OGDEN — The Weber County Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with a private landowner to prevent people from attempting to access natural hot springs on the property, located at the mouth of Ogden Canyon.

Officials revealed via Facebook on Wednesday that the property owner has given authorization to the sheriff’s office to enforce a no-trespassing policy on the site through a letter of agency agreement.

“In conjunction with the Utah Highway Patrol, the Weber County Sheriff’s Office will conduct regular patrols in the area. Those disregarding the no trespassing signs and found on private property will receive citations,” authorities warned in the post.

The property has long been a destination for hot spring enthusiasts due to the presence of Ogden’s “hot pots.” The geothermal pools are well-known and listed on a number of websites dedicated to hot springs and the outdoors. People have been accessing the springs — illegally, law enforcement officials say — for decades.

Last month, state Route 39 was closed twice on the same day for separate medical rescues at the hot springs. On both occasions, officials had received reports of unresponsive males being present in the area and the use of a ladder truck was required to facilitate their rescue.

“We do have a big issue with trespassing,” Lt. Colby Ryan of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office told the Standard-Examiner in January. “A lot of people do go down there. It’s hard to enforce because of manning issues and the location of where it is. Right now, we’re working with the property owner to come up with some ideas on how to alleviate the problem and take care of the trespassers and how they get down there.”

In 2022, an Ogden woman died after being found unresponsive in one of the pools. And officials have previously noted incidents of trespassers using narcotics on-site. However, the danger actually extends beyond the springs themselves and the property’s boundaries.

“For those traveling on Highway 39 near the Hot Pots, there is a recognized traffic hazard due to vehicles parked closely to the road and people crossing the busy highway,” the post read.

So, in addition to new enforcement measures from the sheriff’s office and UHP, the Utah Department of Transportation also has installed “no parking” signs on the roadside near the property.

“Please adhere to these signs and avoid parking in restricted areas. Your cooperation ensures everyone’s safety,” authorities requested in the post.

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