Fish Springs
Fish Springs flows at 82°F from US Fish and Wildlife Service lands in Millard County, delivering water 26 degrees above ambient air temperature through terrain at 4,315 feet elevation. Recent USGS measurements documented 29°C with pH 8.2 and total dissolved solids reaching 1,800 mg/L, while detailed chemistry shows a sodium-chloride signature with 460 mg/L sodium and 640 mg/L chloride balancing 360 mg/L sulfate.
The springs emerge just 49 meters from road access in the West Desert of Utah, creating wetland habitat in an otherwise arid basin receiving only 8 inches of annual precipitation and 19 inches of snow. This permanently protected refuge occupies flat terrain at moderate elevation, where thermal water sustains marshes and open pools surrounded by salt grass, pickleweed, and limited riparian vegetation. The surrounding landscape consists of sagebrush flats and barren playas extending toward distant mountain ranges, with the springs creating a biological oasis visible from improved roads serving wildlife management operations.
Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge was established to protect critical wetland habitat in Utah's West Desert, with the thermal springs providing the foundation for marsh ecosystems supporting migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. The springs have sustained wildlife populations for thousands of years, with Indigenous peoples utilizing the area for hunting and gathering before Euro-American settlement. The refuge now manages these thermal waters primarily for waterfowl and shorebird habitat rather than human recreational use.
Access is restricted to support wildlife management objectives, with visits requiring coordination with refuge staff during limited hours. Spring and fall offer peak bird migration viewing, though summer heat can be extreme in this low-elevation desert environment. The 48-meter distance from road access allows viewing opportunities for those granted entry, but bathing is not permitted due to the refuge's conservation mission.
Is Fish Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Easy day trips
- Mineral-rich therapeutic bathing
The water at Fish Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 8.2) with 1800 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in magnesium (known for muscle relaxation and stress relief), sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration), and sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation).