Gandy Warm Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Gandy Warm Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Garrison, Utah. Reported soak temperature: 81°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open and free on BLM land at the Nevada line — an ~81°F oasis of pools, cascades and a cave spring (Beware Cave) reached by ~30 mi of graded dirt road; Bates Ranch (private, cabins/camping/Crystal Ball Cave tours) sits adjacent but the springs themselves are public.
verified against an official source · 6 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Utah Geological Survey — GeoSights: Gandy Warm Springs.
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 81°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None required
- Best time to go: Late spring through fall; summer evenings; very quiet midweek
- Clothing reality: Official: none (BLM). Customary: suits — long used by local families for soaking, swimming and even baptisms. Legal: Utah lewdness law applies.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Short walk from the turnaround parking; uneven natural terrain — not wheelchair accessible
- Warm, not hot — ~81°F; best in warm weather or as a swim stop
- ~30 mi of dirt road each way (Gandy Rd off US-6/50, 0.7 mi east of the NV line) — fuel, water and supplies before leaving pavement; no services
- Nearest services: Border Inn on US-50 (~30 mi south); Delta ~120 mi east
- Home to the endemic springsnail Pyrgulopsis saxatilis (found nowhere else) plus native speckled dace — tread gently, no soap
- Beware Cave discharges ~9,000 gal/min — impressive but don't enter the cave
- No facilities; Bates Family Ranch (<10 min) has bathrooms for cave-tour guests plus cabins/camping
- Hazard: ~30 mi remote dirt-road travel
- Hazard: No services/cell
- Hazard: Flash-flood potential in desert roads
- Hazard: Fragile endemic species habitat
About this spring
Remote desert oasis on the western edge of Snake Valley near the Nevada border — crystal-clear warm water (~81°F) cascading over travertine in small waterfalls and pools at the base of Spring Mountain, discharging ~9,000 gal/min. A short cave ('Beware Cave') lets you wade to the spring source. Designated a Utah Geological Survey GeoSight. Extremely remote — nearest services ~30 mi at the Border Inn. Road impassable when wet. Warm (81°F) not hot.
Gandy Warm Springs is a desert oasis at the Nevada line on the western edge of Snake Valley — crystal-clear water around 81°F cascades over travertine into small pools and waterfalls at the base of Spring Mountain, discharging roughly 9,000 gallons a minute. A short cave called Beware Cave lets you wade up toward the spring source. The site is free on BLM land and designated a Utah Geological Survey GeoSight; the adjacent Bates Ranch is private property with its own cabins and cave tours.
Two honest caveats define the visit: it's warm, not hot — 81°F is a swim stop rather than a winter soak — and it is genuinely remote, about thirty miles of graded dirt road off US-6/50 with the nearest services roughly thirty miles away and the road impassable when wet. Fuel, water, and supplies before leaving pavement; midweek visits are often entirely private.
Directions & trailhead access
From Delta: US-6/50 west ~80 mi to near the NV line; north on Gandy Road ~28 mi to the signed Gandy turnoff, ~2.7 mi west. ~30 mi dirt — dry conditions only.
Utah geothermal context
Utah's springs surface along the Wasatch Front fault system and across the western desert basins. Canyon sites like Fifth Water can flash-flood in storms and close under avalanche danger in winter; desert sites like Meadow involve long graded-road approaches through open range. Elevation changes of thousands of feet mean 'the weather' varies wildly by site.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Best time to visit
Year-Round (Best: May – October)Pool temperatures and access can change with weather and season. Outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly across Utah. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 81°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 81°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Utah Geological Survey — GeoSights: Gandy Warm Springs |
Gandy Warm Springs FAQ
Is Gandy Warm Springs open right now?
Open and free on BLM land at the Nevada line — an ~81°F oasis of pools, cascades and a cave spring (Beware Cave) reached by ~30 mi of graded dirt road; Bates Ranch (private, cabins/camping/Crystal Ball Cave tours) sits adjacent but the springs themselves are public. (Status verified against an official source.)
Is Gandy Warm Springs free?
Gandy Warm Springs is listed as free to access in Millard County, Utah. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Gandy Warm Springs?
Gandy Warm Springs has a reported soak temperature of 81°F and a historical source temperature of 81°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Gandy Warm Springs clothing optional?
Gandy Warm Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Gandy Warm Springs?
Gandy Warm Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Utah Geological Survey — GeoSights: Gandy Warm Springs — official · 2017
- BLM Fillmore Field Office FY21 spending plan (Gandy Warm Springs kiosks/counters — confirms BLM management) — official · 2022-07
- Road Trip Ryan — Gandy Warm Springs (road log) — community · 2024
- Outdoor Fam Fun — Gandy Warm Springs (Bates Ranch amenities) — community · 2024
- Hot Springs Guides — Gandy Warm Springs — community · 2025
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
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