The Crater at Homestead Reviews

I suppose one could call this a hidden gem. I had to do a bit of research to even get the phone number to reserve our swim time. I’m still not even sure of the official name of this place. There were not very many people there, and it’s location is marked only by a couple of small signs near a golf course. This...and yet it is one of the neatest places we’ve been! The 90+ degree mineral water felt so good to our muscles that were sore from hiking. The reservation system didn’t work on the website, and the phone number isn’t even listed there. You make a reservation by calling the “Activities Center” of the Homestead Resort.

I’m from Utah and when I looked st some of the recent reviews. I was surprised at the negative ones. I think they might be out of towners who are a little particular. The people we interacted with were super nice! You don’t really need a full hour. Unless you’re scuba diving. If you follow the instructions you will have a pleasant time. WEAR YOUR SWIMSUIT THERE! They suggested this to me on the phone when I made the reservation and it made it quite convenient. We were ready to go! Go early! We went at 12:30 and at one point we were the only ones in the crater. Great one time experience.

Phenomenal experience diving today at the Homestead Crater in Midway Utah!
Can’t say enough good things about Kitty (my dive buddy today) and the rest of the Staff that helped me with my gear rental.

Can’t wait till my next trip.
Thanks everyone!

Craig and the crew were so hospitable. First timers and we had the best experience, everybody was super kind! Highly recommend

Take your life jacket and you snorkeling gear with you. Great for couples and family's. Everyone must do this.

We went for the first time today and it was such a cool experience! Warm water, snorkeling and swimming. Jon at the front desk was very thorough with his instructions. He was able to take the negativity of one man refusing to wear his life jacket and turn it into a positive experience for us all still. Would HIGHLY recommend!

A friend just happened to mention this spot to me in passing. Having a cancelled cruise, I was in major snorkeling withdrawal this year. No, we didn't wear masks in the water, actually my son and I did, we had our personal full face snorkel masks on. I somehow missed they did an hour scuba experience, I think I would have much preferred that over the snorkeling. Don't get me wrong, it was major relaxing, but it is a small location with no fish, so after a bit you just kind of floated around. There was no trash in the water at all as some others reported. We came in with a group of boys and I thought sure they would make it loud and chaotic, but they were pretty well behaved. It was 22 degrees outside, yes it was slightly chilly changing clothes, but honestly, it wasn't even close to how cold I thought we'd be. At the end of the day, I snorkeled, in a hot spring with 90 degree water when it was freezing outside. That's pretty cool.

Quick But Fun Yoga Session
Nice warm water - Yoga on a paddle board and you are inside of a crater. Great combination for a unique experience.

I didn't give this a 5 star because it was just too darn loud in the crater. We happened to have been in the same session of a huge party that were traveling together so the kids were yelling at each other. There was no way to enjoy the natural sounds of the crater or the water. It was nice and warm and I enjoyed the swimming. If you go, have your swimsuit on under your clothes so you don't have to wait to change. There are 4 changing rooms, that's it. Otherwise it was a cool experience.

The experience was like nothing on the site. The water was lukewarm and it felt like the areas where you could stand in the water were going to collapse. There were no ambiance lights. No snow looking cave. There was rust all over. It felt like I was in a dirty place. I left within 15 minutes of my hour booking. Would not recommend and would not return.

This is a great place for learning to dive. If you are already certified and just going to dive, there really isn’t much to see and visibility is poor. We rented dive equipment from them. Everything was in order and sanitized for our use. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The mineral water and the temperature of the water made for a very relaxing and fun experience.

Dave was amazing for my open water certification. He made me feel extremely comfortable even though I was nervous. PERFECT INSTRUCTOR. Thank you!

An experience of a lifetime for our family. Very friendly staff. A must do while visiting Park City and the surrounding areas.

Friends and more friends said that we were missing out if we did not visit The Homestead Crater~Totally AWESOME ~ Actually Unbelieveable! Thank you Midway Utah for such an excellent experience at your little very special "gem" :) HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

This is a unique place to visit. It’s always 96 degrees and crystal clear. It’s inside a geothermal crater in beautiful Heber Valley in Utah. The adjoining resort is nice too. We stayed here for our honeymoon many years ago.

awesome natural attraction with excess lights blocking the view of the sky a brief intro from the staff would have improved the experience which lasts an hour

• Maybe if I stayed a few more days, played golf, soaked in the crater, ate dinner here, I could find some bad things to write about. We didn’t expect a big whoop; we wanted a quiet not-too-busy rest away from home, and we got it.
Low expectations? I didnt know what to expect, or what kind of place this was.
• What I found resembled a huge apartment community. This Homestead Resort or “activity center” is a collection of bunkhouses, guest houses, townhouses, condo-style cottages... Along with a golf course, indoor swimming pool, sauna, outdoor swimming pool, and don’t forget the registration desk, restaurants, bar, and the crater itself. The roads and walking paths here are NOT neatly aligned north to south or east to west, so they were hard to see through a pair of 58 year old eyes — having been driving after dark and enduring high beams of numerous inconsiderate motorists.
• And if you happen to stop on the side of the road somewhere to program your GPS receiver to give you some helpful information, and a policeman approaches to see what’s up, and you mention you’re trying to find that Homestead Resort.... his comments may be worthless.
• And if your toddler makes an embarrassing mess of a public area, where you have to warn the registration clerk, they have probably had it happen before.
• And if an employee somewhere doesn’t have a mask on, don’t freak out; watch out for the real danger; people coughing or sneezing.

Bring towels. If staying at the hotel they will give you one but if not bring your own.
Staff were friendly and helpful.
Was very relaxing.

We traveled 45 minutes from Deer Valley to swim in Heber Crater. It was Easter morning, so it was not busy and we did not have a reservation. We found the crater tenant to be extremely friendly and happy to take our photos- which always makes the experience more enjoyable for us! Since the Crater is 65ft deep, I was glad that they had life vests (our children were 7 and 9). Walking through the man-made tunnel enhanced the adventure. There are changing rooms carved into the cave with doors for privacy, but there is not a lot of room and it's a bit dark (it's a cave, so it's expected). There were a few divers while we were there, which was also neat to see. There is not much of view under the water, as the crater is just a crater, not a cave system. We swam for an hour or so and enjoyed every minute! Good adventure spot for anyone visiting Park City, Utah.

My Husband and I had the opportunity to float in the warm water. The changing rooms and locker space were cramped but it is doable. The crater is smaller than we expected but it was a neat experience.

Just recently went to The Crater and hands down, Dave is the best employee that works there! Love his sense of humor and his willingness to give us a hand if needed. He shares historical information about The Crater in a fun and interesting way. We highly recommend going to The Crater and saying "hi" to Dave!

What a fab place, I would highly recommend this to anyone that is looking for a chilled unique experience.
Easy to get to and great value for money. The staff had great knowledge and it was good to hear its history.

This was a unique experience but nothing I would recommend. It is very small and crowded. As another reviewer said we just bobbed around trying to avoid all the scuba people and the walls which you are not supposed to touch. I left after about 15-20 minutes. Minimal facilities. Be sure to use the restroom first (none there) and wear your suit under your clothes since there are only 4 dressing rooms that are very small. I can say I "swam" in a crater, but that is about it.

What a unique one-of-a-kind experience! This is a DON"T MISS if you are in the Park City area! The crystal clear deep blue hot spring mineral water is amazing. The temp (around 90) is perfect so you don't get too hot or too cold. The whole experience is very soothing and your skin feels great afterward. They do make you wear life jackets the whole time, so can't see the purpose of renting their mask/snorkel. There is nothing in the water to see anyway. Don't miss walking up to the top of the crater, the steps are on the opposite side of the crater entrance. You have a real sense of the crater's size, and the views of the mountains and valley are amazing The operators of the crater do a fine job of limiting the number of guests per time slot, so we never felt crowded while in the crater. We were here in summer, so no problem coming already in your bathing suit and leaving with wet heads. There are changing rooms inside the crater but those are best used for after your soak, as you are not allowed into the crater until your designated time slot and you would use up time better spent in the water!

My sister and I attended a yoga paddle class led by instructor, Blake. He was fine; however, the lodge attendant organizing the boards and handling the towels was incredibly rude and unprofessional. He even went as far as to deny us towels after our yoga session. My biggest regret today is not getting his name but he was a 5’10, white man, with a thick beard and unkempt hair. I was so perplexed by his behavior, I cannot understand what would ever possess an employee to deny paying individuals, who are soaking wet and cold after an hour lon work out, towels to dry themselves. It is very important to treat others the way you would like to be treated, it’s the golden rule. Stating to someone: “I just took all the towels to the laundry” and then begrudgingly pulling a towel from behind the bar and indicating “I don’t want them to be short in the morning” is unkind and unprofessional and I wonder if this was racially motivated, as my sister and I are Black Americans.

Also, our initial interaction with the same person involved him yelling for us to go park our car. We immediately and calmly let him know that our Husands were dropping us off and absolutely planned to park in the designated spots. I will NOT be returning for any additional yoga paddle sessions at this location and I will not be returning to this resort, as it is clear the standard to which they hold their employees is low.

We visited the crater to get in a tune-up dive before heading to the Red Sea in a few days. We had a pleasant experience. The desk person was helpful and courteous, and we got our equipment with no problem. It cost about $50 pp to rent all the gear. Diving in the crater is not too exciting, but at least one can get to 60 ft down and practice a few skills. The water is warm, hot even on the bottom and very relaxing. It is somewhat murky but not too bad. All in all, it is a good place for a wintertime practice dive. The relaxing soak after using up all our air was like being in a bathtub.

This was a last minute decision and it was a good choice!!! The Crater is very warm but most relaxing float you can have. I don't think its much of a place for children although there were some youngsters there while we were there. The place is unusual but also amazing. We got to town earlier than expected so we stopped downtown to the bakery and some shops. What a quaint little town Midway has. If you have the chance browse the town after your soak or before.

We went to the homestead crater after doing a snowmobiling trip. It was such fun. They had a place to change and the facilities were clean. Make sure you make a reservation in advance and they will not let you in until the exact time in your ticket. It was a unique place and we highly recommend it.

We went swimming here and had a lot of fun. Water is 65 feet deep and 92 degrees. Life preservers are mandatory. Staff is very friendly. You can scuba dive there if you desire.

Great place for a short swimming trip. Events are an hour long and that is plenty of time. The water is warm about 90 degrees and feels great. about a hundred gallons of water flows in per minute and a hundred gallons of water flows out per minute. If your scuba certified, recommend doing a quick dive. If you're just going in for swimming they make you wear a life vest so you can't really dive down and check out the sites.

Soaking in the crater at the Homestead Resort in Midway, UT is worth the trip. Call ahead and make a reservation but the peace and serenity you’ll feel floating around the crater is worth it.

We have been diving The Crater for years. Each time we have had a great experience and interaction with the employees. Craig is a big teddy bear and always looks out for his guests. Dave is a hoot. He always greets us with a smile and a huge "welcome." Kitty is genuine in all she does. She is always accommodating and helpful. Dani always has a smile on her face. Each feels as if they are welcoming old friends. Unfortunately, Jory has appeared as an employee but has the air of arrogance. Nothing like entering The Crater, and he is sitting on top of the desk/counter swinging his combat boots shouting and barking orders at the guests and other employees. He never helps, gives assistance or has a kind word. His treatment of the other employees is a disgrace and it is embarrassing. When you engage him in conversation he has no interest in the customer's needs and he only wants to talk about himself. For being in the service industry; he is greatly lacking! Would definitely recommend others to attend if Jory wasn't working. 5 stars for Craig, Dave, Kitty and Dani. Zero stars for Jory.

The crater was amazing. It was so much fun and relaxing for the most part. The only hard part was they had 2 scuba classes going so it got really loud in the crater but once they went under water it got much better again. We will definitely come for another visit.

This is a cool geological hot spring in a crater, in a quiet little ( old) town of Midway, UT. It’s quite unique that one can scuba dive in a hot spring- in a state that is considered ‘desert’! That being said, expect to share the space with scuba divers. I do not scuba dive, ( but may decide to get my certification after visiting this site)
The pool itself is not large, maybe 60 feet across? It is warm like a bathtub, not like a hot tub. You schedule your time in 1 hr increments. This regulates the amount of people visiting the site at one time. Our scheduled time was 11:30 on a Saturday. It was very busy with divers leaving, but when WE left at 12:30, it was not busy at all. There are 4 very small, but adequate changing rooms. These were completely full with people leaving, so I highly recommend changing in the bathroom across the street, or come dressed in your suits. You get 1 hr. Period. If you spend 15 min getting ready, you now have 45 min to enjoy the water. The entry/exit hall is about 6 ft wide? so expect to make room for traffic coming and going in this space. There are small lockers and/or metal shelves to store towels, shoes, dry clothes etc.If you are renting snorkel equipment, just rent one or two and share with your group. Everyone must wear a life jacket. You can see up out f the crater through an opening at the top of the ‘cave’. THe water is clear and you can see below about 25 feet. There is no plant life or marine life, so you are just seeing the Rock formation and scuba divers. This was fun and Relaxing. A great way to spend a snowy, winter afternoon with the family 😊.

Such an interesting piece of geology! Where else can you find a 90 degree 65’ deep pool in a cave to dive in! We were doing our referral open water final 2 dives to obtain Open Water diver certification and it was perfect. Our dive instructor David was super cool. Very knowledgeable and fun. We dove to 40’ and the elements they had under water made it very entertaining for still being a confined space. Will recommend to anyone obtaining dive certification or if just in need of a recurrent dive.

Positives: Warm weather to relax in on a cold, snowy day. Nice Atmosphere. Easy to relax while floating around letting a slight current move you. Friendly employees.

Negatives: Tiny hallway leading into The Crater. There are only 4 changing rooms. I would suggest wearing your swimsuit under your clothes so that if you get there when your reservation starts you aren't wasting your time and money waiting for a changing room to open up. Lockers are small. Life jackets are required. Lots of children (makes relaxing hard when kids are screaming). Very crowded. Not worth spending over $30 for just 2 people.

I agree with the other reviews. It’s kind of a let down. It COULD be great. There is no tour or explanation of what it is. You could install a tv and have a 5 minute little talk about the spring etc. no one really watches the guests. We had some annoying people in our group not wearing life jackets. There’s so much you could do to make this awesome. Definitely wear your swimsuit. It’s cold in changing cubby so change fast and get out. Ok to do once. Wouldn’t return. Nearby town had an awesome coffee and donut shop. It’s open til noon. Highly recommend the donuts

This hot spring was really unique because it was basically a dome🤩 even with a decent size group being there me and my friends felt like there was plenty of room to float and swim around 😊 something that I thought was cool is that you could sign up for scuba diving (65ft in depth) 🤿 we didn’t participate in that but we had goggles which added to the experience for us! Something that I personally enjoyed was that about halfway through your session a worker comes out and educates you on the hot spring itself and I absolutely live to learn about the places I visit.

I could not swim for 60 minutes in the heat and small pool. Yes it is good, but it gets boring and very hot, you will be dehydrated.

If you are looking for something that is totally different then this is the place to go, its an amazing natural attraction. We did the soak swim with snorkel equipment including and our group ranged from young child to adults. Don't worry if your not a swimmer, you must wear life vest. The water was amazing and we felt renewed after our soak. One word of caution if you have brightly color hair (pink, purple, blue etc) it will zap the color. Check in at the Homestead Activity Center (near the Tennis courts and then it is a short walk to the Carter entrance.

We have always loved coming to Homestead for a getaway respite and now it is better than ever. We were even here during the renovation but
Now that the new facilities are available it’s great.

This week I took my 20 year old son, my 19 year old daughter & my 8 year old son swimming in the Crater. It feels like being inside of a dormant volcano that is part way full with heated mineral water. The Homestead regulates the number of people that can swim so it is not crowded. It is really fun. I definitely recommend it!

The change rooms were very small and there are only four of them. I recommend arriving early to be able to change before the rush. Reservations are required so be sure to call early. The water is warm and relaxing. I really enjoyed myself. It was interesting to see the walls inside the crater and the color of the water is unique!

This is a very unique experience. It is a little pricey and the grounds were a little confusing, but it was very fun. We went with a group ages ranging 7 - 65 and all had a good time. Tips -
Bring your own towels or they will charge $5, and the dressing area is very small.

I loved this experience! The hot spring is warm, clear, and the environment is so relaxing. I also appreciated that the crater and hot springs have been maintained by the same family for decades. I highly recommend it!

This is an awesome place to get your scuba open water dive training in. Nice and warm. Friendly people.

Poorly operated, registration is across the parking lot and they won't let you in until the minute you are registered. See further review under my ice castle review

Unique for sure, interesting to experience, but a 1/2 hour is more than enough time here. Staff was friendly.

For divers: There is literally nothing to do or see once you’re underneath the surface. It’s too dark, too many people around so everything gets kicked up leaving your visability to around 5ft. Save your money and and go diving somewhere else. Upside: the water is warm ( but it’s also warm in the Caribbean or FL)

We had 15 of us all ranges from 10
To 68 great fun and relaxation and the price was exceptional would love this in my backyard lol

90 degree water temperature float among amazing minerals. I do this every time I come to Midway, UT.

The crater is cool, I guess, but the lack of safety (a brief “you must wear a life jacket” speech with zero oversight people are wearing them correctly) by a guy lounging in a chair, was…something. The visit is timed to ensure it’s not “overcrowded” yet you’re also floating with 6+ divers, who have no regard for the float people. And when you leave, how do they know? The guy in charge can’t see the crater from his seat, and didn’t even look up when we left. So how does he know we are wearing life vests and no one drowned? There are also no bathroom facilities, though there is a vague “look for the round bldg” but there was no round bldg. The entire resort is under construction and an absolute disaster area, the few staff we encountered were rude or just ignored us. Overall, no, won’t be back.

We were staying at Zermatt just a couple minutes away. We had heard about a warm water underground crater to swim in. We headed over to find out you needed a reservation. We asked if we could head in just for pictures and they said yes. We saw that they had 3 options: swim, snorkel & scuba. Scuba might be worth the experience but I don’t think the swim is worth it, especially in Winter. Is it worth a couple minutes for pictures? Yes. I believe it’s $14-18 for a swim. Cool experience but I don’t think it’s for me.

They went above and beyond to accommodate our very large group. Easy trip over from Park City. Very friendly and made the visit pleasant for everyone. Amazing natural phenomenon unexpected in this location. Definitely worth the trip.

This review is for diving specifically. I have swum in the crater several times and it is really fun. It’s about 95° and feels like a pleasant bath. The sun comes through the hole in the top of the crater at certain times a day and lights up the water. It’s blue and beautiful. Onto the scuba diving though....

I did my scuba certification of the crater. For that I would say it’s not great. The upside is that it’s very warm. The downside is that it’s very dark under there. Especially at night. My first dive was in the evening and the sun had passed the hole at the top of the crater. Aside from a few lit areas underwater, it’s pretty dark and murky. ( if you’re the first one in, it will not be murky. But the bottom is made of silt and once it gets kicked up, visability disappears) The next dive in the morning was much brighter. But overall the water is not super clear and there’s really nothing to see. They have scattered a few hidden treasures around for you to look for, but that’s about it I would only recommend driving there as a novelty. It’s really not that fun And the darkness can really freak you out, so a dive flashlight is a MUST.

It was a pretty cool experience for the family. There are some reviews here that probably went in with unrealistic expectations. It’s very affordable given the area it’s in - less than $20 a person. You enter through a narrow passage that has four small changing rooms on the right of the passage - you then come to a desk to check in - then put a life jacket on in another area of the narrow passage. From there you come out into the cave, which is pretty cool. The water is warm, not hot. It’s not a hot tub, people! It’s a geothermal hot spring that’s very comfortable to just float around in. You can’t jump in and have to wear lifejackets. If you’re looking to relax for an hour in a very interesting natural environment, this is a great experience. Make sure to come with your suit under clothes. Maybe leave all valuables and shoes in the car - wear flip flops or plastic slides. Bring a towel.

We had the "scuba experience" in the crater for Christmas. Dave was terrific and made everyone feel comfortable. A beautiful place! Very busy on the weekend!

We went to visit the crater while visiting my brother who lives in Utah. I am so glad that we did. Honestly, the entire experience was magical and breathtaking. It felt like a seventh wonder of the world.

If you're looking for lights, cameras, and extreme excitement--this isn't the place for you. But if you're looking for a spiritual, peaceful, beautiful place, I'd highly recommend visiting the crater.

Places like this are so few and far between in life. I'm so grateful we did it. We also had a lovely lunch right after at the Midway Mercantile.

It’s $13 a person to swim here for an hour and that’s all you really need. The water is so warm that you’re ready to get out by that time. If you want to snorkel,there really isn’t anything to see and you can save money by just renting one snorkel and take turns sharing. People can scuba dive there too but again, nothing to see. It’s 65 feet deep, pretty clear water and warm. They have changing rooms but no showers so plan accordingly. Life vests are mandatory and you’d want one anyway to just float and enjoy the awesomeness!! We had 5 adults, a 14 year old, a 9 year old and a 1 year old and they all had a blast. There is two little sections with sectioned out seats that you can let the little ones let loose in.

We went here to experience a nice hot springs experience. It was average to say the least. First of all they make you wear a life vest! Who can experience hot springs in a heavy life vest!! Plus the water was lukewarm, it wasn't even that hot. The crater is dark with really ugly fluorescent lighting. All in all it wasn't the hot spring experience I was looking for. Plus it's freezing getting out and they have very few changing rooms, so you have to wait in the cold. I would not go back!

We love The Homestead and visit often and always hit the crater and summer concert events. The fudge is also really good.

This is something you should really see when in the area. It is different and pretty. The closest thing it reminds me of is a centote in Mexico, with hot water instead of cold. Fresh, relaxing, and a good experience. The 40 mins is more than enough. Friendly staff.

Dani was amazing! She was so friendly.
Dave took time to help us get our gear down to the dock and he genuinely cared about us. It was like visiting old friends.

The visibility was ok, the water was warm and the service was great..except for our experience with one employee.

Jory is a JERK! This guy thinks alot of himself and no one is more important than he is. He is a legend in his own mind. Dani was trying to help us and Jory was just being nast to her and other. Dani kept a smile on her face despite how rude Jory was being.

We will be back but we will call ahead to avoid Jory.

This place is amazing and most of the employees were great.

I was a bit skeptical of going since we did this late October and at the time of our visit it was in the low 50’s. But, I was pleasantly surprised it surpassed my expectations. The water was 93 degrees and clear as can be.
Our group ages ranged from a 1 year old, 10 yr, 30’s, 60’s & 70’s. Everyone had a fabulous time.
My skin was sooo soft afterwards.

I’m glad we went early since you do have to wear life preservers and we were fortunate to be the first to use so they were dry.
Bring your own towels, limited (4) changing rooms.

We went as a family for a swim after a ski day. It was a unique experience but the lack of changing rooms made everything a little difficult!

This place is amazing! It's like a scene from the movie Goonies. After entering through a cave we were met by Dave. This guy made our visit. He was super helpful and fun to talk too. While we were in the water he came out to the dock and shared information about the crater and it's history. When our time was up Dave asked us how it was. He treated us like family. We will be back for sure.

Good experience. The amount of time is plenty. I saw an earlier snowflake complaining about the wet life vests. Its because people wore them in the water. They also complained about the smell. I didn't notice it at all, maybe it was them.

This is a very unusual place to visit. You would not expect to just accidentally find a place like this. We did make reservations in advance which is helpful. When you first arrive, it appears like a nice resort with golf course. There is not very good signage for advertising or directions once on the property. You have to go past golf carts and small outbuilding to get to the bigger outbuilding where you buy admission for the crater. It's almost as if they don't make a big deal about the crater really which is mind-blowing since it is the only place like this in the U.S. where you can swim or dive in geothermal water. It was $16 per adult for 40 minutes of swimming/soaking. They only let so many people in at a time (advance reservations are best). Our daughter was with us and she is blind and developmentally disabled. She could walk up through the tunnel with major assistance but someone dedicated to a wheelchair would have to be carried. I would suggest calling for info on that. Anyone with mobility challenges would need an assistant with them for this activity. I would suggest wearing your suit under your clothes and a small bag with dry undies, etc to change into after getting out of the water and finding dressing rooms or a bathroom back by the golf cart building. There are only 2 or 3 changing rooms built directly into the cavern entrance tunnel. These are very small and the walls are very bumpy lava-type rock. Not meant for folks with significant physical challenges or folks with larger body types. They have small lockers you can keep your clothes and personal items in but they are limited. Keep in mind, this is a tunnel that is built into the crater to get to the geothermal spring. It is steep up at the entrance for about 6 feet or so. Not good for toddlers or hyper little kids as the walls have bumps that stick out and very uneven. You pass the 2 or 3 dressing rooms then come to a counter with an attendant for instructions and questions. This tunnel is somewhat narrow but 2 average people can pass each other in it. Sounds echo and it can get loud depending on how many people are in there and how noisy they are so if you have a sound-sensitive person with you, they might be very uncomfortable or freak out. Once past the counter, you and everyone else is picking out a vest-style life preserver hanging from the walls in 3 sizes. Unfortunately, if you are not in the very first group in the morning then you may end up with a wet vest. They have cubby shelves for your shoes. This area of the tunnel is clogged with people...those who just came out of their timed swim and those of you just going in. They are hanging up their wet jackets and getting their shoes on while you are putting on a jacket and removing your shoes. This area (actually any area in the tunnel) is not flat or even. Then the tunnel goes downhill to the water. The tunnel is not really that long from beginning to end, maybe 50 feet or a bit longer. Once at the end of the tunnel where you left your shoes, there is a floating wood platform like a small dock. The cavern opens up into a dome-like shape with an opening way up at the top where you can see some light but it is a bit dark in the tunnel and in the cavern. They have lights in there so you don't need flashlights. My husband went right into the water but my daughter and I stayed in the recessed floating wood area. It was like a hot tub area but made with wood planks. The crater pool is like a big round swimming pool..well not super big. I don't like being in deep water so I stayed in the wooden area with my daughter. There is another floating recessed wood area opposite the seating area that was maybe 3 to 4 feet deep without benches built in and you could stand up. It is a bit creepy for those of us afraid of water because the whole wood dock structure is floating inside this crater pool and the wood structure itself probably could use some maintenance. You can't let kids run or horse around in here folks. It echoes obviously. This is also the site of scuba diver training classes since it's the only warm water diving spot in the US. The class only consists of 5 or less because this crater "room" is not that big. If you have claustrophobia, don't go here. So off the deck into the open part of the pool, the water is clear but not like Caribbean crystal blue since this is at the bottom of a crater in a bee-hive shaped mound. They do have some underwater lights in one area. There is a scuba diver set up where you can dive down to a platform underwater that looks like it has a deeper level platform below it. It is just a fascinating and unique place that is cheap to do and something the kids will never forget. You get 40 min to swim or snorkel. Not sure about the scuba diving costs. Check their website. You can walk outside of it and go to the top of the crater dome and look down the hole but you can't get close to the hole and it has screening over it so naughty people can't throw stuff into the opening where it would fall on to the swimmers below. The water was warm. There is a slight musty smell from the life vests as you can imagine being moist probably most of the time. Check it out!

This is categorized in my mind as an Instagram place. You reserve a time and then you wait outside these metal doors and the guy working takes the group in- gives a spiel and then you wear a pfd and go in. Change into suit prior to maximize time in the water. The water temp is warm I would t want hotter. It’s nice bc it does not smell like sulphur at all.the water was clean. For how many people go. We were done within 15 minutes. I’m
Not much of a soaker type but we got pics and enjoyed it- there are no showers and the bathroom is a walk away. There were quite a few people which didn’t make me feel relaxed.

Amazing scuba experience with John. He is a talented instructor, very clear, and fun! Also makes you feel safe. Would definitely repeat this experience!

I enjoyed floating, but the water isn't quite warm enough to be luxurious. The staff, however, were very friendly and I enjoyed the float. I don't love the life jacket requirement, but I get it.

Swimming in #Homestead Crater & #Resort with 97 degree #MineralWater was so much fun when it was 27 degrees outside... they actually have scuba diving where you can go extremely deep. 🏊 and is very close to #ParkCity #Utah is magical when it's #Snowing ❄ #Namaste @experience_utah ❄❄❄❄❄ you deserve 5 #Snowflakes ❄❄❄❄❄ #Powder #Snow #Skiing #Ski #Snowboarding ⛷🏂 #TripAdvisor #Travel #Wonderlust #Lifestyle #Photography #PicOfTheDay #Photo #Photographer #Photogram #Blog #Blogger #Content #ContentCreater #Love #Instagood Instamood #KCCO #WithGalaxy S7 @Samsung @SamsungUS @SumsungMobileUS

The check-in staff was okay, however when you actually get to the crater for your scheduled time be prepared for rude and sarcastic employees.

You have to have a swim if you are in Midway near Park City. This place is so unusual. You can even rent tanks and take diving lessons

We visited the Homestead Resort Crater as hot springs aficionados. We made a two hour reservation at the crater hot springs. After finding no information on their website about COVID, we arrived for our reservation. We were disappointed that no staff were wearing masks and no precautions were in place. There was one sign about social distancing without any hand sanitizer or enforcement precautions. Staff was dismissive towards our questions about safety. Life jackets and other equipment were not cleaned systematically and were sanitized reluctantly after being asked to. None of the other guests wore masks and no social distancing took place. We asked for a refund which was granted, but has not been processed as of writing this review. It looked nice but was not worth the risk during a pandemic

We came for our anniversary trip and loved! We went twice in the same weekend it was so relaxing! The staff were great and the equipment well maintained. It was also really fun to watch the scuba divers learn and practice. We will be back again!

The perfect visitor stop in Midway. Located at the Homestead Resort. We have been here several times. The warm water is wonderful to be in. The staff is first rate and very helpful. You really need to treat yourself and family to visit here. We loved it!

BOTTOM LINE: Must do adventure in Midway. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

We took group ski trip to Park City and couldn't imagine going without taking an evening dip in this cave! The experience itself was amazing, we all loved it (even the teenagers!), but BEWARE... We took Ubers & Lyfts to the cave (approx. 30-40 minute ride from Park City), and when we finished at 8:30 PM, we literally COULD NOT BOOK AN UBER OR LYFT RIDE BACK TO PARK CITY, we would secure one and they would reject us... and this cave does not let you hang inside while you wait, which meant that we were literally stuck outside in freezing temps at 8:30 PM in wet bathing suits.

We booked ($15/person) the first slot of the day, so no one was ahead of us. The entire surrounding area was under construction, so we were confused about how to enter and where to park. The building with the “Activity Center” sign was abandoned. I had imagined a cave-like place, but it was more like a small butte. There were about five simple changing rooms, but no toilets. It's better to come properly prepared. Inside, it wasn't very spacious, but as a facility, it was well-maintained and clean. The hot spring water was colorless and odorless, with a water temperature around 96°F that day, which was just right. There were lots of kids around, elementary school age, and I think it's plenty enjoyable.

Our teen and kids enjoy the warm water, they spend a full hour having fun. Kind of small place but well worth it. Next time adults will go into the water too. Don't forget to walk on top of the crater the views are awesome.

After reading some of the reviews I started to doubt going but I am glad I did. Several others recommended wearing your suit there and not using the changing rooms and I’m glad I took that advice since we were one of the first people in the water and my 6’3 husband would not have fit in the changing rooms. Bring your own towels as well so you don’t have to pay to rent one. I didn’t have a problem wearing the life jackets since we are in the water for 40 minutes and it made it more relaxing not having to constantly tread water. I’m glad I didn’t pay extra for the snorkel gear since there wasn’t much to see under water. Next time I go I think I will go scuba diving though!

We had two rooms. One had a microwave and refrigerator. Rooms were clean and wifi pretty good and hot water was good. We ate at both restaurants and id give a mid score for them.The relearnt service was great but food overall lacked taste- kinda bland. All in our party felt this but were glad of the on premise location. All in all I would defiantly stay here again

Went here for my scuba diving certification. Dave, our instructor, was the absolute best! The whole process was safe, educational and fun! Thank you for a great experience, Dave.

Renting the snorkel for $5 was a great addition to the trip. Parking is very convenient and the changing rooms nice. The water is about 96 degrees F. Great way to relax from stress. You sign up for a specific time in the crater, so it is not crowded.

My husband and I dove here for our certification. We had a great time and love Dive Utah and Rob Rider!!!

We had a nice, relaxing afternoon with friends and family. You have to call the Activity Center and make reservations to swim. We called on Wed when they opened and made reservations for Friday afternoon as their first available.

All you need to bring is swimsuit and towels. They have a clean place to change clothes in the crater. Life jackets are required which the kids enjoyed so they could float around. They also provide goggles. You can rent snorkel gear for $5.

The water is clean and warm. You can see a little ways down but it's not crystal clear. The water is 60 feet or so deep. Your skin is soft and smooth when you come out.

We all enjoyed our 40 mins in the crater. There were 7 of us in our party: 4 adults and kids, ages 15, 9 and 7.

My wife and I are avid scuba divers and travel the world diving in exotic locales. We saw Homestead Crater advertised and thought this would be a cool experience. The location is very nice and the staff friendly and helpful. This is a great place for families to come swim in the 94 degree water, but scuba diving is another thing. The crater is a round cylinder shape and 65 feet deep. The water is clear and hot! There is nothing to see underwater- no fish, plants,....nothing. Basically we swam in circles along the walls. The heat of the water and boredom ended out dive after 30 minutes.
I would recommend families visit Homestead Crater to swim and relax. I would not recommend scuba diving to anyone with any experience.

They’ve got to be making a TON of money on this place. It has potential but overall was gross. The smell at the “changing rooms” was so disgusting. 100% smells like a bad outhouse. And you get the bonus of trying not to step on the wet floor, that is surely half urine

Fairly deceptive advertising. You CANNOT SWIM unless you call floating in a mandatory life jacket swimming. You just float like a fishing bobber until you get bored, which did not take long. Also, this is NOT A HOT SPRINGS. This is a BODY TEMPERATURE SPRING. It's very small, dark, somewhat dank and has changing rooms suitable for Hobbits. The restroom is on the other side of the parking lot and then field....a good distance. The only good thing is that I know not to go back

After reading a number of reviews, I wasn’t sure of what to expect. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised! This was a great experience! We went at the 8:00 am session to avoid divers, there was only 2, because some reviews said they were a problem. Others claimed it was crowded, but this session was sold out at 24 and it wasn’t crowded at all. The water was the perfect temperature and the required life vest was perfect rather than treading water for 40 minutes. Some people mentioned the dressing rooms were too small, there are 4 and they are large enough for two people. We came in our suits and changed afterwards. Only challenge was the ladders into the pool are a bit narrow and not the easiest for someone in their 60s but doable. The girl working the day of our visit was very pleasant and helpful and at the halfway mark she came in and told us the history of the crater. I would definitely do this again!

My husband and I dove this last summer. It was a fun experience! There's not a lot to see down there, but it's a unique experience to what our other dives have been. It was about 94 degrees. We arrived early, which means we missed most of the crowd. I'd definitely do this dive again.

Most of the people in our group could not stay in the water the entire hour as it was too hot! But it's fun, and there is a place you can sit on the side where you will be only partially submerged. Life jackets are required (provided). As you are inside the crater, you are shaded from the sun. My suggestion is to dress ready for the water (shirts and shorts are okay, as are bathing suits, of course), as changing rooms are small. Bring a towel. Read up on how the crater was formed, etc. before you go; we had a guide with us who explained.

This was an awesome experience! During a trip to Midway to see the Ice Castles The Crater was an added attraction while staying at the Homestead. Booked the hotel and crater package and it was a blast! Swimming in the crater was so cool! Outside blistering cold with snow all around, the water in The Crater was just the right warm temperature to swim in. It reminded me of the natural hot springs I used to swim in when I lived in Iceland during a tour of duty in the military. All natural heat from the earth, can't get any more geo friendly than that! The Crater is a unique place and well worth experiencing. . All kinds of activities associated with it such as snorkel, scuba, scuba lessons, and swimming. I would be at the Crater at least twice a week if I lived in Midway!!

I had previously been to the Homestead Crater to swim 2 years ago in 2016, and it was amazing. I was hoping for a similar experience this time.

Boy, was I disappointed. First problem, when I paid at the Activity Center, the woman at the counter was on a personal phone call, and didn't even acknowledge that I was waiting to pay to swim for several minutes.

And then, in my 3 main interactions with the staff, calling on the phone to make a reservation, paying at the Activity Center, and checking in with the crater main desk in the rock tunnel, I was never once told that there was a time limit to our soak. I never saw it posted anywhere. I had to spend several minutes searching on the internet before I found one mention of the 40 minute time limit on the website. 2 years ago, I enjoyed swimming for over 2 hours. It was still $16, but it was worth it for that amount of time. For 40 minutes, $16 was a rip off. Thats more than a 2 hour 3-D movie, and less than half the time. Next time, I'll just go to Diamond Fork, Mystic Hot Springs, or spend that money on a movie even.

With ended our Utah road trip to this crater! Was worth the try. A bit expensive for 40 min but I can say been there done that!

I did the scuba certification at the Crater with Rich. As a new scuba diver I was a little apprehensive at first. Rich put all my fears at rest and I was able to relax and learn all the skills. Doing the training with someone that has more than 5000+ dives and has encountered any situation was very reassuring. I had a ton of questions for Rich and he was able to teach me so much more than I asked for. I also heard that the other scuba instructors that work here are fantastic too. If I could give more than 5 stars I would, as they exceeded my expectations.

SUCH a cool experience! My friend and I drove from Grand Junction to go and Dave and the other workers made it so enjoyable and worth it!! They were so nice and went above and beyond! Even adjusted the lights to help us get the best pics. It was such a cool place!

You definitely need reservations and tickets sell out well in advance in the summer!!

We took two kids (ages 10 and 14) with us to experience the crater. We were taken it at our scheduled time with a few other groups, maybe about 12 people total including us. There are lockers to put your stuff in, or shelves to put your clothes.

The water is warm (94 degrees Fahrenheit) and you can see at least 4-5 feet down. Further when there are not divers present. (In addition to the 12 people at our time slot, there were another 5-10 who were doing scuba lessons). You are required to wear the life vests they provide the whole time.

Even with the number of people there, we didn’t feel crowded. There was plenty of space and groups congregated together so you could always find a secluded place to hang out in the water. A lot of people just laid back and floated. Some help onto the wall so they didn’t float away. We had a fun time just swimming around and taking pictures.

The amount of time (about 45 minutes) was perfect. After we exited, we went up the staircase to the top of the crater and walked across the bridge so we could look down into it. It’s pretty cool, definitely recommend taking the time to do that as well!

John was our guide inside the crater and was super helpful and answered all of our questions about how it was formed, where the water comes from and goes, scuba diving in the crater, etc. He was super nice and we appreciated his guidance and info!

This one is a hard one to review. I've wanted to go, and it was sort of a bucket list item, and I'm glad we went, but it was kind of ghetto. There's only so much you can do for a man-made cave tunnel, and the service was good, but the dock/platform and the buoys and the standing/sitting area in the water are just kind of gross and should be replaced. I'm sure it would be incredibly hard to update it, but it would have totally improved my experience. My husband was also a bit bummed that he was supposed to just float around on the surface and shouldn't dive down a little, fwiw. I'd recommend it once, but I don't feel bad for not wanting to go back any time soon.

Had a great experience swimming and soaking in the 90 + degree water. It is a good idea to reserve time to go swim. It is an hour. 15 minutes changing in stalls and 45 minutes in the water. Bring your swim suits and towels. There are no restrooms in the crater. There is one located near the activity center where you sign in.

The Homestead Crater is safety first. If you swim or soak they have life jackets to use. If you are adventurous you can learn to snorkel and scuba. Had a great time and enjoyed our time in the soak. Great experience enjoying this natural wonder.

My husband and I came here for our anniversary. We had so much fun! Super unique date night and absolutely beautiful!!!!

Being from the Midwest, we do not see these attractions so it was a cool experience. You are suppose to get 40 mins to soak but no one told us to get out at the 40 minute mark. We did get there early and told to wait outside until a few people left then we could come in. It is small but neat to do and the water felt amazing. Don't bother snorkeling or diving because there isn't much to see. A diver said that as they came up, not much down there. Glad we went and cheap enough at $13.

Go here if you want to get COVID. We left after soaking for about 10 minutes. By the time we were leaving, there were at least 35 people in the crater (it's not very big) and more were being shuffled in. It would be too crowded even if there wasn't a pandemic. It's so unfortunate a natural landmark is allowed to be privately owned and capitalized upon - such practice ruins the natural beauty and has turned it into a janky, overrun tourist attraction. I recommend you don't go out of your way to visit it.

The #1 priority of the management here is money! There will be 30 people getting in at the same time 30 are trying to get out. There is barely enough room to pass each other in the entrance way which is also where they put the storage area! And if you are scuba diving, as soon as you are out of the water, you are sent outside and for us it was 19 DEGREES!

Do not rent snorkels, we did! You do not need at all, take goggles, nothing to see. Just float and relax, totally worth the ride.
Because of social distancing, less people in the cave, enjoy!

We scuba dive the Crater about every 5 months to keep up our diving skills. This last Sunday we were there and John C. in the Crater was extremely pleasant, by far the best we have ever had at the Crater. I give my highest praises for John and hope to see him again in the future. I hope the Homestead keeps him around a long time.

Fantastic, pure, clear, bath temperature, artisan water. You will not want to get out. I swam down to the platform about 25 feet deep and just sat there, until I needed air. :)

This is a natural spring which I enjoyed. You pay for 40 minutes, the water is warm and clear. We went to the first session of the day, which was
Great. There were people, but no kids, so it was quiet and serene. You could tell sunscreen had gotten into the water, so try not to put on sunscreen before you go in.

My two adult daughters and I visited the Homestead Crater June 24, 2018. Changing rooms and shelves or lockers were available. It is necessary to bring your own towel. Lifejackets were required and provided. This made it easy to float, and soak and relax in the bathwater warm water. I was surprised to observe the water had a current, that pushed me around as I floated on my back. We also swam around, and watched occasional bursts of bubbles come up creating quite an increase in current, not as strong as a hot tub, but a few minutes burst of small bubbles. There were scuba divers too. They created larger bubbles. They indicated that they were able to watch the bubbles rising from the muddy bottom.At the end of our 45 minute float, we all were surprised at how tired we were, not swimming on a regular basis. This was an enjoyable experience. Afterwards, we walked around the beautifully landscaped grounds, and climbed the steps to the top of the dome to peek down through the top opening. I can recommend this activity for kids of almost all ages. I eould not bring kids who are not toilet trained.
Reservations are required.

Not worth it at all. They staff was unfriendly. The over crowded hole was gross. Everyone had to wear bleach soaked life jackets. They are making money off an experience they don’t provide. The website is very misleading.

If you head to the Heber Valley you have to stop at the Homestead Crater. it's some a unique place to see and bring your bathing suit as it's always sparking warm water! You can even scuba dive!

You need to get a reservation in order to visit the crater. We were told to get to the crater 15 minutes early. We did so, bought our tickets and then were told to wait outside until everyone came out. It wasn’t too cold, but I wondered what would happen if it was snowing or super cold? Our reservation time was at 12:30 and at 12:30 I went and asked the desk clerk if we could come in if we were already in our swimsuit. He said yes. As we went in, there were about 10 people lined up to use the 4 changing rooms. There are no showers or restrooms within the crater area.

The water in the crater was nice and warm. I wouldn’t recommend to rent the snorkels. There isn’t much to see. We floated around in the required life jackets, and got out after 30 minutes so that we could change and avoid the rush. It was nice to visit once, however I wouldn’t spend the money to do it again.

Wow! Such a contrast, one minute you’re walking around in the snow the next you’re floating in beautiful warm water under ground. My daughter and I snorkelled while my son and husband dived. We all enjoyed the experience and rustic charm of the facilities. We would recommend it to international travellers who like a bit of an adventure and don’t require 5 star facilities.

My husband was scuba certified here @ 8 years ago - we went back & rented snorkels so I could experience the crater too!! What a treat!

What a neat place to do an open water certification. 96 degrees, max depth of 65 feet. It was a blast & unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

They seem to do a pretty good job keeping groups apart and limiting how many people are in there. They said the minerals don't allow anything to survive in the water. It was a fun outing and felt relatively safe.

The facility seems geared toward scuba divers and certifications so our one hour session was packed with a huge group of very loud scuba divers with stuff everywhere leaving no room for other swimmers. They should NOT book regular swimmers at the same time as scuba divers. It was very unfair to the swimmers who had no room to swim. Paying extra to snorkel is another waste because you can’t see anything. Tiny, tiny, tiny. The “changing rooms” are so tiny you can barely use them and they are in the very tiny entrance with little privacy. The tiny lockers are so old and small it would be difficult to store much more than a bathing suit and there are no locks. It was definitely NOT a peaceful or relaxing experience. Taking our money knowing we had no where to swim when the place was overrun with the scuba group was not right. It was $100 for our family of four to attend and it was a terrible experience. We would NOT recommend this excursion at all. Pass this one by.

I’ve always wanted to go to the Homestead Crater so this year I took my husband to Heber for his birthday. We did the 40 min soak. You go inside the Crater down a tunnel and put on a life jacket and then you float around. 40 min is the right amount of time, not too long and not too short. I’m not sure I would do it again but I’d definitely recommend you give it a try!

Had a 5:30 pm crater time on a weeknight. Was told to arrive 20 minutes early to check in and change into suits so we could soak at 5:30pm on the dot. Did all this and was told we were unable to enter the crater until the group that was ahead of us was finished. No one came out to tell us when we could enter. Someone eventually went in and asked when we could enter. The lifejackets had a sour smell that was unpleasant and I felt unsanitary. After we were in the water for 10 minutes in comes a group of about 20 or more young people with scuba gear to use the crater. It was so crowded we decided to leave early. We were disappointed and sorry we paid extra for the experience. The water at 95 degrees wasn't very warm. My pool in Phoenix, AZ in August is warmer also the hot tub at other hotels have been warmer.
My husband and I agree we tried it once but wouldn't recommend it.

We went for the ice castles but got to enjoy the Crater. The Crater itself is amazing and the soak in the water ends all too soon. Getting in and out is a little funky and the lockers are rustic. The fact that it exists and we could enjoy it would make it worth doing no matter how you get in. We would go again.

This was such an awesome experience and can't beat it for the price! The employees are AMAZING and very kind. Would 100% recommend if you are near the area in Utah!

A must do if you are in this area. Not crowded, thank goodness, bc there are only 4 tiny changing rooms. Water was warm.

We have been to the Homestead Crater many times. Each time we go it is a great experience and fun for the entire family. The price point is great and a good outing.

This is something you just have to do once in your life if you're in the area. Very nice people and well organized. Habe a make a reservation if you're going into the pool.

Not quite as hot as a hot tub, but very relaxing and comfortable. Small groups go in at a time, what is nice, is you are required to have a personal flotation jacket, so when you're in there, you can literally just put your head back, and float in the 95 degree water, without doing anything, My wife and I, and the rest of the people that came as part of an activity from the Marriott Summit Watch, all enjoyed the trip. Definitely recommend.

I suspect that you will never see anything like this anywhere else in the world. If you have an appreciation for science and geology, this is worth a visit. Unique attraction and admission is free!

We didn't realize that reservations were required when we decided to visit the crater. We drove from Ely, Nevada, but when we arrived we were told that they were totally booked up. The lady told us that we could get on a waiting list, and boy am I glad we did. We were able to get in the next morning at 9:30 and it was nothing short of AMAZING! We had such a wonderful time! Would and have recommended to several of my friends/family.

Don't overlook this unique experience! We lived in Utah for 12 years and never visited. Finally got here on a vacation trip! The crater is very cool - take a walk around it and up to the top before going inside to swim. There are stairs leading to the observation bridge on top. Once inside, its a quick change in to your swim suit and life jacket (required) and you can plunge into the 95 degree water. Just lovely. The water is really clear! My 2 kids (14 and 11) thought is was great! They offer snorkel equipment but you may want to pass - the water is clear but there is nothing to see. Definitely make a reservation to ensure your swim time. Whole experience is about an hour or longer if you linger and enjoy the water.

My Twin girls turned 16 in August😥 They are two hard working girls living on a cattle ranch with not much time for play so I let them plan a little getaway for their 16th birthday and this is where they picked! I’m so glad they did! We had an amazing time! It was very relaxing, the water was almost unrealistic looking it was so blue.. and I hate being cold so I loved that it was super warm☺️ The girls and myself had a great conversation with the adorable couple that was working there❤️ The only complaint the girls would have is that the lighting was not spot on in all areas inside the crater for all the selfies that were a must to take while they were there🤦🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️
We will for sure have to make time for this little getaway again!

This experience was a major letdown. They should have swimmers at a separate time as the scuba divers. The scuba instructors continually yell at everyone and it’s less than peaceful. It’s so incredibly crowded and somewhat stressful even to have all the scuba people with all the gear taking up majorly of the room for changing , entering the crater and enjoying the water. Super dissatisfied and wound not recommended to anyone.

What can I say...Kitty was amazing when it came to instruction, follow through and just plain olé fun. We highly recommend doing this event. It is well worth the effort and experience. The crater is 5 Stars and Kitty is even more.

Decided to enjoy our own sounding and do things as a family we had not yet done in Utah. We drove 1 hour to the crater and we were on time. We get to the desk and was quickly sent back out until the form group could leave. The host was some what grumpy and not enthused on making your swim enjoyable. Life Jacket are a must the pool is very deep. There is not much relaxing with the life vest up to your chin. I am 56 and was not to happy about the rule everyone had to wear a life vest. Water was warm but crater was crowded. For a resort, there were no towel offered, only a few tight dressing rooms to change. Over all it was nice to go see but too high of price for what it is. It's a been there, done that and not going back.

Wish we had made reservations to actually get in the water to sooth sore muscles after days of hiking. 90 degree water and a very unique site to see made this short drive out of Park City made this a good day trip.

We had a fantastic time soaking in the hot springs. The website was in the process of being updated so I emailed daily to see if opens came available and Kitty was incredibly gracious in getting us in once a cancellation popped up. The 95 degree water was wonderful and we enjoyed floating around the dome to see how the mineral deposits had been built up over time. This was the perfect way to end our first day on the slopes as I imagine I would have felt much more sore if not for our visit.

1. Wear your swimsuits under your clothes to save time changing when your reservation starts
2. Go to the bathroom before checking in since there’s no bathrooms at the crater
3. The girl at the front desk who checked us in was not very friendly :(
4. Do not arrive at the crater entrance before your scheduled time. The very grumpy man working will turn you away.
5. There are lockers to store bags and clothes so bring a lock or two because the lockers are really small and we could have used two.
6. The crater is awesome!!!!!! It was such a unique experience and very cool. It was smaller than expected but we had a blast.
If you’re not turned off by very rude employees this is a really cool experience. There was an older couple who had a reservation the same time as us and they were NOT PLEASED at the level of service but we are in our twenties and didn’t care. It didn’t take away from the experience at all, it just would have been nicer if they weren’t so rude.

Delightful course. Decently wide, gps on cart. Extremely reasonable fees and nice attendants. Full size driving range (rare here). Appropriate forward tees, well maintained.

We found this last min on our trip. Great attraction. The staff was amazing and very accommodating. Once we got into the crater to swim it did not disappoint. Five stars all around!!

What an amazing time!!! My 13 yo got Junior Open Water Certified after finishing the SSI training and 3 days of diving instructions. The price is great and they supply all the gear needed. David Howlett is an absolutely amazing instructor. The way he explains everything and does things repetitively so it becomes not only rote to memory, but he gives you the understanding of the how and why you are doing it. This allows one to deal with tough underwater situations without panic. I would dive with David any time and any where. If you are looking for a great time, thorough understanding of scuba diving, and a patient and highly experienced instructor/facility, this is the place to get certified. Oh, and the water is 95° F and good visibility and all the people working there are just as fantastic and a pleasure to hang and talk with.

The atmosphere was great, the water was clear and peaceful.
And the manager was a great guy, pleasant, nice and gave good information.
We were staying in Lehi (Salt Lake City) so the journey to the crater was also an experience. We are just tourists passing by but if I ever will return to Salt Lake City, I definitely will go back to the Crater.
Go there, you won’t regret it.

AMAZING! The water feels fantastic, the muscle tightness in my shoulder was gone for the entire week! First, you need to make a reservation, as their are limited spots, which is an added benefit. Although you book for 60 mins, you actually receive 50 mins in the water. To get the most of your time, be dressed for the hot spring before your time starts. We wore water shoes, while not necessary, we did fine them very helpful, and be sure to bring a towel. There are about 4-5 changing stalls, but you can’t use them until your time slot starts. If you are uncomfortably in the open waters, there are 2 small hot tub like areas with bench seating in the water. We went at 5:30 pm on a Mon. Before or after, be sure to walk around to the right, take the stairs to the top, where you’ll find stunning Mountain Views. You’ll also be able to stand directly over the hot spring, and feel the heat from the spring raising, it’s truly epic! Tip : it’s easy to miss the turn to the spring, our GPS took us to the construction site. If driving from Salt Lake, the turn is on the left directly before the construction.

I had booked to swim at the Crater it was our first time in Utah. We had arrive two days before our reservation
We are a family of 5 and two of the family members were having a difficult time with the altitude. We went to urgent care, and they gave it to some medication, but it wasn’t quite helping. I called the homestudy crater to cancel. Since one of them was the driver of the vehicle we had rented. The young lady I spoke to her her name was Kelly was rude on the phone and refused to refund me the money she kept saying that she would postpone the reservations. I explained that we were only there for a few days and we were from Florida. She still Refused. I felt that they were very unprofessional. I even mentioned to her that I would send her a copy of the bill from urgent care and the medication. She still refuses
I found that Iverall Utah was very friendly and two other places I had booked refunded us the money
Due to the lack of caring and unprofessionalism I would never recommend this place
Spend your money where people care about you!

It was really amazing to float in a warm water spring in a natural crater, and for that I give it four stars. However, there are definitely ways the experience could be improved. First, I arrived at night, and there was no signage directing you to the crater until you were right next to it, and even then it was hard to see at night and ambiguous in its direction. The actual entrance had no signage at all, except maybe something small right on the door.
My main issue with the swim itself was the requirement that everyone wear life jackets. I understand they are trying to limit liability, but there are lots of places that the public can swim that don’t require life jackets. I float like a cork even without a life jacket, and having to wear the jacket made the whole experience less pleasant.
The other thing that could be improved is the lighting. The harsh lights glaring down from above don’t make for a very nice ambiance. I kept imagining how nice it would be if there were hidden lights recessed above one of the rock strata that make up the walls.

The water was warm. Bery soothing. The employees dont seem bery happy, in fact they dont seem very customer service oriented. They seem annoyes that they jear the same things over and again but that's the service industry.
People seem to mind the life vest but I didn't at all. It was helpful. And I could still swim. The grounds of homestead are GORGEOUS! worth it. I spent 13 bucks. Didn't wemt goggles, you won't see a thing.

This is an amazing geologic formation in Utah. A must see for sure. The water is nice and warm. Winter is the best time to go since it is cold outside and that helps balance the temperature inside (often 80 degrees.)

Do not expect any private time here. The crater is always busy. Lots of dive groups use it for their open water ratings. Life vests are required and actually make floating easier.

You only get 40 minutes of float time so don't expect to spend lots if time there. Space is limited and cramped. Best thing is to wear sweats over your suit and bring a towel.

We booked about one week out and most spots were taken. Fortunately we were able to secure an 8:30 am spot. The staff and water were great! You can relax and enjoy the warm water either solo or with someone. There are limited about a people per session and it’s not crowded.

Was really really awesome until almost 50 college students came in to dive in multiple classes. They took over the crater, with little regard to the swimmers who had scheduled time and paid admission. They were loud and bumped into me multiple times while I was trying to swim. At one point, I swam away from one group when another group came up at me from underwater and the instructor rudely told me to go somewhere they weren't (I had been trying!) It really ruined our experience and I would suggest that they not have diving classes while swimmer have bought admission. Very disappointing.

This is NOT a place to visit if you want to enjoy the hot spring experience. It's only redeeming virtues are it's beauty and the cool guy that manages the pool. Yes pool...save your money and go to a hotel pool, you'll get the same experience and pay less.
Three other families were there with us, with lots of small kids screaming, crying, hollering, having a good time that kids do in pools. NOT the atmosphere most adults want when visiting a hot springs. And of course, the whole time we were in the water all I could think about was all of those kids peeing in the water! Disgusting.

There is not a single reason the business doesn't offer evening hours for Adults only. Management has suggested it several times, but ownership won't listen.

The property claims it is a resort but is far from it. The grounds are pretty so it is deceiving when you drive in. The rooms are old and tired with scratched tables and curtains that are falling off their hooks. The bathroom is so small it is not suitable for one person! Our sink was stopped up so I wonder how housekeeping cleaned it! Doesn't housekeeping report these things to maintenance? The worst part of our stay was the checkin process. NO rooms were available before checkin time of 4 pm because they claimed there were more departures that morning. Doesn't the front desk communicate with housekeeping? I could go on and on!

We were here for my spouse's scuba diving training, and I got to enjoy the wonderful warm waters as well. The outside facilities could be better, but because they serve a niche market, there is not much necessary to make the place constantly busy. Definitely stop in for a dive if you are a scuba diver.

Fun experience. The kids had a great time. Very unique. We were able to get same day reservations. Worth the money.

Went for my wife's open water dives. I was bored after 5 minutes under water as there is nothing to see and the water was so warm I just wanted to get out. Not to mention they packed our scuba class in with a bunch of swimmers too so there was barely room to move

What an original experience. Swimming on the inside of a spring fed crater is certainly something I never thought I would do. I was a little worried that it would not be warm enough but it was wonderful.

Dave was so awesome to us, we were late and would have only had only had 20mins to swim, he gave us the full time. We were there celebrating a birthday so it was awesome we got to spend the time we paid for. We loved it, it was super warm and an incredible atmosphere and Dave made it that much better for us!

I saw this on Atlas Obscura some time ago and have wanted to go ever since. We were headed to Utah for a vacation, and the first thing I did was make reservations for a soak here. My family has enjoyed a few other natural hot springs and we love finding a new one. I was equally interested in the geological formation. Our vacation of necessity was in late June and the weather that day would climb to 85, so I wasn't sure the timing would really give us a good experience, but the cavern itself was enough to draw me.

It was exactly as I imagined I'd want it to be (and more than I expected).

First, there were fewer than 15 people in the water. I understand that the management limits the number allowed in any given session, which is a brilliant move. It was quiet and peaceful and uncrowded. There were no scuba divers during our session. The employees were friendly--we interacted with them in the hotel lobby (because we weren't sure where to go), in the Adventure Shop (where we signed in), at the actual entrance to the hot spring, and in the gift shop. One of my 9-year-old boys also had a conversation with one of the young men working the golf concession, who was cheerful and pleasant when my son tried to return a golf ball he'd found in the grass near the restroom.

The water was warm but comfortable to float in even though the day was also warm; I can only imagine how incredible it would be on a chilly day. I came in my swimsuit and left in it, so we didn't use the changing rooms; they were small but serviceable plank wood booths and there was no crowd either coming in or going out. There were plenty of life jackets to choose from, and it was easy to find one that wasn't dripping wet. While it would be fun to experience that pool without a PFD, I completely understand this requirement given the incredible depth. I just leaned back into mine and floated on my back, looking up at the shafts of sunlight and the igneous rock forming the cavern, and it was a surreal and peaceful experience. We were lucky to be there during a flute school; two young men and one young woman took turns playing Native American flutes and softly toned steel drums and the music really added to the experience. (My boys had a million questions for the musicians; they were very kind).

If I lived within an hour of this, I would be there several times a year. If you get within an hour of it, make the trip. The geology is fascinating, the history interesting, and the experience just incredible.

I only wish we could have soaked longer...but 40 minutes is reasonable.

The staff at the Homestead Crater were energetic and friendly welcoming us to test the waters. At 90 degrees, very welcoming. The gated bridge above was the best spot for pictures of the snow caps in the distance. A must-see if you're in the area.

The crater soak was fun and worth the price. Life jackets must be warn but makes the hour easy to get through as you just simply float. Beware the lockers are small there so don’t bring a big back and bring a lock as well for the locker.

We have heard for years about the Homestead Crater. A unique crater filled with hot spring water. A man made tunnel into the crater allows visitors to enter the crater and take a swim. Sounds awesome right?

It does - but the owners have turned this amazing natural spot into a high price dud of an experience.

Let me explain.
First, you show up and pay $13 a person to swim in the crater for 40 minutes. They will try to get you to buy the more expensive package to snorkel for $16. Don't do it. You will realize you wasted your money. But this is how it starts.

Second, you walk into the crater which is an amazing feature. You will be ushered to put on a lifevest. This is the first time you are told that ALL swimmers have to have a lifevest on in the crater. The lifevests are bulky jetski/boating lifevests. They are not snorkeling or swimming lifevests. Which means, the lifevests are NOT designed for you swim in. I have traveled the world and there are several places that require lifevests, but they are designed for you to swim in - but no this place.

So, after you put on a giant lifevest that keeps your movement to a complete minimum - you enter the actual crater.

Now, listen, at this point it is amazing. You are in wonder and awe at the natural beauty. You have never seen anything like it. You enter the water and enjoy the natural minerals on your skin, the warm water, and the beauty of being in the natural water.

But you can't really move and swim because of the bulky lifevests. And if you were one of the suckers that bought the snorkel gear, you realize you can only see the sides of the crater if anything - oh and the dive cage they put waydown deep in the crater.

A group of 6 young adults who had bought snorkel equipment took three minutes to come up for air and say outloud, "this is great marketing because snorkeling here sucks."

As you are in the water, you will love it - but wish you could actually move around and swim. What prevents you from doing this? The lifevests.

I get liability.

I get that they don't want people to get hurt. So, give them snorkeling vests or better yet, the high price for 40 minutes of swim time is more than enough to put a lifeguard in the crater. It isn't that large at all.

We walked away realizing that everything looked thrown together and designed to hurry, get your money from the people that have heard about this natural beauty.

It is amazing to see. I wish we could have really enjoyed it. In the end, everything we talked to in the crater said it was a cool feature, but not worth the price. I paid over $50 for me and my family to bob in the middle of a natural hotspring for 40 minutes. Way better places to enjoy hotsprings.

Don't waste your time or money.

I had the pleasure of diving with my 10 year old Grandson, days after I certified him as a Junior Open Water Diver. We had heard about the crater and wanted to dive it will on a quick trip to Utah from Az. While the water was warm, it still wasn’t as hot as an Az pool. Water was clear, staff very professional and the set up was easy for entrance and exits from the water. Was the perfect spot for him to work on buoyancy and have fun with his Mom, Dad and brothers. Would love to dive it during the winter. We will definitely be back.

I was at the clubhouse jacuzzi and a gentleman recommended checking out this hot spring.

We had a group of 10 people and managed to snag a reservation for the last time slot (7:30pm). Tickets were I believe $14 and you have an option to go scuba diving if you wish at an extra charge.

There is plenty of parking and if you arrive early, you can check out the ice castle right next door.

Wear you bathing suits underneath your clothes because changing rooms are limited and there’s usually a line because the group before your time slot is getting out to change.

There are two small side pools. The right side is where the scuba divers come in. Then there’s the large area where the depth reaches about 60 feet? Careful not to drop anything in. Life vests must be worn at all times (can’t wear it like a diaper). It was nice and steamy in there. Loved every moment of it except getting out because it was freezing cold but they had some space heaters going.

Definitely coming back next year.

Don’t expect too much! It is what it says it is. A crater that produces hot water. An opening has been put in the side so you can walk in to get to the water and not have to rappel down from the dome. Water was only about 92 degrees. Crater was 65 ft deep with a silt bottom and a hot pot. PVC structures at specific depths and a shelf in one side. Not luxurious nor modern, but fun all the same.

Look it's an awesome natural wonder and worth visiting if in the area but dont go out of your way. It's very ran down in its surrounds.

Two reviews:

As a diver who likes to try new things to say that I did it, it's a 4. The crater is ~63' deep and ~60' wide. There are a few horizontal tubed swim-throughs. There's a skeleton on a wagon wheel to add of interest, along with a plastic crab with a skeleton hand on a wall. You need about 5 minutes for the dive. You can find the thermal vent on the bottom, but the volume is much less than described. I'm glad I did it so that I can say that I did.

From a facility, equipment, and people standpoint, I'm being generous by giving it a 2. We were a group of 3, two divers and a "soaker". We ended up paying for 2 divers and 3 soakers. When picking up scuba equipment, computer batteries were dead and fin heels ripped. The attendant did not know how to help people fit masks. He seemed upset that we had him exchange equipment. When exiting, there was an instructor talking to the attendant. I don't know if he was visiting, or worked there. He was totally full of BS although he thought he was impressive, including his work to "map ALL of the wrecks in the Great Lakes". By the way, I'm an instructor and we do our dives in the Great Lakes and St. Laurance River. He did not know what he was talking about.

If you are a diver and want to add the experience to your logbook, go for it. Just don't expect a lot from the crater and less from the staff.

We loved it ! Bring towels they do not provide them and your going to be cold! The crater is clean and well kept . The lockers are small and no locks you won’t need them . The dressing rooms are small but efficient and clean. The host was cheerful and informative .

So peaceful to float around. They limit the number of visitors per hour so it’s not crowded. If we lived in SLC I would do this often!

This is our second time to enjoy this attraction. Check in was fast and easy. It is such a unique experience. My daughter used her wheelchair to roll all the way up to the spring and then we were able to lift her in. I didn’t notice a w/c lift but she is light enough for us to lift her. We enjoyed floating and relaxing. 40 minutes is long enough

We went snorkeling in the hot springs, but you can also just do regular swimming or scuba diving. I have always wanted to go snorkeling, but unfortunately there was not much to see. It was quite fun, but after about half an hour you get bored. Very important to know is that you are required to wear a life vest at all times

This place use to be really fun. Now they tell you you cant dive beneath the water at all, but they will still rent you a snorkel and mask for five bucks. What am I supposed to do with my mask and snorkel? Sit there with my head above the water with my mask on like a dumbass? Makes no sense. Its like a hundred feet deep and you can only float on the surface. Just get a waiver or something so if we want to dive down we can. I hate this nanny state nonsense.

My wife and I just finished our first anniversary and we were so impressed with the staff at the homestead crater. They were incredibly accommodating and very friendly. We can't wait to come back in the winter and soak in the crater again!

Easy to book online. We used the outside restroom area near the check in bldg to change at (more space). At your designated time, you are allowed to enter and get checked in. We grabbed a life jacket and in the water we went. Super quick process. Water wasn't as hot as a geothermal location I did in Iceland, but this allowed me to stay in the whole time and enjoy. Yes it is a bit touristy, but if you are in the area it is a nice thing to do. The worker took our photo upon request. Lots of space to swim/snorkel around plus a section with a floor if you get tired of wading. There are 3 small stalls to change at if desired when done.

The Homestead Crater is a great place to take the family to swim/snorkel. If you are SCUBA certified, I would certainly recommend checking this place out. You can dive with your own dive buddy, or you can pay for a buddy (schedule in advance). One advantage to diving with the local diver, is their knowledge and experience in the crater. The visibility isn’t the best - maybe around 10-15 feet. The deeper it gets, the darker it gets. The sunlight in the crater is limited. A dive light is recommended.

The location emphasizes safety. There are even platforms for dive safety stops. This would be the easiest place to get certified - warm water and no waves.

There are changing stalls in the crater and nearby restrooms. The establishment is well organized and ensures that people follow the rules. No jumping in the water and the number of people are limited. I didn’t feel crowded in the space. Highly recommend if you are in the area. Make your reservation well in advance to ensure your time slot.

Enjoy.

I am visiting this place for last 7 years, one or more times a year, this is away great and relaxing place to visit, I would recommend anytime of year swimming in a crater with the entire family

Excited to go enjoy the crater, my friends and I reserved our time to swim. From the arrival at the overcrowded tunnel entrance, to finishing the hour-short session...I was left miffed and ripped off.

At $16 dollars +tax /person I experienced nothing more than a lukewarm bath for which I was forced to have a lifejacket at all times. Though the natural beauty of a geologically formed crater was astounding, the harsh and bright lights took away from any cave-like, relaxing feel I would love to experience and we could hardly visualize the structure or hole opening at the top.

Overall, with few amenities, extra cost for goggles and other gear, and the short amount of time in the lukewarm water, I will not return nor recommend this activity for anyone.

A fun place to go! You don't really "swim" here - you have to wear a lifejacket when you're in the water, so you more just float around. But it is a very nice experience! The water is very warm and comfortable, the grotto is beautiful, and you get the feeling of swimming in cave without the risks of swimming in a cave. :)

A very interesting feature. We were a group of grandparents and grandchildren. The grandparents loved relaxing in the warm water. The grandchildren loved playing in the water. The crater was large enough so we weren't bothering each other.

The water is warm, and relaxing. It was raining outside and we could watch it fall through the top of the crater. Really an incredible experience.

Second time to the crater swim and it was excellent. The most relaxing experience floating around enjoying the rock formations and light from the sun filtering through.

Get snorkel and mask to be able to foot face first as well as on your back. Staying at the hotel gets you one free snorkel rental.

Make sure to reserve in advance. Kids of all ages will enjoy this.

What an amazing geological hot spot right in the mountains of Utah!!! A giant led with beautiful warm water year round!

I have to admit I was a bit nervous about making my reservation because I read a couple of bad reviews. I am so glad I did it anyways. Everyone we encountered was friendly and professional and it was a one of a kind experience! Defiantly a must do if you are in the area!!

We liked swimming in the crater, and 40 minutes is about the right amount of time. When you check in, make sure to go to the white building in the parking lot first, before going through the crater tunnel or the crusty guy sitting at the desk will send you back to register.

Reservations are a very good idea as they allowed about 30 people in the water at a time. Good for kids and swimmers of all abilities because you have to wear a life jacket. We rented the extra snorkel gear which was somewhat useful. We probably could have gotten away with one set to share instead of one set for each of us.

We had lunch on the patio of the Homestead Resort afterward, and that was delicious and fun.

You go through a tunnel dug through this lava bubble. An oculus in the ceiling gives some light to a pool, blue as a logo on.
It is warm inside with water at 94 degrees.
The crater offers scuba diving lessons and certification. Don’t forget to reserve a time for your swim of 40 minutes or so!

The crater was similar to the cenote we have visited previously in Mexico, but much smaller. The water is so warm you need to get out and take a break during the 40 minute soak! The mineral water leaves your skin and hair so soft, almost like you've had a spa treatment! Very beautiful and unique, worth the small fee to visit!

BEWARE, NONE OF THE EMPLOYEES WEAR MASK!!! The entrance to the crater is a very small room with many people. Maybe you have a foot between another person. None of the other visitors had on masks either. I'm just surprised at how disrespectful they are to their visitors.

ZERO COVID PRECAUTIONS!! In fact, complete disregard for social distancing and mask wearing. The staff working in the tiny wet hallway wasn't wearing a mask and was obvious political statements about having the 'right to not wear one'. Don't go.

Very Misleading Experience (Bait & Switch style place):
My visit to Homestead Crater today was certainly… unique (I hope, but I’m 100% sure it’s not). Arriving at 1:30 PM for my scheduled 3:30 PM slot, I was initially pleased when a woman at the activity center offered me an early entry if I checked back in with her at 2:40 PM if there were any no-shows. Luckily, there was one, and I was told to head over to the crater to check in.
The check-in process at the crater around 2:48 PM was straightforward enough, though the subsequent list of rules felt excessive. No swimming, no diving, no going underwater – just floating, and everyone must wear a very large life jacket. By the time I finally got through the lengthy spiel and into the water, it was nearly 2:52 PM. It's worth noting that during this check-in, which occurred over 20 minutes after my initially offered early entry time, three different people – including the owner and the two staff members who later denied me my true swim time – had ample opportunity to inform me that accepting the early entry would impact the duration of my time in the water. This vital information was never shared.
I enjoyed a brief 15-20 minutes of floating before it was time for the group to exit. Given that I had entered the water much later than everyone else, I inquired to be sure I could have a few extra minutes. The response was confusing – the staff member, whose grandfather apparently owns the property, simply told me to be the last one out.
Seeking clarification, I spoke with the staff at the desk as everyone else was leaving. I explained that I had only been in the water for about 15 minutes of my supposed hour-long booking (though it turns out the actual swim time is only 40 minutes, with 10 minutes on either side for "getting ready," despite the expectation to arrive in your swimsuit). To my dismay, I was informed that because I had been moved up, my time was not extended and I had to leave with everyone else.
This lack of communication was incredibly frustrating and shiesty. Had I known my swim time would be significantly cut short by accepting the early entry, I would have simply waited for my original 3:30 PM appointment. This crucial detail was never mentioned.
Further compounding my disappointment, upon returning to the activity center to express my frustration, two other staff members confirmed that I would not receive any extra time. One of them, ironically, was the same person who had checked me in 20 minutes late at the crater (who also didn’t inform me at all that my float time would be affected). It felt like a bait-and-switch.
The sheer number of restrictions – essentially limiting the experience to passive floating in a life vest for a mere 15 minutes – was baffling. After voicing my concerns about the poor communication and the restrictive nature of the experience, I was finally offered a few extra minutes back in the water. However, this felt like a belated and insincere gesture after I had already walked barefoot across the parking lot in my swimsuit after talking to 3 other people to address the issue. Only after I mentioned I run a blog to review and visit places around the US online and would be leaving a review did they offer these *extra few minutes*.
In summary: Homestead Crater offers a truly unique geological setting for a soak. However, the experience is significantly hampered by a long list of inflexible rules, a surprisingly short actual swim time, and a concerning lack of clear communication regarding scheduling and time allowances. The fact that multiple staff members, including the owner, failed to inform me of the reduced swim time despite having the opportunity to do so during a delayed check-in only exacerbates the feeling of being misled. Potential visitors should be aware of the many limitations and ensure they fully understand the time allocation before agreeing to any changes in their booking. Waste of time, will not be revisiting.

We drove here from Salt Lake and didn't have reservations so we couldn't get in, however, much smaller than we thought. We were able to walk in and look and we were glad we didn't pay to get in. Seeing it was good enough.

Do everybody a favor and save them the money for snorkeling gear!!! Complete disappointment!!! Actually felt like I got ripped off paying for the snorkeling gear only to be able to see the walls about 10 feet down at best.
Would’ve been ok with experiencing this once for the weekday price and only once!!!

Danni and Dave are the absolute best. We (my son and I) came from Ohio and was with our good friend Abby and her three month old baby Grant. We tried to book online via our smartphones and it wasn’t working out. We decided to just drive there and take a pic if we cannot swim. We show up and the lady at the front desk offered to sign us up for a swim tomorrow but we had too many plans for the next day. But they gave us permission to come in and take pics. While inside Dani agreed to put us on a cancellation list. 😊 Not even ten minutes later we get a call from Dani telling us to come back they had space for us and we got right back to the crater. Super excited bc this was our first natural hot spring experience. We felt the effects of the minerals and hot springs for the rest of our day. Totally worth the drive it’s a must see place!

For $16/pp you get to soak in a natural geothermal spring, located within a 55-foot tall limestone rock. Definitely one of a kind experience. We've visited Iceland and enjoyed the hot springs there, but it's not comparable to swimming inside a crater. So much fun!

What can you say about a perfect water temperature, floating, relaxing and all with friends. Mother Nature at her best!

We went with our family with young kids. The crater was a fun little excursion--not too expensive, but I wouldn't plan a whole day out of it. You receive an hour in the water, and the water itself is very warm and pleasant. The kids just had fun and it was unique. There are some local farms to stop by in the area. But the staff was so horrible. We interacted with 3 people--the 2 ladies at check in were rude, not helpful, kept talking to each other and not answering questions when you were literally standing in front of them...it was so unprofessional. The guy at the actual crater was very rude, and very terse. He made some little snide remark about us losing our snorkeling gear, even though we did not. Their staff was horrible, and if you have a low tolerance for that, I WOULD NOT advise visiting, because it will make your blood boil!

Hard to describe. A very unusual attraction for all the family to enjoy. A geo-thermal water supply flows into this volcano shaped exterior and provides a natural 98 degree spring to swim in and even scuba-dive. The cave-like experience is spectacular. No way you won't be mesmerized. Pricey to actually swim in, but a must see even if you stand on the small dock inside to see it.

This was an interesting and singular experience- swimming inside a hot spring crater. Kind of a must-do.. once.

Make reservations early. If it’s crowded, there can be up to 40 people swimming and scuba diving, which would be totally cramped. It was cool and I can definitely recommend it.

Cool experience, it was just the right amount of time and the groups were small so it wasn’t overcrowded. Go early, the check in process is sloppy. There’s a sign on the crater to wait for your time slot. We were then told to go to the activities building to sign in, but that was closed. Make sure to bring minimal items as there isn’t any extra room for anything.

We had a great time diving until we were changing clothes and some guy named Ed went crazy. One of the diversity got totally berated because he wanted us out. The problem is we had it rented until 8..the crater was ours for 2 hours..not one hour and 45 minutes and 15 to change. We had the whole thing for 2 hours. Tell Ed to stop being a yelling jerk. Other than that the crater was super cool, it got ruined by 1 employee

The pools were not too warm and the dressing rooms super tiny. It seemed run down too and was very crowded

It was an awesome experience. First time ever to soak in natural crater hot spring. Snorkeling was fun too.

The resort is a wreck. We came to dive in the crater, which was fine. However the entire grounds are dug up, huge potholes all over. Several of the buildings are literally falling apart. This evening we arrived at our room to find that the water supply had been turned off- cannot wash, flush the toilet.

Very nice place, we had wonderful time in water today, thank you who make this place operating, we was impressive about this place, definitely we will recommended to our friends and we will come back next time when visiting Utah again, no read bad reviews this is wonderful place, friendly people and warm water to relax.

The swim/soak experience was AMAZING. It was so easy to book via phone/email. The entrance is easily accessible, not a far or hard walk at all. There are changing rooms in the crater entrance way. It is not a private reservation we did share a time slot with other people plus a diving class. Definitely a must do if you like water.

Aaaah, if you need some relaxation and massage therapy, by all means, take a swim in the Homestead Crater. The water remains the same year round at about 90 degrees. It is located under a 55-ft. high 'calcite' dome and is 10,000 years old. The crater is about 400 feet in diameter at the base. There are ladders to descend into the water as well as a step-down 'coral' for those who have difficulty with ladders. The coral has a long back to it, which can be rolled over for entry into the main crater waters. The water is fabulously soothing. a lot of people just float and enjoy the womb-like atmosphere. Others swim, play, talk, and some even scuba dive (classes are available as well as scuba certification, and paddleboard yoga). For me, it was an experience like no other. The Caribbean color blue water is comforting, and when leaving the water, I felt like I had several massages at once, all over! I was more relaxed than I have ever been. We went back to our room and showered and thought we'd head out to do something, but we lay down on our bed and just slept for 3 hours! We don't relax like this with our hectic lives, so this was something we would gladly experience again. This is a 5-star experience for certain!

Deep hot-spring swimming in a very different setting. The site looks like a volcano - open at the top and hollow inside, with a 90 degree temperature swimming hole inside. The water is 35+ ft. deep, with vertical sides, so everyone must wear a flotation vest. Visits are booked for one hour swims which is plenty. Staff helpful and informative.

The wife and I rented a motor home so after days of driving and sleeping on uncomfortable beds this was just what I needed. The check in was quick and easy, we changed in the motor home before going in. the first half was super peaceful and relaxing water was just the right temp and only minimal people. A loud group came in late but there was enough room for the wife and I to find a spot we didn't feel crowded, and with my head back in the water it was pretty quiet.

How many times do you get the chance to snorkel in 95-degree water in a crater? Floating around in a 55-foot deep geo-thermal pool was a first for me. You must reserve ahead for a one-hour timeslot for swimming, snorkeling or diving. Other than the divers, everyone is required to wear a life jacket, which will prevent you from diving down to see anything much. There were six scuba divers beneath us, blowing enough bubbles to create a surface current. While there were closet-sized dressing rooms at the entrance, it’s easier and faster to be wearing your swimsuit upon arrival. The crater is adjacent to the Homestead Resort.

The crater was a lot of fun. We opted for the snorkel package, which I probably wouldn't do again because we both ended up taking them off anyway, definitely not worth the extra $5 each. We had such a good time floating around in the warm water. The only thing I didn't like was having scuba divers under us the whole time who would resurface right next to us. scared the crap out of me the first time. Ha! It's possible I'm too self conscious but it was really uncomfortable having a bunch of people under me while I was swimming especially since I didn't know they were there until they surfaced.

Unique experience. Fun times only in Jan and Feb because its winter.
Hot choclate was good and food at Fannies was nice.

One of the best things you can do in this state, let alone town! It was so relaxing, so therapeutic and so enjoyable. The water felt amazing and me and my friend came out of the water feeling so clean and reenergised. Our hour went by so fast! The views inside are amazing. Plus, you can’t argue with the price! The staff there were absolutely lovely and friendly.

First time there. Very warm and relaxing. Make sure you get there with plenty of time to change or already have your bathing suits on. Any getting ready is included in your hour. Recommend going at least once. If you climb the steps outside and walk on top of the dome you get a really good view(and exercise!)

Crazy fun soak in the crater - which looks like a hill adjacent to a resort hotel. You have to reserve time because the space is small and sometimes shared with scuba divers. But the water is warm, the cave beautiful and just a wonderful way to spend an hour in a very special piece of nature. You're recognize the locals as the ones who show up in bathing suits with robes . They don't waste a second of time in tiny changing rooms! Worth a visit if you are anywhere near this area.

The crater was a unique experience. We where with a small group of scuba divers and instructor. We used this time to finish the grandkids scuba certifications because the water was nice and warm. They weren't to cold to concentrate on what they needed to do. The rest of the group acomplished several other scuba certifications depending on there skill level.

My son in law and granddaughter had a fantastic time swimming in the crater. Friendly staff, great experience!

Was able to go swimming in 96 degree water while it was degrees outside! The water is clear blue and it such an unexpected adventure in December. Just call directly for reservations and bring your family and friends. Be prepared to be wonderfully amazed!!

Went to Scuba Dive for $22/person as advertised. Was told that was only for CERTIFIED divers. In order to scuba dive as a non certified person it is $150/person. Completely unacceptable that this is not advertised. In fact I would say that is FALSE advertising. I will not recommend anyplace that can not advertise their prices. 100% do not recommend.

Unique relaxing experience. When you are first entering it’s like entering an volcano. Ounce inside you have a choice of lounging in a wooden hot tub or scuba diving/ snorkeling in the crater. Memorable Experience all around.

I initially emailed as instructed by their voicemail to request a reservation for 6pm, I was given several time slots and was told to call back and reserve to pay upfront. I called several times that day and only got their recording. I sent another email stating that I had called several times, and was told it was too late that date to reserve and to call back the next day. I did this, again, 8 times received voicemail every time (I did leave a message with no call back), so I emailed again, only to receive an email back that all time slots but one was filled. If you going to instruct people to call and reserve ANSWER THE PHONE.

This was my first visit to a hot spring inside a volcanic crater. The introduction is a bit primitive, with check in 150 yards away, a few changing cubicles, insufficient number of lockers, and limited time for swimming around in a life jacket. But the water was warm and bubbly, and I left feeling very relaxed and mellow.

What an awesome experience. For less than $20pp you get to enjoy a very warm mineral bath (we went in November and weren’t expecting the water to be that warm). Really cool thing to do while you’re in the area. The sessions only last an hour but it’s definitely enough time to enjoy your self.

So we came in from Wisconsin to visit friends and wanted to come see the crater. So we made our reservations on Wednesday to come to the crater on Sunday at 1. So we called on Sunday to confirm our reservation and the lady said that they dont have a reservation for today and that the guy we made the reservation with was off today. Then said while laughing at us that we wouldn't of had a reservation for today because sundays are only for resort gust. When I asked to speak to a manager she said I am the manager and she would do nothing to accommodate us and hung up the phone. This is not how customer service works and I cant believe anyone even goes there if this is how they treat people.

A local suggested we go see the crater for a spa like experience. Since it was a last minute thing we booked a night swim. Upon arrival there is little to no signage to help you find your way. Once we entered we were hit with a musty locker room smell. The guy checking us in was relatively rude and uninviting which made the experience even more awkward. Everyone has to wear a life jacket which we were fine with, however the life jackets were soggy wet and smelled like BO. The water itself looked murky and was luke warm at best. It also had a certain smell and was overall eerie. I felt dirty after getting out and my bathing suit smelled like the cave itself. Overall disgusting experience and I would not recommend it to anyone.

We visited the crater in the beginning of March. I found the crater on Pinterest, it was not well advertised in Park City where we were staying. It was about a half hour drive but we paired it with cross country skiing at Soldiers Hollow. The crater required reservations which I recommend making a week or so in advance if you want a late spot after skiing. You must bring your own towels, and there are changing rooms in the crater. We had a great and relaxing float for about 45-50 minutes. I highly recommend!

We visited the crater for a swim in Jan 2023 (2 adults and 2 kids). We purchased the swim ($60ish). The entrance was a bit hidden (by snow) so we were really just following others to find the way in. They are pretty strict about entrance times as mentioned in other reviews that the entry is very hectic and crowded (come with suit on). As you enter you can place items in locker or on shelving. You are instructed to get a life vest that fits and make your way to the swim area. I didn’t find the swim area to be overcrowded. We did have to wait to change into dry clothes as there are only 4 change rooms. Our family enjoyed the experience.

Really warm water and you wear a float jacket so you can't sink since it is 65 feet deep. Something you want to do once. Very relaxing to float on your back.

The crater soak was cool. If you want to get in the deep side it is required that you wear a life jacket. There are no lifeguards on duty ever, plus no cell phone reception... you figure out the rest! Only criticism is there wasn’t any restrooms. Pee before you come.

This was awesome. The water was warm on a cold January day, but not hot. We were asked to wear life jackets. This allowed me to lay back, close my eyes and float my cares away for an hour. It was marvelous.

The changing rooms are small but available. Also lockers are available. They also have shelves if you don't want a locker and hangers for coats.

They limit the number of people per session and so there was plenty of room to stay distanced.

This is definitely on the list to do again.

I am a bit of a hot springs freak. This is a bucket list type experience for those who seek the soak. While I would not want to miss this, I don't think I would do it again. Here are three things you need to know: 1) The water is arm not hot...this makes it easy to stay in but can be cold (depending on the weather) when you get out. 2) There are 4 small dressing rooms, so it is helpful to come with your suit on. 3) It's small and once inside, you are kinda stuck there. You can only stay for your 40-minute swim.

I honestly don’t understand the hype about the place , went there base on so many recommendations on line , ticket was affordable but place was disappointing.

The staff encourages you to take the self guided free tour of the crater. You can climb to the top and look down thru the crater hole. Also take advantage of the great view of Heber Valley. You can also enter the crater and view the inside of this wonder. The staff is eager to answer your questions and hopefully you will sign up for a soak, snorkel or scuba activity. I appreciated being able to view the inside of the crater and see what the buzz was all about. The temperature is around 96 degrees and the humidity is very high. There were several scuba divers in the crater, but few soakers. They have certified scuba instructors to get you certified if you so desire. Although we did not take advantage of any of the paid activities, the inside of the crater is a view you should not miss.

Overall a great place to visit with family. Staff was very helpful. Recommend taking towels and spare pair of clothes.

This is the first place I certified in scuba diving many years ago. You can still dive there, but you can just soak also! It is a constant temperature year round and is a delightful experience.

A unique experience, but really not a really great experience.
Very unusual formation of a giant rock dome, with a rather small opening at the top and a large clear mineral spring inside. Access is through a tunnel cut into the side. Access after going to the "activity center" which is rather run-down and then walk across the parking lot tot he rock dome. Bathrooms in the dome are nonexistent and the bathrooms at the activity center are outside in a rather filthy building. The tunnel is narrow and rather dirty since people have to walk in from the outside.
Not much to do except put on a life jacket and float in the water for an hour. Getting out is cold and somewhat miserable.
Scuba classes also going on which were actually more interesting.
Only room for about 20 or so in the pool at a time

This place falsely advertise that they were taking certain precautions against the coronavirus but once we got there we realized that there was no one wearing a mask at the front desk, they were overcapacity and they lied to us about how many people would be joining us in the water. People were within 6 feet of each other and nothing was being sanitized. If you have a death wish, you should look into renting their snorkel equipment. On top of all of that, there was nothing super special about the place. I expected it to be in the middle of nature or on an eco preserve but it is surrounded by houses. They told use there would be max of 26 people but instead there were over 50 people in a small enclosed pool. When we entered the pool it was just us but then 40+ people were entering and blocking our entrance so we couldn’t leave. This is why America is having problems stopping this virus. Shame on you!

Great experience..you don't have to go into the water but just seeing it is something special. Would recommend it.

I brought my two children, mom and husband for an hour dip and we made every second count. It was a little confusing when we first arrived since we didn’t know if we should wait outside or come inside and let them know we were there. David the attendant came out and let us know how everything was and to come at our exact time for a smooth transition from group to group. If there was signage outside that would have helped so he wouldn’t have to explain but it was greatly apreeciated. Come pre dressed in swim clothes, bring a towel and flip flops, and your change of clothes to maximize the visit. We came pre dressed, put our belongings on the white shelf, grabbed life jackets and got right in. The minerals make your skin feel slippery smooth and everybody felt so calm the rest of the day. The crater was clear blue to the bottom and a perfect 94 degrees. We will certainly stop by again!

I did not think it would be as cool as it was. Walking up the small cave to get to the water was pretty cool.

The water was very green. When we were there the water was 94 degrees and 65’ deep. Not sure if this fluctuates. There are small little areas where you can sit in the water on seats. Then you can swim out to the open water area.

I will be bringing my family back.

This is a great place to visit with family.

There’s changing rooms, lockers and shelves to put your clothes and towels.
You can also arrange to scuba dive.

The water was warm and relaxing.

Make sure you email ahead to make a reservation

This is a must do while visiting Park City.

Great place for a new experience. It is cool to see the cave/crater. It is warm inside and the hr length is perfect. Great town down the hill to stop to walk around as well.

Do wear your swimsuit under your clothes when you get there, they tell you that on the phone - important to do it. Changing room in tunnel on steep hill VERY NARROW changing area - I am 6 foot even 229 pounds and I BARELY fit. Port-a-potties outside entrance to use bathroom - they were dirty and smelly. The tunnel for what you can see - my wife and other people in group hit their head on cave walls while swimming because it was incredibly dark. Another gentleman there said he's been there often and it was first time that he was there with the lights off, he told me the owner was the guy at the entrance desk. I went up to him and asked if he could turn some lights on that are in the cave that you can see and even the ones under the water that the gentleman in the water told me about he told and I quote " we do not turn on lights unless divers are in there, because swimmers can see by opening there eyes" he said it like he was being nice and sarcastic at same time. I should have told him off but I am retired from the military my drill Sergeant days are over. Another thing about changing rooms your waiting before AND after to get in them people coming out need them and people coming in need them and there is about 6 of them. Your time starts EXACTLY on the scheduled time whether your changing or not or waiting to change. We got there a hour before our time, the nice beautiful redhead at the activity center told us she had cancellations so we could get in right then. We got in the entrance at 12:11 We got in the water after changing at 12:39 PM the guy told everyone in the water to get out at 1:17 PM that it was the next people's turn and our time was up. So we put our mandatory lifejackets up and waited 24 minutes from time I was reminded to start timing it, we waited for people to change that were leaving with us and people coming in to get into those few tiny changing rooms. Water was very nice temp and clean, that we could see next to the swim platform. The things that NEED to be changed is changing rooms built at entrance better AND MANDATORY need some lights on, if they're to cheap to leave on use solar through hole, being in the dark hitting the wall is a lawsuit waiting to happen - then the light bill would be chicken feed to the cost. One thing I want to mention this is EXACTLY what happened to me and my group. I did NOT make up ANYTHING. If someone is saying a review is a lie it is one of the workers or owners trying to cover it up. If there was some lighting on to help see the wall I probably wouldn't have wrote this. I urge you though, whether you believe my review or not wear your bathing suit under your clothes to save yourself and others some precious water time.I was warned to do that and some others before we got there and we learned it was a bad mistake. I hope this helps someone.

Hotel location was nice. The grounds are beautiful. The rooms are slightly outdated and could use some upgrading. The restaurant was very nice. Staff was great and very friendly and accomodating. Never got to swim in the crater due to limited time for our trip. But did get a chance to see it.

I was intrigued by the idea of diving in a hot spring. We stopped by and used some of their equipment, which is old and badly worn. It was hot and with poor vis. There were lots of people in the water. I am glad we did this, but would loathe to have to use it a lot. It is a good one-time experience.

Making a reservation was very easy and efficient process. When arriving at the crater there is a building several feet away from the parking designated as check-in. However, after walking over to the building there is a sign on the door stating if you purchased tickets on-line then just proceed to the crater gate. It would have been nice to have that sign bigger and out in the parking area. That was the only negative comment. The water was not as warm as expected but it was nice and relaxing. Please note that a life vest is required at all times.

Hard to get scuba in due to limited reservation slots plan in advance! Well worth the experience! Would prefer no life jacket for swim and would pay a bit more to do so.

Our large group enjoyed this hot spring. The history, is interesting and it an overall great experience to have while you are at the resort( right across the street)

This was SO fun! My entire family had a great time. If you have an hour and want to relax and just float around, come here!

This was a very fun experience. The water is very warm and felt good. My two grandsons, ages 4 and 7, had a great time. Everyone is required to wear a life vest so it was very safe even for these little ones. It was a wonderful experience. Don't get there too early though as you cannot go in until the time of your appointment.

Dave H was a fantastic scuba instructor. I did my open water certification dives with him and he made the experience feel very safe and fun. He told a lot of jokes and allowed me to take a minute whenever I needed to think through a task, so I never felt rushed.

Be aware that your 1 hour allotment includes only 40 min of swim time. The first 10 min is for changing into swim wear for those who come from afar. And the remaining 10 minutes is for changing back into street clothes. Changing into swim wear before your allotted time is discouraged as the small changing areas are reserved for individuals already in the crater water. Don’t come early on a cold day because you have to stand outside until your assigned time.

Highly recommend making reservations to visit and soak in the waters at The Homestead Crater! We did not have reservations, but the staff there were very accommodating and wonderful! I was traveling from California with a group of friends and this destination was on our “list” of places to go while in Utah. We were staying in Deer Valley/Park City area and it was a nice drive to The Homestead Crater. Once we were inside the Crater, we changed into our bathing suits, left our bags with clothes/shoes at the front desk area and went into the lovely warm water. It was such a relaxing, wonderful time. You get about one hour in the water and we stayed in there the entire hour. The water is inside of a cave. All of the staff both inside the Crater and at the store were the best - very friendly, helpful, professional and just so nice. Would love to return with my husband one day, I know he would really enjoy it! Highly recommend!

We swam for about 10-15 minutes and then were all a little bored (2 moms, 2 teenaged boys). It was pretty crowded when we went (4:30 on a Wednesday) and a bit warm out so it might be better in cooler, less crowded circumstances (thus 4 stars instead of 3).

They allow young swimmers and they provide life jackets. However, you can bring your own jackets. The water is very warm and swimming in a cave is cool

Don't bother paying for the snorkel adventure for kids as there are no masks that fit them; just bring their own goggles and snorkel if they are old enough to snorkel. The snorkles for adults looked haggard I suggest you just bring your own. The water is very dark so there is nothing to see unless you have scuba divers surfacing.

My husband and I were Referral Divers needing our Open Water dives for Certification. I made reservations online and set off for Utah. Our certifier was Dave, who was FABULOUS! He was very patient and remained calm even through a couple of bumps. We really couldn’t have asked for better. The water was fairly clear, between 15-25 feet. The water temp remained consistent at 96 degrees (which freaked me out a little when I got to 20 feet). There are free lockers (bring your own lock) and small changing rooms (no showers). We rented our equipment through Homestead and had no issues. Kitty helped get us checked in and sized us for the equipment. She was very friendly and great to work with. The minerals in the water made my skin feel so soft and helped the arthritis in my neck. Overall, it was an excellent experience.

I HIGHLY recommend a dip in this amazing natural hot springs, if you are in the area. You need to book your time in advance, and they limit you to an hour. You are given a life vest to float about it, the hive structure plummets way down (30' I believe?); This is also one of the only warm water scuba places around! I will stop by again on my next treck through Utah!

Nice warm water in a cool crater. A limited number of people are allowed in at a time, so buy your tickets in advance. Life jackets are provided and required. The tunnel in to the desk, and down to the water are cement and can be wet and slippery, so water shoes are a good idea if you have them. Bring your own towel!
The attendant was friendly and took pictures for several groups, so you can leave your camera with her/him.
There are small changing booths and small lockers with provided locks. Also shelves closer to the water for shoes and towels.
You can’t really swim laps, but they do offer snorkels and scuba experiences. Soaking with friends in this giant pool was an enjoyable way to spend an hour on a cold afternoon.

What a magical experience! My friend and I enjoyed floating around the Crater, taking in the incredible experience of being inside an underground geothermal pool. I loved looking closely at the walls and the layers — some of which sparkled — that have built up over the course of 8,000+ years. Mother Nature is truly incredible. One layer is a rich black and with the sunlight coming in from above, it looked like sparkling stars. The attendant on duty, Dave, was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable; it was nice to chat with him while I waited for a changing stall. I look forward to visiting the crater again and sharing it with others.

PS: Would love to see stickers and lapel pins in the Activity Center.

We arrived early, before 8:30am, making the experience sweeter. Meeting other "soakers" and watching scuba divers below sending bubbles up that sent us floating toward the walls was not as fun as my Sweetheart and I occupying an empty pool. I had a headache and neck ache going in, and both faded away in that warm mineral water. The cave walls and view looking up were even better than pictures I have seen. The dock, ladder, and hot tub shaped underwater bench area were ideal. The attendant working that Saturday, February 2nd, was friendly and very accommodating. I don't think my wife could have been happier!

My wife and I visited Homestead Crater on Friday, March 16th. We had an 1130am reservation.

The overall experience was...ok. I can’t ever see a time when we would return. It wasn’t a bad experience, it’s was just a blah experience.

For $16per person you get to soak/float in the “crater” for 40 minutes. You are supplied with a life jacket that is mandatory to wear.

There are only 4 changing rooms. Because of this I highly suggest wearing your swim trunks under your cloths so you can quickly slip out of your street cloths to begin your soak. If you don’t do this you will have to wait until the group before you uses the 4 changing rooms.

The two staff members we encountered were very average. They had no personality. When describing prices and procedures...you can tell they had repeated the same words hundreds of times. By expressing a little excitement and personality...they could have made the soaking experience special. As stated above...they were “blah” and the experience was “blah”.

We went to get our altitude certification for scuba diving. We had lived in the area most of our lives and never been to it. We had heard a lot about the crater. We enjoyed out time there and the dives. The water is warm it was at 95 according to our dive computers. While there were not fish of course it was an interesting dive and will be one that we will not soon forget. The staff was friendly and accommodating to help us with our dive.

This crater gives you a much closer and much safer idea of how we Westerners have warm water coming out of the earth than Yellowstone allows. You can swim in it, and people even learn to scuba dive.

We visited in December for a warm soak while taking a break from the snow. The water was warm and it was something we are both glad we did. It is a bit hectic getting in, as they seem to be running scuba classes with lots of kids before and after our visit. Come prepared with your suit on ,as suggested by the establishment as the changing areas are very small. There are tiny, tiny lockers for use but you must bring your own lock. Everyone seems to throw their belongings on the floor and they end up wet, trampled on and spread out. Again, we are glad we went but a suggestion might be to ask when there are not scheduled scuba classes as the female instructor was so loud and would not stop talking, even after the lesson and her constant chatter distracted from everyone else.

I was very skeptical after reading the lukewarm reviews. The crater is actually WONDERFUL!! Warm, relaxing water...in a setting unlike anything else. Yes, you wear a life vest... but treading water for 40min would suck. Bring your own towels, there are changing rooms (only 4)...no, they aren't THAT tiny! Up to 40 people swim per reservation time....only about 15 when we went. The staff was super friendly...so our experience was fantast

Not the best hot spring we’ve visited. This is more of the tourist trap get in get out so we can run the next profit batch inside!! Your not allowed in a minute earlier than the time you paid for. After 45 minutes they promptly tell you to get the hell out of the water and change your clothes and leave. You are required to wear a life jacket entire time so no reason to bring snorkel and mask because you can’t really see anything floating at the top. Their definitely making a killing of this side show attraction recommend visiting other springs in the area!!

Very relaxing- nice warm water- like bathtub temperature. Everyone wears a life jacket. You have 1 hour-- can't go in until your appointed time.

This was a horrible experience that I will not live done with my family for quite sometime. The pictures found on Pinterest & their website are a complete lie. I am grateful that I at least bought our tickets through Groupon so it wasn't horribly priced. First, the girl at the check-in was rude and unfriendly. We weren't allowed to go to the changing rooms until our reserved time, which cuts into the amount of time you have in the crater. We were advised that we could use the bathrooms outside--which were dark, disgusting, dirty & covered in toilet paper as an option to waiting for the changing rooms-NOT! Once inside for our reserved time you have to wait for everyone who is wet & cold coming out of the crater to use the changing rooms before you can! This is ridiculous! The changing rooms have cement floors & are the size of a closet in a travel trailer! Once you make it to the water you have to wear a smelly lifejacket the entire time. The hole in the ceiling of the crater is covered with a tarp & you can't even seen light coming through. Bonus: my kids got a sex ed lesson while snorkeling!!!! Beyong gross! This place is disgusting and not depicted accurately whatsoever. We were beyond disappointed and I would not even recommend this place to my horrible sister-in-law!

The experience was very cool. Water was very warm and relaxing. A lot was going on in the hot spring between classes of scuba divers and a group of kids that were being kids. It was worth doing, but did not look like any of the pictures the Homestead website has posted due to lights hanging down and a grate/ tarp hanging over the opening of the crater.

Great experience. The grandson of the owner is very welcoming and knowledgeable. Try to avoid when scuba divers go as they kinda like to rule the place and aren’t great at sharing. Otherwise, a relaxing environment. :)

This was a fun experience. They have changing rooms. You are given a life jacket to wear and we were able to just lay back and relax and enjoy the warm water. They limit the number of people they let in at a time so it wasn’t crowded at all. I was so relaxed afterwards! I would go again.

This was the highlight of a family trip to Midway. It’s not much in term of excitement but it is unique. You basically float in warm mineral water for a half hour and come out with super soft skin and hair and being able to say that you did it. It is a unique experience and everyone needs to do it at least once. Dave was awesome with our group. His best line when asked how deep does the water go and he replied “to the bottom”. Visit this place after a long day of recreating or just to unwind.

My friend and I wanted to try something different and this is a good one to do! First of all, if you are driving from Deer Valley, the drive through the mountain pass is just gorgeous. They are very strict with the reserved swim times- if you're late, you have less time to swim. Come in your swimsuit so you don't have to change. Be sure to bring a towel and if you want to rent a snorkel and mask to see the bottom, I advise trying to get a morning time slot. We got the last public slot during the day at 4:30 so the water was stirred up enough that it was pretty cloudy. But the warm temp of the water is perfect- it's like swimming in a bath! Life vests they provide are helpful- you definitely want one since you can't put your feet anywhere along a bottom. Definitely a fun and quick activity to do!!

We did a night here while staying at the Zermatt Resort on a ski club trip. This was a great addition to our week.

The check in desk misinformed regarding locks available at the crater for the lockers. They sold towels but at the crater you for them for free. Run by a "marine sergeant" who rushed everything. The crater was not that impressive. Altho we could stay 40 min, we were out in 10. Huge disappointment.

We drove from Moab up to the Salt Lake City Utah and made this a pit stop before flying home from our amazing adventure. What a perfect way to end our trip - SO RELAXING! That morning we drive off road vehicles in the Moab trails which was crazy, and then a few hours later we were floating in a mineral bath which drained all the stress from our bodies. I've always wanted to do a hot water spring, this one was incredible. It reminded my a bit of the Devil's Den in Florida, which is also an underground spring with an open air at the top, but that one is cold!

While we floated we enjoyed the history and experience. The hour flew by very quickly. I was glad I had a water bottle in my stuff on the shelf, I got very thirsty half way though. They provide the life vest and that's all you need. There are no fish so no real need to snorkel, although we did see scuba divers there. We waited outside of the gated door until our time and had our bathing suits on when we arrived to save time. Shelves to store items.

I do have a travel blog with more details of the entire Moab/ Midcrater Spring trip and lots of ideas for how to enjoy your time in this area (and others). It is linked to my bio.

Nice side detour on our vacation. Neat experience at a good value. Written instructions are a bit value but if you buy online just go inside at your time. Bring a towel. Grab a changing room quick at be prepared to wait a few minutes. Overall an interesting experience and I’d do it again!

The crater is awesome and is a very cool thing to see and discover. Unfortunately between scuba divers, snorkelers and families sitting inside it is very crowded.

There wasn’t too much to this place but it was nice and relaxing. The steps to look at it from the top iced over so we didn’t get to see it from the top. The life jackets could use some updating. Our session wasn’t very crowded so that was nice. Make sure to wear your bathing suit before you come. Not many changing rooms for after. Not much to do but float but it was nice to just hang out and talk in the water.

Eight of us visited the crater and enjoyed our float. We had no idea what to expect but it is well organized. Put on your swimsuits before hand if you can. Bring your swim suit cover up and sandals. Keep everything else in the car. The water is very comfortable. They will provide your life jackets (required) which is nice for floating.

Not only a great place for a relaxing soak...scuba certification anyone?

We recently went on a last minute cruise and my 15 year old wanted to go diving with me. I called all over for a scuba class. The dive shop at the ‘Crater’ was able to fit him in for a private certification right away. They even allowed me to join him for a couple of hours for a refresher course. The price was in line with the other shops I had contacted (just a bit more for the Crater entrance fee).

What a cool place to dive ( not literally, it’s actually very warm)! Very unique I highly recommend it.

Glad we went for a nighttime swim in this unusual crater for a one and done. Go a bit early to see it from the outside first— anyone can walk up to the top and look in. It’s a marvel. There’s not much thought given to the swim experience itself and it could be improved. A staff person is on hand to check people in from behind a counter in the hallway area, but I wish she would have spoken to the group while we swam. We received no info about the crater, just “grab a life vest.” She never came over to the water. The water was bathtub warm which must be nice in the winter, but it felt like swimming in a heated pool at night with a bunch of other people. I was hoping for dim lights and tranquility — maybe soft music? It was actually echo-y, loud and pretty crowded. It was a clear night and I tried to see stars through the crater opening above, but the fluorescent lights were too harsh & blinding.

I visited Salt Lake City with a few friends recently, and am so glad we stopped at the Homestead Crater — one of the most relaxing experiences!

It is best to arrive in your swimsuit — there are lockers to store your clothing, and you’ll be provided with a life jacket for the swim. We hopped out of the crater about 5 minutes before our float time was up, and this helped us snag one of the few changing stalls first. I was worried about being too cold after swimming in the winter, but the life jacket actually helped keep my hair dry, and with the early exit and the heaters near the changing area, I actually never cooled down.

Highly recommend this experience! I felt relaxed all evening!

Enjoyed the warm swim. Can snorkle,but not at night. They also have diving. So clean and relaxing. Next day the joints felt great from the mineral water. Great after a day of skiing!

This was truly a unique and wonderful experience! Who would have known. I wish we could have more time; I get it, this has to be shared by as many people as possible. The warmth of it ALL! God's creation is TRULY magnificent. One critique: the individual(s) taking the reservations over the phone should be more attentive in their listening to the customer's request(s). As a result of not listening to our request, my son was not able to experience the offered scuba diving option. In fact, it should be explained when choosing this activity, that the offered scuba diving is not like a vacation/cruise port-of-call stop where there is a 20- or 40-minute intro, and then voila! What Homestead Crater has to offer is much more involved. So, as it turned out, it was a good thing the person got our request WRONG! In spite of that, the time spent is/was worth it. No masks at the time of our visit!!! There is still a pandemic out there people!

Not worth the money, it's kind of fun but foggy and hard to see and you don't need more than 30 min to experience. Also can't see anything snorkeling

My wife found this online as a place to go for a float/swim just outside of Park City where we were at for her conference. They have slotted times as the crater "pool" can only handle so many people at once. You effectively get an hour, 45 minutes to swim and 15 to change and leave - but you should come in your suit as you lose time in the pool if you are trying to change when you get there. It is a really interesting and unique hot spring. It created its own dome through years of mineral deposits and was discovered by the people on the homestead. They originally jumped in from the top and climbed a ladder out in the late 1800s. Now they made a tunnel in from the side (but you can still climb a lot of stairs if you want to see in from the top) and put in some changing stalls and places to hang scuba and snorkel equipment. This is one of the few high altitude dive options and I would have loved to have known and made arrangements to dive here. The manager is friendly but definitely has you stick to the rules - keep on your life jacket, wear it correctly, don't touch the sides. Also, when he says to climb down the ladder and not jump in, that is for your benefit. My wife decided to go down one rung and plop in and got a sinus full of the hot spring, which has a pretty good mix of minerals that made her sinuses burn (but no sulfur, so the place does not stink). With the carbon dioxide in the water and the minerals, you just get this nice float and relax for 45 minutes. I would happily come back if in the area.

The crater is very unique. I am glad we did it and can say we did, but we would not do it again. They really need to invest in a changing facility. The changing stalls are tiny with no real room to change (and I am 5'2). If it is 41 outside and you have to come in, strip down and then redress before going back out....it is almost impossible.
The crater swim was nice! We snorkeled and got to watch a few people scuba while in there. The guy working was really nice.

We had a very large group and the Crater staff were so accommodating and sweet. A person in our party was rather difficult to deal with, but the staff handled him so professionally and respectfully.

So we left, get ice castle tickets before you go, all that's left are week days.We are planning on going back.

Although I wish we could still jump in from the top of the crater like they did in the movie 127 Hours, swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving in the 65 ft. deep, very warm, pure water that comes from a deep natural spring that replenishes the water daily, is a unique and incredible experience. It’s VERY relaxing just floating on your back and looking up through the opening of the crater, 55 feet above.

You can also walk, or run up 75 stairs to the top of the Crater and have lunch and a great view of the resort and of Midway.

DON’T MISS IT!

The crater was great for diving and swimming. The only complaint I have is the changing rooms were in the entrance hall and it got very chaotic and full when one set of swimmers were leaving and the others were coming in. I would suggest a separate area for the changing rooms.

Dani Peck is hands-down the best scuba diving instructor we've encountered in over 25 years of diving. She's kind, patient, knowledgable, fun, professional, efficient and safe. We recommend her for all age groups and genders. Our teenage daughters completed their open water dives for their PADI certifications with her last week at Homestead Crater. The girls were very nervous but Dani made them feel safe and comfortable from start to finish. She made it feel like an exciting educational experience instead of checking off boxes. She's exceptional all around. The girls were also incredibly fortunate they had her one-on-one both days, but they also had the entire crater to themselves on the second day just by chance as well because nothing else was scheduled. Dani as an instructor would have been the best experience we could ask for, but the cherry on top was training in the warm, serene, unique crater.

A must experience when visiting Utah. $13 a person was cheap for the experience that lasted an hour. Get there a bit early to walk around and enjoy the area. Highly recommend.

This crater doesn’t have all the frills. It’s literally a cave entrance, walk in a short dungeon like path to get to the water. You have the option to snorkel but there really isn’t much to see. There’s people scuba diving underneath you and their lights are the only thing you can really see.
The water is 97 degrees all year long. There’s changing rooms when you get out but no running water.
It’s a drive to Park City and a SLC but close enough that it’s not a day trip. The Swiss town where the crater is located is super adorable. If I knew how cute it was... I would have planned to spend some time there and maybe have lunch there.

The Crater is always great to visit and the whole property is just gorgeous. However, we will now be staying at an Airbnb, and just visiting to soak or dive for the day. Between the high room rates and the fact that there’s no breakfast options, and no place to even get a cup of coffee in the morning—it’s not worth it to stay. No free coffee in the lobby, no restaurant coffee. The cute little Milk House looks amazing, but says it opens at 7 & a bunch of froze our butts off outside waiting til 7:15 with zero activity in the building. Front desk said they decided to open at 8 , but there were no signs and not updated online.

There is nothing better than getting in a therapeutic soak in a Geothermal hot spring housed in a bee-hive shaped limestone rock with sore muscles. This crater is 55 feet deep and about 96 degrees F. The water was crystal clear and not many people were there either. We made a reservation for the 40-minute therapeutic soak along with the snorkeling gear so that we could see under the surface, which was really nice and pretty.

Also I purchased a long sleeve souvenir shirt from the activity center. I’m a size small but I like my shirts to be a bit oversize on me, and the sleeves ripped after only wearing it for 2 hours. Very cheaply sewn, and so sad for the price that I paid for it.

My fiancé and I found this place after researching hot springs near Salt Lake City after running a half marathon. We took a Lyft from our hotel to the Crater. It was so difficult to get a Lyft out of this place and back to our hotel for some odd reason though. So if you are traveling I wouldn’t recommend depending on Uber or Lyft for a ride back out as there were none in our immediate range.

Fun and relaxing soak. Did the swimming option. Not sure how much you would see snorkeling. Water is very warm but not hot. Get to float, bob or paddle around.
You wait outside until your time slot. We had nice day - in the winter I’d wait in my car until very close to time. Once they open the door, you enter a long narrow hallwayThere are 4-5 small changing booths, and ~ 30 ish small lockers. Would minimize what you bring in with you. Checkin, get the rules explained, pick out a life vest (possibly wet from prior time slot) and walk out to the floating dock. Climb down pool ladder into very warm comforting water. There are 2 small areas off the dock set up with benches where you can sit in the water (think hot tub) or stand.
When we were there everyone bobbed or floated in their groups. Had space to move around some. Overall cool experience I would recommend if you are in area. I would go again

awesome experience and staff was super friendly! might have to come back to get my scuba certification

Going into the hotsprings at the Crater was unique. We were warned that there may be scuba divers below us. It sounded creepy but they were not acually under us at any time. It is something I will recommend to our group when we come again.

The crater in Heber City Utah is very fun! Make sure you make reservations before heading down. The crater is aboy 45-1 hour away from Salt Lake City, there is lots of free parking at the crater. I really enjoy going in the winter, the cold air and warm water make the place steamy and its really spooky. It offers one big swimming area and two smaller "hot tubs". You are required to wear a life vest for safety.

Other reviews almost caused me to skip my visit to the Homestead Crater. I am glad I decided to check it out myself. The water was clear and blue. The temperature must have been near 98.6 F. because it was warm but you never got hot. It was very pleasant to float around in the warm mineral water after a few days of skiing. If you read the other reviews there were some common complaints;
1 unfriendly staff- the staff was very nice, no problems, but we all followed the rules and their directions.
2. Smelly flotation jackets. The jackets were clean and made floating easy, there is no shallow end in the pool and it’s hard to swim with a lot of people in the pool.
3.Low ceiling it’s a little low if you’re over 6’ duck your head. There is an area with a cage of sorts that is a few feet deep where you don’t have to wear the jackets if that’s your choice.
4. Changing rooms
come with your bathing suit under your clothes for convenience. There are 4 changing rooms and when you get out of the water, if it’s cold out, you will appreciate having quick access to the changing room to get dried off and dressed. The rooms are just wood fencing on one side and the cave wall on the other.
The place is not high end but it’s $13 to float around I wasn’t expecting high end for $13. I loved it and next year when I’m back skiing I’ll come back. Next time I’ll rent the scuba gear and explore the depths. Oh bring your towel or rent for and additional $5.

We spent 4 days at The Homestead with two young grandchildren in tow. Many other family members were also there for a family reunion. The rooms were in poor shape with non functioning phones and poor air conditioning. We sweltered in the heat. Staff was unresponsive, having promised but not delivered an extra bed. (They did issue a credit at checkout). We had to request overflowing trash can outside our room to be emptied after two days.
Setting is beautiful and pool was nice but I would never ever go back.

The Crater needs to be cleaned after each use. There was garbage in the water. Floating empty Gatorade bottle, toy dolphin and used band aid. To top it off a used excreted bloody tampon. SUPER FUN!

A unique experience!!! Hightly recommended!! Changing rooms available!! Parking a few steps away, very convenient since it was 20 degrees outside. DONT MISS OUT!!

I’ve visited the crater before but I was never treated as kindly by the staff as I was tonight. The man working was very nice and made the experience much better. “Nice old guy was really good” -chris

On a cold winter day this was a great place to be. The water temperature is comfortably warm and since we were required to wear life jackets we were able to relax and float wherever the slight (very slight) current took us. The clear water is an incredible shade of blue! I'm not sure what the scuba divers or snorkelers could see below us. As noted in previous reviews you need to bring your own towel.