Dive into the watery world of the Crater at Homestead Resort
The sun may be shining, but mountain lakes are just too cold for me — it isn’t worth the freeze just to appease the kids’ desire to get in the water.
So where can I go to feed that need and not risk hypothermia?
Answer: the Crater at the Homestead Resort in Midway.
You may not generally think of craters as places to swim, but this one is unlike any other spot in Utah, or the nation for that matter, for snorkeling.
We were able to take our two oldest kids (you have to be at least age 5) for an hour of snorkeling for less than $45 for all of us — that’s a whole lot more economical than tickets for four to California or Hawaii.
We have our own snorkeling gear, but just used the rental equipment available there, and everyone had a great time.
The water is warm, about 92 degrees. When we visited in the spring, it was one of those crazy days in Utah when the mercury suddenly dropped 30 degrees from the day before and the wind was gusting around, but we were warm and comfortable inside.
With masks, fins, lifejackets and snorkels donned, we propelled ourselves around the surface of the water in this surreal, circular, cave-like place, marveling at the oculus 55 feet above us which allowed the bright sun of a cold day to stream in, while the beehive-shaped formation kept the wind and cold away.
The crater is full of mineral water, which is how it formed in the first place. Because of that there are no fish, but we all enjoyed exploring what is essentially a geologic formation, much like a calcite formation in a cave, complete with small stalactites hanging from the ceiling above us.
With the water as clear as it is, you can see far into its 65-foot depth. We could run our hands along the walls (something you are never supposed to do to calcite formations in a cave, for fear that it will “kill” the formation), swim down to formations under the surface of the water, and, of course, everyone’s favorite activity, watch the scuba divers dozens of feet below, the depths illuminated by their lights.
Homestead Resort and Crater
Where: 700 N. Homestead Drive in Midway
Directions: From Provo take Provo Canyon Road (it changes into US-189) about 16 miles. Turn left onto Charleston Road (Highway 113) to Midway. Turn west or left onto Main Street, turn right at the stop sign onto 200 West. Follow the green directional signs for the Homestead for approximately 1.1 miles. The road will turn into Homestead Drive at the top of the hill, continue to follow for approximately 1 mile to the Homestead entrance.
When: Noon-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: $11 weekdays, $16 weekends for a swim/soak/snorkel. Snorkel equipment rents for $5. Tours, every hour on the half hour, are free. Scuba instruction and dives are also available.
Info: (888) 327-7220 or www.homesteadresort.com/the_crater
