Deseret Livestock
Deseret Livestock flows at 75°F just 33 meters from Skull Valley Road in Tooele County, positioned at 4,360 feet elevation in one of Utah's most remote valleys. The spring runs 19.5 degrees above ambient air temperatures in a high desert landscape receiving only 11.9 inches of precipitation annually. Roadside access makes this thermal feature immediately reachable without off-road driving.
Skull Valley stretches forty miles between the Stansbury Mountains to the east and the Cedar Mountains to the west, its floor covered in shadscale, greasewood, and scattered sagebrush adapted to alkaline soils and scarce moisture. At this elevation, the valley receives less than a foot of rain annually, with 29.9 inches of snow falling in winters when temperatures plunge below zero. The terrain remains essentially flat, broken only by erosional channels and low ridges of Tertiary sediment. Military restricted areas occupy much of the northern valley, while ranching operations persist on federal grazing allotments across the remainder.
The spring's name references Deseret Livestock Company, which has operated ranching enterprises across western Utah since the late nineteenth century. Mormon settlers recognized the value of thermal seeps as reliable livestock water sources in regions where surface streams run only after rare storms. Historical accounts do not document Indigenous use of this particular spring, though Goshute bands utilized the valley's scattered water sources for millennia before displacement. The spring remains in an undeveloped natural state.
Visit from spring through fall when Skull Valley Road conditions remain favorable and temperatures make the moderate thermal output noticeable. Summer daytime heat can exceed one hundred degrees, making the 75°F spring feel cool by comparison. Winter access requires caution due to snow, ice, and limited services for dozens of miles. Loop Campground in South Willow Canyon sits 13.4 kilometers southeast at 7,400 feet elevation, offering developed sites and access to the Stansbury Front Trail.
Is Deseret Livestock worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Loop Campground is located southwest of Grantsville, Utah, in South Willow Canyon at an elevation of 7,400 feet. It’s located in the Stansbury Range where visitors enjoy exploring local trails. Recreation The multi-use Stansbury Front Trail and Medina Flat Trail begin across the road from the entrance, offering access to the rugged Deseret Peak Wilderness. Willow Creek offers rainbow and brown trout fishing. Facilities This campground has 9 single sites and 1 double site and has vaul...