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Inlet Park Hot Spring is a great hot spring to bring the family to and one to enjoy even solo too. It’s located right on the edge of Utah Lake. If you’re in the Provo area, this hot spring is perfect for a quick and easy soak.
We lived in Provo for a bit and never knew of Inlet Park hot spring. However, we were back in Provo for about a week, this hot spring was frequented by us, maybe a bit too much! 😉
Inlet Park, or Saratoga Springs is super easy to access, not too hot, and has great views. What more could you ask for?
Inlet Park Hot Springs (Saratoga Hot Springs) Quick Facts
- Location: Utah Lake (Saratoga, Utah)
- Temperature: ranges from cold to warm (not really hot hot) at the source
- Access: 1/4 mile flat walk from parking lot
- Texture: silty
- Depth: 1-2 feet
Where Exactly Is Inlet Park Hot Springs?
Nestled in the thick of the weeds along the shoreline of Utah Lake, Inlet Park Hot Spring is a bit hidden. You park in just a normal city park parking lot, and within a quarter mile walk, you’re in a completely different world.
Saratoga Springs is a newly developed area, that actually has a large private park and private housing. There is a small spring within the Saratoga Springs community that is accessible only to those living there. While that is the real Saratoga Springs, Inlet Park Hot Spring is known by the same name.
After parking in the Inlet Park lot, face the bathrooms you’ll see a sign with a path right behind it. While the sign has a map of the area, all you really need to know is to follow the path leading away from the parking lot, not the one that runs along it. About a quarter mile down this path, you’ll hit a sharp corner with a trail leading into the bushes. This is where you want to be!
Following that trail, you’ll see the hot spring within a few steps. If you miss this turn, and find yourself on the main path leading back towards the road, you know you’ve gone too far.
What’s the Hype with Inlet Park Hot Springs?
Inlet Park Hot Spring is right on the edge of Utah Lake near Saratoga, Utah. The park itself has a playground, soccer fields, walking trails, and seasonal bathrooms. With the easy access to the hot spring and the warm, but not too hot temperatures, you can almost guarantee you’ll be sharing this hot spring with multiple other people.
Inlet Park Hot Spring is popular for is proximity to both Salt Lake City and BYU. Unfortunately, that means it is very popular with the high school and college age students. They come here for parties, get togethers before dances, and even class outings!
Not only is the proximity to these locations making this hot spring popular, but so is the ease of access. With a short quarter mile walk from a parking lot getting you straight to the spring, almost anyone can reach this hot spring without too much difficulty.
How about the Temperature at Saratoga Springs?
There is one spot in the hot spring that boils out piping hot water. This is the only truly “hot” bit about Inlet Park hot springs. With the soaking pool being so large, a big portion of it is more warm than hot.
Wading around in the hot spring pool, you’ll find the hot spot rather easily. It’s a bit creepy though, as its like sinking sand surrounding it. No, you won’t actually sink all the way in, but you can easily get waste deep in the sinking sand if you try!
When sharing the hot spring with large groups of other people, the hot water gets blocked off rather quickly, making the rest of the pool cold. However, if you have the hot spring to yourself, or are only sharing with a few other people, everyone will be able to enjoy the heat!
What do I Need to Bring For Soaking in Inlet Park Hot Springs Utah?
Proper swimsuits are a must when visiting Saratoga Hot Springs and other hot springs in Utah. It is technically illegal to soak at hot springs in Utah nude, so cover up! This hot spring is frequented by families and high schoolers and is patrolled by the Saratoga police. Definitely not a place to test the waters on bathing nude!
You’ll also certainly want to bring a towel. We always travel with a microfiber towel, as they’re small, quick-drying, and are made for being used over and over again without washes in between.
We also recommend bringing a water bottle. At least a liter of it per person. Being in the hot water will dehydrate you. Plus, drinking water is a great way to cool you down on the inside!
Since this hot spring is down a mostly paved and even path, you don’t need hiking shoes to access the hot spring. Crocs make for great shoes for slipping in and out of, and will be fine for getting you to and from your car the 1/4 mile walk.
Inlet Park Hot Spring Etiquette
Wear Clothing // Cover your goodies! It’s technically illegal to soak in hot springs nude. With that said, Saratoga Hot Springs Utah is right next to a police station and is often visited by families, so be sure to follow the rules and cover up.
Don’t Party at Saratoga Hot Springs // The idea of hot springs being a place of rest and relaxation isn’t very common among the youngens that visit Saratoga Springs. Multiple people mention the parties with glow sticks and loud music have pushed others out of the hot springs never to visit again. Please don’t be those people that come here to party. Hot springs are not for that.. find somewhere else!
Pack Out Trash // If you bring it there, don’t leave it there. There are no garbage cans at the hot spring so be sure to pack out whatever you pack in. If you can’t bring it back to the trash cans in the parking lot after soaking, don’t bring it with you in the first place!
Don’t Use the Bathroom in the Springs // I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but seriously don’t do it. After hearing people at other hot springs talk about going the bathroom in the hot spring, I feel I have to remind everyone reading our posts to not do that. It’s freaking disgusting.. Nobody wants to soak in your pee! Especially at Inlet Park Hot Springs where there isn’t any flow to the water. Use the bathroom at the parking area, or follow these rules about using the bathroom in nature.
Leave Your Pets in the Car // Is it just us or does it drive everyone else insane when people let their dogs in hot springs!? And even more so when people allow their dogs to just run freely splashing other soakers, and getting water all over other people’s belongings!? As a pet owner, please keep in mind, not all people are “dog” people and want your dogs all up in their business!
Best Times to Visit Inlet Park Hot Spring
We went to Inlet Park Hot Spring a number of times. The first two times we went at night, and that was a huge mistake. There was huge groups of people there, as in almost too many to get in the hot springs. Early in the evening it was full of kids jumping in the water and swimming and splashing everyone else in it. Once the families left, in came the large groups of high school and college students. We’re talking 20-30 students in the groups.
They quite literally pushed us out of the hot spring. Their group moved like an ameba closing in on the area of the hot spring the hot water comes out.
The last time we went, we visited mid-morning on a weekday, and that was the perfect time. We shared the hot spring with not a single other soul, and it was a truly relaxing and enjoyable soak.
If planning to visit Inlet Hot Springs, try and plan your visit during the week day, and not too late in the evening. This way, you’ll likely not have to share the one big hot spring pool with loads of others.
Inlet Park Hot Springs are open year round, however are closed from 10 pm to 7 am. A police station nearby supposedly checks the springs often after hours. So, do mind the opening times.
Free Camping Near Saratoga Springs Utah
While there is no camping directly near Inlet Park Hot Spring, there is some great camping about 20 minutes away on BLM land.
The camping area is huge, but can be really busy. We stayed there for a couple of nights and didn’t have any problems with people, though, be warned of the trash and nails around “fire pits”.
There are also plenty of other spots to wild camp in the general area, you can check out apps that have them in this post here, or read about more ways to find free camping in this post.
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