Mill Creek North Fork — Swimming Holes
A series of natural swimming pools, waterfalls, and a rock slide carved into sandstone along the North Fork of Mill Creek, less than 3 miles from downtown Moab. The locals' swimming hole — the one they actually go to after work on a 105-degree day.
Moab sits in a desert where summer temps hit triple digits for weeks. The Colorado River is dangerous for casual swimming. Mill Creek is the safe alternative locals have used for decades. Push past the first waterfall pool another three-quarters of a mile upstream to find a deeper, quieter pool where you will likely have the canyon to yourself on a weekday.
From downtown Moab, head south on US-191. Turn left onto East 100 South, go 4 blocks, turn right on Fourth East. Head south 0.3 miles, left on South Mill Creek Drive, follow it east, bear right to stay on South Mill Creek Drive, left on Powerhouse Lane. Drive 0.6 miles to parking lot at road end. Small lot fills fast on weekends — arrive before 10am or go weekday. Free access, no permits.
Packing Checklist
- ☐ Water shoes with real grip
- ☐ Quick-dry towel
- ☐ Dry bag for electronics
- ☐ Sunscreen (waterproof)
- ☐ Change of clothes
- ☐ First aid kit
- ☐ Snacks and water
Every Moab local has a Mill Creek story. The creek cuts a narrow canyon through red sandstone just minutes from town, carving pools deep enough to swim in and smooth enough to slide down. On a 105-degree afternoon, the parking lot fills with trucks bearing local plates and kayak racks.
The first pool sits about a mile from the trailhead — a wide basin below a six-foot waterfall with a natural rock slide that kids and adults share without territory disputes. Most visitors stop here. Locals keep walking upstream.
Three-quarters of a mile past the main pool, the canyon narrows and the crowds thin to nothing. A deeper pool sits beneath a cottonwood grove, shaded through the hottest hours. The water is cold — fed by springs higher up the canyon — and the silence is conspicuous after the noise at the lower pool.
The Colorado River is not for casual swimming. People drown in it every year. Mill Creek is where locals actually cool off, and it matters that visitors know the difference. No glass containers, pack everything out, keep the noise level respectful.
Sources
- Discover Moab — local recreation information
- BLM Moab Field Office — land access and regulations