Veyo Pool Resort (also called Veyo Pool & Crawdad Canyon) sits in a private lava-rock canyon on the Santa Clara River in Veyo, Utah, about 20 miles and 25 minutes north of St. George, at roughly 4,300 feet elevation.

The property also holds Utah's only private outdoor rock climbing park, plus crawdad catching, camping, and a poolside grill, all on one day pass.

Confirm hours and rates before you drive up, since seasons shift.

Veyo Pool Resort History

James and Caroline Cottam claimed this land under the Homestead Act and built a simple cement pool here in 1927, fed by the spring next door.

"Gramps" Cottam charged travelers 15 cents for a dip, and another quarter for a wagon ride up the far side of the canyon.

The Cottams held it until 1995, when Jim Bosse bought the place and saw something bigger. He teamed up with local climber Todd Goss, and their crew bolted the basalt walls into the country's first privately owned climbing park.

Bosse recouped his $350,000 investment in two years, then died of a heart attack in 1998. The resort now belongs to Joe and Sarah Salisbury.

Nearly a century in, the same spring still fills the same pool. I think that's the best part of the story.

Veyo Pool Water & Swimming Experience

The water holds steady around 89–90°F (32°C), which makes this a warm spring rather than a hot one.

The draw is a spring-fed swimming pool filled by naturally heated mineral water rising from about 800 feet underground, with no chlorine added at any point.

You swim here; you don't sweat here. The canyon itself runs 12–15°F cooler than St. George, thanks to the elevation, the shade, and the river.

Staff drain the pool every night, brush it down, and refill it from the spring.

The pool deck itself is handicap accessible. Vehicles only come down into the canyon with a campsite or picnic-site reservation, because the county and fire department cap how many park below.

Poolside decks and patios book by time slot (10–1, 1:30–4:30, 5–8), seating 8 to 50 people. You can book riverside picnic sites from 11am to 4pm. You can also rent the pool after hours for private parties.

Crawdad Canyon climbing covers 234 bolted routes across 21 walls, up to 85 feet tall, graded 5.2 to 5.13a. Since 48 of them sit under 5.10, beginners get plenty.

Every climb wears a brass plaque with its name and rating, and climbers from more than 25 countries have tied in here. Bring your own rope, harness, shoes, and quickdraws, because nothing is rented. Sport only: no trad, bouldering or soloing.

Crawdad catching in the creek is catch-and-release, with no fishing license needed on private land.

The Lava Grill opens 11am to 6pm for hand-dipped Pronto Pups and the famous Veyo Pie Shake, a real slice of pie blended into soft-serve.

Pickleball, volleyball and basketball courts are included too.

Farther out: Snow Canyon State Park (15 min), Kayenta Art Village and Tuacahn (20 min), Gunlock Falls (30 min), and Zion National Park (1 hour).

Looking for a hot soak? Zion Canyon Hot Springs, an upscale hot springs resort in La Verkin, is about 50 miles south of Veyo Pool Resort. Scenic Mystic Hot Springs and Red Hill Hot Springs are farther north.

Location: Veyo • Washington County • Southern Utah • USA
Open: May 1 to Oct 31, daily 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Nov 1 to Apr 30 by reservation (pool closed, climbing/crawdads/camping only)
Development: Natural spring-fed swimming pool
Clothing: Required
Facilities: Lava Grill, hot showers, flush toilets, decks and patios, picnic sites, courts, 30 campsites, farmhouse

Hiking distance: Short
Road access: Any vehicle
Day-use: Yes

Elevation: 4,300 ft (1,311 m)

Water T° (pools): 89–90°F (32°C)
Chemical used: None (natural flow-through system)

Mineral profile: Magnesium, silica, calcium, sodium, potassium