Wilson Health Springs

Millard County, Utah · Near Delta
39.9060°N, 113.4300°W · 4,293 ft
142°F 46°F air · Good soaking weather 4,293 ft Closed Short Walk DESG
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 142°F, the source water at Wilson Health 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.

Aerial view of the ground around Wilson Health Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Wilson Health 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.

Wilson Health Springs is a scalding spring inside the West Desert Test Center, a military installation in Millard County roughly sixty miles from Delta. The temperature on file is hot enough to burn skin. Public access is closed. The ground is defense land and the record lists it as shut to visitors.

Location

A tenth of a mile separates the spring from the closest road, which has no name on the record. Low desert, dry, light winter snow and very little rain in any season. The land belongs to the defense establishment and falls within a test range, so the short walk in is one the public cannot make. No campground is listed anywhere near it.

There is no practical visit here while the range stays closed. If that ever changes, the water on file is scalding and would need care. Winter months score best on paper. No chemistry has been sampled that the record shows.

History of Wilson Health Springs

OpenStreetMap maps the spring under the same name, and the USGS holds a thermal site record for it.

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 Wilson Health Springs.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
4 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
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
99 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 45% 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
30°
Jan
36°
Feb
46°
Mar
53°
Apr
61°
May
75°
Jun
83°
Jul
81°
Aug
70°
Sep
54°
Oct
41°
Nov
30°
Dec
Annual Precip: 7.3 in Annual Snow: 15.2 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 30°F · Water 142°F · +112° contrast
December Air 30°F · Water 142°F · +112° contrast
February Air 36°F · Water 142°F · +106° contrast
January offers 53°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
46°F
Clear SE 12.1 mph 49% Good soaking weather
Today 85° Low 60° Mostly Cloudy
Spring is +57° warmer
Wednesday 87° Low 62° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +55° warmer
Thursday 86° Low 57° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +56° warmer
Friday 80° Low 54° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +62° warmer
Saturday 79° Low 54° Sunny
Spring is +63° warmer
Temperature
142°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 142°F (61°C)
Avg Air Temp 55°F
Above Ambient +87°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Closed
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership DESG
Agency DESG
Designation MIL
Unit West Desert Test Center
Manager Department of Defense
Protection 4 - No known protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Wilson Health Springs?
Wilson Health Springs has a water temperature of 142°F (61°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Wilson Health Springs located?
Wilson Health Springs is located in Millard County, Utah at 4,293 feet elevation, near Delta. Coordinates: 39.9060°N, 113.4300°W.
How do I get to Wilson Health Springs?
Wilson Health Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Wilson Health Springs free to visit?
Wilson Health Springs has Closed access. It is managed by DESG.
Is it safe to soak at Wilson Health Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Wilson Health Springs reaches 142°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.