Did you know that there is an awesome underwater cave hidden in the barren desert at the border of Nevada and Utah? This cave is situated in the middle of a crystal clear, warm spring called Gandy Warm Spring. So, not only do you get to swim in one of the best natural warm springs, but if you’re brave enough, you can also explore this very unique cave. The springs are fed by 9,000 gallons of water every minute, flowing out of the mountain. The water temperature is a constant 80-ish degrees, making it a perfect spot to cool down in the hot summer. This spot is less than an hour’s drive from the Great Basin National Park.
To preserve this beautiful spot for future generations, there are a few rules and etiquette that we recommend when visiting hot springs and warm springs.
There is NO cell service. Once again, this place is in the middle of nowhere, so there is limited to no cell reception. Make sure to have your map ready and bring a GPS tracking device, such as the Garmin InReach, in case you get lost.
Gandy Warm Spring and Cave is located in Gandy, Utah, less than 1 hour drive from the Great Basin National Park. While you won’t need 4WDs to get there, we recommend bringing a high-clearance vehicle. You will be driving over 30 miles of dirt roads (one way) to get there. To protect this way, we won’t tell you exactly how to get here.
The road ends at a cul-de-sac where you can park. It is right next to the main pool and the cave. It is tucked in between some tall vegetation. We definitely weren’t expecting how beautiful this area was. Not only do you have the crystal clear, teal water spring, but there are 3 waterfalls pouring into the spring. It was really neat! The bottom of the spring is silty and can be slippery. We highly recommend wearing water shoes, especially if you want to explore the cave.
The cave opening is hidden under the mossy overhang, between the two waterfalls. Even though we knew where it was, we weren’t sure if it was the right entrance. It really doesn’t look like much at all, and it’s kind of spooky. So of course, I sent Dustin in first, you know, as a sacrifice.
Make sure you bring a headlight for this. It is pitch black inside. The cave was beyond our expectations. It was stunning and so unique. You’ll be submerged mostly in water, with just enough headroom in some spots for your head to be above the water. Water is also constantly dripping from the cave’s ceiling. It was hard to keep anything dry in there, especially our camera lens. We wished we had brought goggles. That would have been helpful to keep dripping water out of our eyes. Also, watch your head. The ceiling is low. We hit our heads a couple of times when we weren’t careful.
The cave went in for about 30 ft or so. The water inside the cave is also crystal clear. And under the headlight, it glows a beautiful, clear teal color. Cave formations were forming inside the caves. It was nothing like the Lehman Caves or the Goshute Cave nearby, but it was really interesting to see. We also saw a tiny waterfall inside the cave. It was so cool! This cave was the highlight of this spot, in our opinion.
Apparently, there is an upper pool, a short walk from this main pool. It is tucked against the rocks. This pool isn’t deep, just enough for sitting and hanging out. We were too awe-inspired by the cave that we didn’t have time to check out the upper pool.
If you love warm and hot springs, check out Hot Creek Springs near Lund, Nevada. Minus the cave, this place is similar to Gandy Warm Spring. Mammoth Lakes in California is also home to many awesome hot springs. And don’t forget Idaho. We love all the cool hot springs in Idaho. You’re also not too far from the Great Basin National Park. Don’t forget to check out some of the hikes there. Our favorite is the Bristlecone to Glacier Trail.
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to check out the related posts below for more inspiration on your upcoming adventures. While at it, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel! We’ll love you forever!
These are the gear that we personally use and find helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
Our favorite biodegradable, eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen!
This is Vy's favorite hiking bag! It has tons of room for snacks and water!
It's always good to bring a GPS tracker with you. We use the Garmin inReach.
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
If you tend to have foot blisters on hikes, get this! We use this all the time.
These hiking poles are sturdy, and great to help keep your balance on short or longer hikes
Compact GoPro pole that extends to 25", perfect to bring on your adventure.
This is our go-to camera for all of our adventures. It comes with us everywhere!
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Hi! We are Dustin & Vy, the proud creators of Live That Adventure. We created this website because we wanted to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. On here, you’ll find everything from hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and snorkeling to adventure and travel tips, gear reviews, and bucket list items such as bungee jumping or wing walking. We’ll show you the ropes so you can do them too!
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