Saratoga Hot Springs

 Saratoga Hot Springs is a series of hot springs located in, you guessed it Saratoga Springs. There are a couple of springs, but one main soaking spring. The trail is mostly paved, then it becomes hard packed dirt. The trail features some nice woods, and a nice view of Utah Lake. The hot springs used to be very quiet and you’d hardly ever see anybody else there. But, Saratoga Springs and other nearby cities are growing rapidly, and well, word is out. It was very busy today!

We had family stuff going on, but it was a beautiful day so I wanted to squeeze something in.

Quick Details:

Length: About 3/4 of a mile out and back.
Trail Type: Out and back.
Difficulty: DR3. It’s flat and mostly paved, but there is some dirt too.
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: There are some at Inlet Park.
Dogs? Yes, Leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Take Pioneer Crossing to Saratoga Road and head south. The road will curve to the west, then back to the south. Right after that 2nd curve you will see Inlet Park on the left. There are 2 parking lots, you want the second, or south one.

The Trail:

They tossed this trail onto the end of the Jordan River Parkway.

The beginning is paved.

Utah Lake.

Again.

Panoramic.

Continuing along.

The lake again.

Starting to reach the wooded section.

With a healthy mix of wetland.

Into the woods.

Then the pavement ends.

More woods.

The lake again, with American Fork Canyon and Mount Timpanogos on the right.

The main trail curves back to the north. I haven’t done that part yet but it just seems to end at some point. Anyway, you want to take the thinner side trail to the left here.

Then you are there. And wow, it is a zoo today! I didn’t take a lot of pictures because well, people.

This upper spring is a little smaller and kind of gross, so people don’t soak in it.

There appear to be fish in here? I mean it drains into the lake so I guess they could swim upstream to it but it does seem odd.

In the bigger pond too.

Utah Lake again.

You can see more pictures of the spring from my 2013 trip.

Well, we decided to head back.

Back into the woods.

Mountains.

Woodpecker. I didn’t get a good look at it’s beak which is what helps me determine between hairy and downy woodpeckers, but I am leaning towards downy based on the size it appeared to be. But I acknowledge it could be a hairy too.

More forest.

Back to the pavement.

Utah Lake and the mountains.

Another panoramic.

Nearing the trailhead.

Mount Timpanogos on the way back (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).

It’s a nice short quick trail to do, but wow. I cannot believe how crowded it has become. Dropping it down a few pegs due to that. however, I think I need to take into account the long, brutal winter and well everybody just wants to get out and enjoy the perfect weather we had today, so I will bump it back up a bit. 8 out of 10 squirrels today.

As for difficulty, it was super flat and mostly paved. DR3.

Dogs are allowed, but must remain leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.