day 34—mystic waters

Imagine this: you’re fully immersed in relaxation, soaking in a bathtub with steam curling around you. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a man and his dog appear. Instinctively, you cover yourself as if you’re naked, but you’re not. And this isn’t just any bathtub; it’s one of his many scattered across the property, and you paid $25 to be in it.

Welcome to Mystic Hot Springs, a quirky natural hot spring located 2 hours north of Zion. Despite its abandoned vehicles, half-finished projects, and a roaming flock of peacocks, this place holds magic beneath its rustic oddities.

It was eclectic yet euphoric.

While I wasn’t expecting a middle-aged man to be putzing around as I bathed, something was endearing about how he tended to the land.

As we settled into the mineral-rich waters, we welcomed his conversation, soaking in the tubs' warmth and the stories behind them.

He had married into the mystique. His father-in-law had taken the reins 30 years ago, restoring the property’s abandoned cabins and vehicles and turning them into rentals. But Mystic Hot Springs has long been a place of rest and rejuvenation.

The springs, initially used by nomadic tribes like the Ute, Shoshone, and Piute, later became a sought-after stop along the Old Spanish Trail for weary settlers. It’s easy to understand why.

While the bathtubs are a more recent addition, the healing waters remain unchanged. They’re sulfur-free, calcium-rich, and flow steadily at 200 gallons per minute at a consistent temperature between 99 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Over time, mineral deposits have encased the tubs, making them appear as if they’ve emerged directly from the earth.

We moved from tub to tub, playing Goldilocks with the temperatures until we found one that was just right. Our aching muscles from yesterday’s hike had melted, replaced by a slow, grounding calm.

After an hour of tub-hopping, we wandered over to the larger 20x20 pools. Unlike the tubs, these are typically shared with strangers, but today we had them to ourselves.

Then again, it was a Tuesday.