Wilson Health Springs
Emerging at 142 degrees Fahrenheit within the West Desert Test Center military reservation, Wilson Health Springs represents one of Utah's hottest documented thermal features. The spring rises 86.9 degrees above ambient at 4,293 feet elevation in Millard County near Delta. Access is closed to the public due to Department of Defense management. A short walk of 210 meters from roads within the restricted area.
The spring flows in the vast desert basin of western Utah, where average annual temperatures measure 55.1 degrees Fahrenheit and precipitation totals just 7.3 inches with 15.2 inches of snowfall. The surrounding landscape consists of playas, low volcanic hills, and expansive valleys covered in shadscale, greasewood, and other salt-tolerant shrubs. The West Desert Test Center occupies hundreds of square miles of this remote terrain for military weapons testing. The spring's location in this closed military reservation has prevented development and preserved the thermal feature in a natural state.
The spring's name suggests historical use as a health resort or spa, likely predating military acquisition of the land. The West Desert Test Center was established during World War II for weapons testing, eventually growing into a massive restricted area administered by Dugway Proving Ground. Documentation of the spring's earlier history remains sparse, though the health springs designation implies turn-of-the-century or early 20th-century wellness tourism. Military closure has prevented public access for decades.
No legal public access exists due to Department of Defense restrictions. The spring lies deep within active weapons testing ranges where entry without authorization is prohibited and potentially dangerous. The extreme heat of 142 degrees Fahrenheit would require caution even if access were permitted. The spring remains of scientific and historical interest despite its inaccessibility, representing a significant geothermal feature within Utah's western desert basins.
Is Wilson Health Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Observing powerful hot springs
Not ideal for
- Casual soaking