° Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny 15% precip
Wednesday 88° Low 70° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 22% precip
Thursday 86° Low 68° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Sunny 17% precip
Friday 87° Low 66° Sunny 2% precip
Saturday 89° Low 65° Sunny 1% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 2018-04-26

The water at Warner Valley Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3) with 1680 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in calcium (may support bone density and joint health), magnesium (known for muscle relaxation and stress relief), and sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation).

pH 7.3 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 213 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 94 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 153 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 799 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 126 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Red Cliffs Campground 9.0 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 Roadside
Distance to Road 5 ft
Land
Ownership State
Agency SLB
Designation SRMA
Unit State Trust Lands Warner Valley Block
Manager SLB
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Warner Valley Spring?
Warner Valley Spring has a water temperature of 70°F (21°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Warner Valley Spring located?
Warner Valley Spring is located in Washington County, Utah at 2,720 feet elevation, near Washington. Coordinates: 37.0960°N, 113.4470°W.
How do I get to Warner Valley Spring?
Warner Valley Spring has Roadside road access (5 ft from the road).
Is Warner Valley Spring free to visit?
Warner Valley Spring has Open access. It is managed by SLB.
Can I camp near Warner Valley Spring?
Yes, Red Cliffs Campground is located nearby (9.0 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Warner Valley Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.3 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 1,680 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS