Red Hill Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Red Hill Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Monroe, Utah. Reported soak temperature: 100°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Free primitive hot spring on private land donated for public use and managed by the city of Monroe — 3-4 travertine pools cascading down a red mineralized hillside off a short dirt road 1.3 mi east of town; open daylight hours only (posted ~5am-10pm / closes at dusk), no camping at the site, pit toilet at parking area.
Checked August 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
An I-70 town base for Mystic and Red Hill near Monroe.
Richfield is about 9 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Hot Springs Guides — Red Hill Hot Springs, Utah.
- 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 100°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 — free, no fee, no reservation.
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings/evenings; sunrise and sunset for views. Summer weekends draw moderate crowds from I-70 travelers.
- Clothing reality: Official/customary: clothing required (swimsuits). Legal: nudity is illegal at Utah hot springs regardless of land ownership — this site is city-managed and posted.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Short but rough/uneven scramble up a mineralized hillside from the parking area; pools are natural rock/travertine — not wheelchair accessible.
- Closes at dusk (posted hours roughly 5am-10pm) — no night soaking
- Camping at the spring is prohibited and signed; free BLM dispersed camping on the dirt road just before the parking lot
- Near-boiling source at top of hill (~168-171F) — keep kids/dogs away from upper pools
- Private land open to public by landowner generosity — litter/abuse is the stated reason access could be revoked
- Dirt access road can be muddy/snowed-in in winter; usually passable for any vehicle
- Some visitors report a territorial caretaker/neighbor policing parking — park only in the designated lot
- Hazard: Scalding source water at top of hill (168-171F)
- Hazard: Slippery mineral-encrusted rocks between pools
- Hazard: Dirt road impassable after heavy snow
About this spring
Primitive geothermal pools cascading down a vivid red mineralized hillside east of Monroe — free public access on private land donated for public use, managed by the City of Monroe. Day-use only (closes at dusk). Source ~168°F 'Lobster Pot' upper pool is scalding; lower pools ~95-105°F soakable. Upper source pools ~168-171°F cause severe burns — soak only in lower pools and test. Closes at dusk.
Red Hill Hot Springs sits about 1.3 miles east of Monroe in Sevier County, where geothermal water emerges near the top of a vividly mineralized hill and cascades through three to four shallow pools of progressively lower temperature. The hilltop source is near boiling — USGS records put it around 171°F — so the fenced upper 'Lobster Pot' is for looking rather than soaking; the middle pools typically run 100-110°F and the lowest pool is coolest. The red-and-orange staining comes from iron minerals deposited by the water plus thermophilic bacteria and algae, which are fragile: visitors are asked not to walk on the hillside crust, and the iron-rich water permanently stains light-colored swimwear.
The land is privately owned but donated for public use and managed by the City of Monroe. Access is free, with a parking area and pit toilet, reached by a graded dirt road off East 300 North; the site closes at dusk and camping is not permitted. It sits about four miles from the paid Mystic Hot Springs resort, making it Monroe's free, undeveloped soaking alternative.
Directions & trailhead access
From Monroe, east on 100 N (Monroe Canyon Rd) past Mystic Hot Springs; the steaming red hillside is on the left. Pit toilet at parking.
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 | 100°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 171°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 | Hot Springs Guides — Red Hill Hot Springs, Utah |
Red Hill Hot Springs FAQ
Is Red Hill Hot Springs open right now?
Free primitive hot spring on private land donated for public use and managed by the city of Monroe — 3-4 travertine pools cascading down a red mineralized hillside off a short dirt road 1.3 mi east of town; open daylight hours only (posted ~5am-10pm / closes at dusk), no camping at the site, pit toilet at parking area. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked August 2026.)
Is Red Hill Hot Springs free?
Red Hill Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Sevier County, Utah. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Red Hill Hot Springs?
Red Hill Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 100°F and a historical source temperature of 171°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Red Hill Hot Springs clothing optional?
Red Hill Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Red Hill Hot Springs?
Red Hill Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Richfield
An I-70 town base for Mystic and Red Hill near Monroe. Reserve Mystic’s timed soak separately.
Richfield is about 9 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Hot Springs Guides — Red Hill Hot Springs, Utah — community · 2025
- Live That Adventure — How to Visit Red Hill Hot Springs (posted rules: 5am-10pm, clothing required, no camping) — community · 2024
- Arbours Abroad — Red Hills Hot Spring guide (city-run park, BLM camping nearby) — community · 2023
- SoakingSprings.com — Red Hill Hot Spring (171F source, roadside) — community · 2026-08
- HotSpringsUtah.com — Red Hill Hot Springs — community · 2025
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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