Zion Canyon Hot Springs and the geology of Utah

Located in La Verkin near Hurricane, Utah, the Zion Canyon Hot Springs are fueled by the Pah Tempe springs, also known as La Verkin Hot Springs or Sulphur Springs, situated in the Virgin River gorge. While the facility uses filtered and treated water in its pools rather than natural river basins, the thermal experience is directly linked to the region's unique geological characteristics.

The water rises due to the Hurricane fault, a major geological discontinuity between the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau. This underground architecture allows mineral-rich water to reach the surface. The area's thermal activity is a result of tectonic forces that shaped the Great Basin and historical volcanic activity in southwestern Utah, evidenced by basaltic flows and cinder cones dating back 200,000 to 300,000 years.