Thirty-two geothermal pools, sixteen globally inspired mineral soaks, cold plunges, and barrel saunas in La Verkin, Utah, with poolside food and drinks against a red rock backdrop.
Zion Canyon Hot Springs is a geothermal soaking resort in La Verkin, Utah, with 32 geothermal pools that include 16 mineral soaking pools formulated to mimic famous waters from around the world. The facility sits on the Highway 9 corridor between Hurricane and La Verkin, roughly 30 minutes from Zion National Park’s south entrance at Springdale.
The mineral water comes from a genuine source rather than a heated municipal supply. It is drawn from the historic Pah Tempe springs along the Virgin River, where the Hurricane Fault brings mineral-rich water to the surface at temperatures reaching the low hundreds. That water is filtered, treated to neutralize sulphur odor, and cycled through the pools continuously.
Beyond the soaking pools, the property includes cold plunge pools, barrel saunas, a freshwater family pool, private cabanas, a restaurant, poolside drink service, and a separate adults-only area. Pool temperatures span a wide range, from cool dips in the seventies through hot mineral soaks near 104 degrees, with cold plunges considerably colder.
It opened in summer 2025 and operates year-round.
32
Geothermal Pools
16
Mineral Soaking Pool
Poolside
Food & Drinks
Wooden
Barrel Sauna
Cold
Plunge Pools
You move through the property rather than settle into one spot. Most people start warm, work through a few of the mineral pools to find the temperature that suits them, then break the heat with a cold plunge before returning. The contrast is the point, and it is more physical than it sounds the first time you try it.
The mineral pools each carry a different formulation, so moving between them changes the water’s feel and mineral character. The barrel saunas offer dry heat as a third option alongside hot and cold water. Late afternoon into evening is when the property is at its best, when steam lifts off the surface into cooling desert air and the sandstone above the canyon turns deep orange before the light goes.
Yes, soaking in hot springs after hiking helps. Warm water raises circulation to muscles that have been working hard, which supports the recovery process, while buoyancy takes weight off joints that spent the day absorbing impact. Alternating between hot pools and a cold plunge, often called contrast therapy, is a long-standing recovery practice among athletes. Research on its benefits is still developing, and results vary between individuals, but most people find the combination leaves them feeling noticeably better than heat alone. After a day on Angels Landing or wading upstream through The Narrows, the effect is hard to argue with.
The mental side matters as much. Zion in peak season is busy in a way that takes something out of you beyond the physical effort. Shuttle lines, crowded trailheads, and the constant awareness of other people all add up. A soak afterward gives you a couple of hours of not moving, not planning, and not being in a queue. It is a straightforward reset, and it works.
Then there is the practical case. La Verkin sits on Highway 9, the same road you take out of the park. The hot springs are roughly a 30-minute drive from Zion’s south entrance, which puts them on your way rather than out of your way. You can leave the canyon in the late afternoon, soak into the evening, and eat without adding a separate trip to your itinerary.
Address 202 W 300 S, La Verkin, UT 84745
Hours Open daily, year-round. The facility closes on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Admission Ticketed entry with session-based access. Standard sessions run about three hours from your reserved start time, with a full-day upgrade available that allows re-entry.
Reservations Advance booking is recommended in every season, and it is close to essential on weekends and holidays.
What’s included Access to the geothermal and mineral pools, cold plunges, saunas, and freshwater pool. Locker rooms are on site. Cabanas and adults-only areas may be separate upgrades.
What to bring Swimsuit, towel (check whether rentals are offered), water bottle, sandals, and a change of clothes. Leave valuables in your vehicle or a locker.
Reserve your session online before you arrive. Weekend and holiday slots fill quickly, and walk-up availability is not guaranteed in any season.
This gives you time to park, check in, and change without eating into your session. Your session clock generally starts at your reserved time rather than when you enter the water.
Locker rooms are available on site. Bring a lock or check whether lockers are provided, and leave anything valuable in your vehicle.
Begin in one of the warmer mineral pools to loosen up. Then move between pools to find the temperatures and formulations you prefer. There is no set route and no wrong order.
Alternate hot and cold once you are comfortable. Short cold exposures work better than long ones for most people. Step out if you feel lightheaded at any point.
Food and drink service is available without leaving the pool area. Plan on two to three hours minimum to use the property properly. Anything shorter and you will feel rushed.
The best time to visit is evening, in any season. Cooler air makes the hot pools feel better, the light on the canyon walls is at its best, and the crowds thin after the day-trip traffic clears. Across the year, winter offers the most striking contrast and the smallest crowds, while spring and fall bring the busiest conditions because they overlap with peak Zion season.
Zion’s busiest stretch, and the hot springs feel it. Comfortable air temperatures make midday soaking pleasant. Book well ahead, particularly around spring break and holiday weekends.
Southern Utah heat makes daytime soaking less appealing, so this is when the cooler pools and cold plunges earn their place. Evening visits are considerably better than afternoon ones. Crowds ease slightly compared with spring.
Arguably the best overall combination. Air temperatures drop into a comfortable range, the light gets warmer, and October in particular is popular. Expect busy weekends and book early.
The hidden season. Soaking in water near 104 degrees while cold desert air sits above the surface is the single best version of this experience, and it comes with the shortest lines of the year. Bring a warm layer for the walk between pools, and remember the facility closes on Christmas Day.
The Dwellings at River Rock is a collection of private modern tiny homes set on the rim of the Virgin River in La Verkin, directly across the street from Zion Canyon Hot Springs. Each dwelling is a self-contained stay rather than a hotel room, positioned about 30 minutes from Zion National Park’s south entrance on the Highway 9 corridor. The location means the hot springs are a walk rather than a drive, and the park is a straightforward morning departure. Guests use it as a base camp for the wider Greater Zion area, including Sand Hollow, Snow Canyon, and the drive toward Bryce.
Three feature cards:
Walk to Zion Canyon Hot Springs instead of driving. Soak into the evening and return on foot.
Direct access via Highway 9 to Zion’s south entrance, with no canyon-town traffic to fight in the morning.
Self-contained modern tiny homes on the Virgin River rim, not hotel corridors.
✓ Directly across from Zion Canyon Hot Springs
✓ About 30 minutes from Zion National Park
✓ Save up to 20% booking direct, with no OTA fees
✓ Save up to 30% on Zion Canyon Hot Springs passes when you book them through The Dwellings
Private modern dwellings on the Virgin River rim, positioned between the hot springs and the park. Book direct for the best available rate.
Multi-night discounts: 10% off 2 nights · 15% off 3 nights · 20% off 4+ nights
Call direct: +1 (435) 525-2441
A: Zion Canyon Hot Springs is about a 30-minute drive from Zion National Park’s south entrance in Springdale, following Highway 9 through Rockville and Virgin into La Verkin. The route is direct and requires no detour if you are heading toward Hurricane or St. George afterward. Most visitors combine a park day with an evening soak, which works well because the drive out of the canyon lands you here at roughly the right hour.
A: Advance reservations are strongly recommended and are effectively required on weekends and holidays. Sessions are timed, typically running about three hours from your booked start, with full-day upgrades available. Booking online ahead of your visit is the only reliable way to secure the time slot you want, especially in spring and fall when Zion traffic peaks.
A: Pool temperatures span a wide range, from cooler mineral pools in the seventies up to hot soaks around 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold plunge pools run substantially colder, in the forties and fifties. The variety is deliberate, since moving between hot and cold water is central to how most people use the property.
A: For most travelers, yes, particularly after a hard hiking day or as a wellness-focused stop in an otherwise activity-heavy Southern Utah trip. It is a developed resort rather than an undeveloped natural spring, so if you are hoping for a rustic backcountry soak, this is not that. What you get instead is genuine mineral water, a large range of pool temperatures, saunas, cold plunges, food service, and reliable facilities. Set expectations accordingly and it delivers well.
A: The Dwellings at River Rock is located directly across the street from Zion Canyon Hot Springs in La Verkin, making it the closest accommodation to the property. It offers private modern tiny homes on the Virgin River rim, about 30 minutes from Zion National Park’s south entrance.
Staying across the street means you can soak into the evening and walk back rather than drive, which matters more than expected after a full day of hiking.
