ADVENTURE #2

Take a Plunge in Gandy Warm Springs

Gandy Warm Springs is a spectacular desert oasis of crystal-clear streams, little waterfalls, lukewarm pools, and caves, with approximately 9,000 gallons of water flowing from it every minute. The water temperatures sit at around 81 degrees on average, which makes it a great place to relax and enjoy the beauties of nature. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even explore the cave from which a part of the spring flows. It’s informally called Beware Cave and is only around 30 feet long, accessible for most, as the water level leaves just enough room for your head.

Accessibility: Visitors must take a 30-mile stretch of dirt road to reach the springs, which is easier in a vehicle with medium clearance. There’s a short walk to the pools, but it’s easy for most. The springs are just short of 4 feet deep, so most individuals will be able to stand in the water.

What to bring: Bring your swimming suit, a towel, drinking water, and an underwater flashlight or a waterproof headlamp if you plan to explore the cave!

Kid-friendly: Yes

Dog-friendly: Yes

Cost: Free

Amenities: None

Camping: An established campsite is located approximately 1 mile downstream of the springs.

If you pack it in, pack it out! Leave no trace of your visit so we can maintain the beauty of Utah’s natural lands for everyone to enjoy.

No more than an hour north of Great Basin National Park, you’ll find Crystal Ball Cave, a natural limestone cavern discovered in 1956 by George Simms, who stumbled upon it while looking for a lost sheep on Spring Mountain. The cave’s beautiful formations, floors, walls, and calcite crystal ceilings make it one of a kind. Think of it as a giant geode that you can walk through! After a short quarter-mile hike, a guide will give you a tour of the cave, as it follows 600 feet of trails through the mountain. Expect to see stalagmites, columns, cave coral, cave bacon, and many other formations covered in calcite crystals.

Crystal Ball Cave is operated by the Bates family, who volunteer as stewards for the Bureau of Land Management. Here’s what to expect:

What to bring: To get to the trailhead, you’ll be driving for 30 miles if you’re coming from the highway. Make sure your gas tank is full and that you have plenty of water and supplies.

Accessibility: The trek to the cave is a very short quarter-mile hike. It’s said to be easy for children and adults of all ages.

Cost: Tours are free, but donations are greatly appreciated!

Availability: A tour guide is necessary to see the cave, and appointments are required for a tour. There are no tours available on Sundays, and no walk-ins are accepted. The Bates family says tours are booking fast this year, so make your reservations ASAP. You can tour the cave at any time of the year, weather permitting. The tour is about 2 hours long and meets at the Bates Family Ranch. Your tour guide will lead you on a short drive to the parking area and a short hike to the entrance. Call 801-787-6675 or go to crystalballcave.com to book.

Amenities: Restrooms, rental cabins, and trailer parking are all available nearby. This area offers a good opportunity to change into or out of your swimming suit coming from or heading to the warm springs.

We advise against touching the cave’s surfaces, as your oils and skin cells — even in trace amounts — can permanently alter the growth of the rock formations!

Great Basin National Park is a gem across the Utah-Nevada border, spanning the vast, silent Great Basin Desert, one of the least densely populated regions in the US and a serene place to be at one with nature. Millard County is considered the eastern gateway to the park. From the sagebrush at the Great Basin’s sandy base to Wheeler Peak’s 13,000-foot summit, the park’s 77,000 acres host many of the highest points in the state, adorned with some of the oldest trees on Earth. Visitors can see everything from forested peaks, streams, and lakes to abundant wildlife, caves, and some of the nation’s most striking night skies, dark enough to quiet the mind. Hike, swim, fish, stargaze, or simply sit and ponder life enveloped in majestic beauty.

One of the park’s most famous limestone caverns is the beautiful Lehman Caves, Nevada’s longest cave, stretching over 2 miles. The park is also home to Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Grove, the oldest, most expansive grove in the Snake Range. It’s an ideal place for a contemplative stroll through deep, living history beneath the stoic ramparts of Wheeler Peak.