Swim in a Massive Hot Spring Crater in Utah

July 20, 2024

view of legs in blue green water angled up toward rough coneshaped limestone walls with a circle hole at the top like a volcano

There is a massive hot spring crater hidden under a natural beehive-shaped dome in Utah. It’s so giant you can swim in it. Sounds unbelievable, right? But it’s true.

It’s the Homestead Hot Spring Crater in Salt Lake City, Utah. The massive 90+ degree geothermal hot spring is inside a vast 55-foot-tall beehive-looking limestone cave. It’s a one-of-a-kind hot spring you won’t find anywhere else.

About the Homestead Crater

The Homestead Crater hot spring is inside a limestone cave. The cave has been forming over the hot spring for 10,000+ years from the mineral deposits contained in the water.

four people stand on a metal gangplank over a beige limestone rock with a hole in the center. blue lightly cloudy sky background.
View from the top of Homestead Crater. Photo by Rene Cizio

Snow melt from the Wasatch Mountains seeped deep within the earth to form the crater. Heated water from two miles below bubbled up to fill it. As the water traveled upward, it collected minerals, including limestone.

Over the years, the limestone deposits formed the beehive shape, while the other minerals created a therapeutic bath. The domed opening at the top lets in sunlight while the interior stays heated by the water.

Fun fact: Because of its unique shape, the Homestead Crater staff often get asked if the crater is a volcano. It isn’t!

Swimming in the Salt Lake City Homestead Crater

The hot spring crater is on the property of the Homestead Resort, which offers lodging, dining and event space. With a reservation, anyone can visit the crater for $15 – $18 per person for 40 minutes.

You make an appointment. At the designated time, you can enter a tunnel they’ve bored into the side of the crater. There is also a large hole at the top. You can’t get in that way, nor would you want to! It’s a long way down.

There are stairs outside that you can climb to the top and look down into the crater.

the backs of two people as they walk through a narrow limestone tunnel with electrical wires overhead.
Homestead Crater Tunnel. Photo by Rene Cizio

Inside the Homestead Hot Spring Crater

Inside the hot spring crater is a small changing area and a hallway filled with equipment. Guests are required to wear life jackets because the spring is 65 feet deep. It’s about 400 feet wide at the bottom, though only the scuba divers go that far.

Fun Fact: This spring is a mecca for scuba divers. It’s the only warm scuba diving destination in the United States. While my group was soaking in the minerals, we watched two divers descend below. They stayed down for the entire 40+ minutes we were there.

The hole at the top of the dome lets in sunlight and cools the cave’s interior. But the mineral water from the ground stays between 90 – 96 degrees Fahrenheit.

view of legs in blue green water angled up toward rough coneshaped limestone walls with a circle hole at the top like a volcano
Interior of the Homestead Crater cone. Photo by Rene Cizio

Natural Minerals in the Homestead Hot Spring

The clear blue mineral hot spring crater contains various minerals. These include calcium, chloride, sodium bicarbonate, iron, magnesium, potassium, silicate, sodium, lithium, and sulfate. Many believe frequent soaks here can help reduce eczema, acne, improve circulation and other benefits. I believe it’s a mysterious balm for your soul too.

To me, the hot water was like a bath. A great big bath with about a dozen other people, but still. There was so much room we could swim. Some people used snorkels. I just floated but was careful not to touch the rough crater walls.

When I got out after 40 minutes, my skin was silky smooth, and I felt relaxed and rejuvenated.

woman floating in the blue water next to rough textured beige limestone wall
Rene Cizio floats in the Homestead Crater. Look at those limestone walls.

Events in the Homestead Hot Spring Crater

The Homestead resort offers hot spring soaking and snorkeling most days of the year. It also allows scuba diving and paddleboard yoga in the hot spring crater.

Still, some people just come in to look and absorb the therapeutic steam but do not get in the water. It’s a fabulous and unique experience you can’t get anywhere else in the country.  

It costs $15 – $18 per person to soak in the Homestead hot spring crater. Find the Homestead Crater at 700 North Homestead Drive, Midway, UT 84049.


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More about Rene Cizio

Rene Cizio is a solo female traveler, writer, author and photographer. Find her on Instagram @renecizio

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