12-Mile Hot Springs & Metropolis Ghost Town Adventure

The hot springs is a primitive, long, man-made, concrete pool, gravel bottom, 40' x 3' deep. Source is about 100-105 degrees depending on the season.

Hiking to the hot springs takes about 1 hour one-way. There is a bridge for crossing the creek. Its recommended to cross the creek not the bridge.

Bring water-resistant footwear and socks for hiking, and separate footwear for soaking. Pack and  bring a backpack with hydration, warm clothing, towel, hiking snacks, or hearty lunch.

We'll soak and relax, refuel, hike back, and continue our caravan to Metropolis Ghost Town.

The NY based Pacific Reclamation Co.'s scheme of building a modern city with graded streets, a hotel, post office, saloons, broad cement sidewalks, hydrants, streetlights, and a four block commercial district, surrounded by 40, 000 acres of farms seemed like a great idea late in 1909.  

...in the area early on, which had unintended consequences causing the jackrabbit population to explode, which decimated their crops. Water utility litigation mired sustained development. Droughts came along with a Mormon cricket infestation,  spelled the end of farming.

The last store closed in 1925, the post office in 1942. By 1950 Metropolis was a ghost town. Today ranches surround the town site. The ruins of the hotel and school and a cemetery are all that remain.