Homestead Crater

Outside the Homestead Crater

Did you know that you can go scuba diving right here in Utah? Not only that, you can do it in a huge geothermal crater. Homestead Crater (or caldera) formed 10,000 years ago from mineral deposits from rising spring water. The crater stands almost 60 feet tall and looks like a big beehive.

In 1996, they drilled a hole into the crater and opened it up to the public. The hole makes a tunnel into the center of the caldera. The warm aquamarine water looks like those pictures of the beach in the Bahamas and stays a constant mid 90 degrees. You can swim or scuba dive (the swimming costs $11 on weekdays, $16 on weekends), but we took an unguided tour.

To check out Homestead Crater, just walk in. The tunnel is on the north side, and we walked right up. There is a platform that extends over the water, and there were a few people swimming or soaking. It seems like you're inside a volcano with the opening high above. After a few minutes, it starts to feel like you are in a very humid volcano. We were almost gasping for air after 5-10 minutes!

The tunnel into the crater

Isn't the water pretty?

You can also climb to the top of the crater. There is waterfall on the southwest side--perfect for a photo, and stairs lead up the south side. There are around 70 steep stairs that lead to the wide, flat top of the crater. A bridge takes you right over the opening (Don't worry. There's a net so you can't fall or drop anything down on the swimmers.)

Homestead Crater is definitely worth a stop if you are in the Heber City area. To get to the crater from Utah Valley, head up Provo Canyon. When you pass Deer Creek turn left onto Highway 113. This will take you directly into Midway (about 4 miles). When you get to Midway Main Street, turn left. Go 2 blocks and turn right (north) onto 200 West. This road will turn into Homestead Drive which goes right past the crater.

Our photo op by the waterfall.

It's a lot of stairs!

Looking down into the crater...see the blue water on the left?

The bridge over the crater...our boys loved looking through the bridge!