Small cove right off river road, leaving Moab. just a few minutes from town. There is spout coming right out of the mountain. Water tastes amazing! icy cold, pure spring water, great place to refill all bottles.
Nearest Address
River Road.
Directions from Nearest Address
Leaving Moab toward colorado border. turn down river road it is on the right hand side of the road just a few minutes from town (Route 128, just east of its southern intersection with Route 191).
Hi, does anyone have any recent information on the condition of this water? I have been drinking from it gratefully and periodically the last few months. I do wonder the truth in hearing mixed info.
thanks
Mike B I stop at the spring today for the first time, I ck the TDS it was 165 and the temp was 68 degrees. The water come’s out crystal clear and has a sweet taste to it. I filled 2 five gal bottle’s and 2 one gal bottle’s 12 gal’s total. It took 2.5 min on the five gal bottle’s.
Great tasting water. Easiest to access when driving East on 128 – the pullout will be on the right a couple of pullouts after leaving the intersection with 191. The spout is a little hidden by the large boulders at the end of the pullout, but the water is evident.
Thanks Daniel for creating this website. I just stopped in Moab to visit Arches National Park. While in town we stopped at Moonflower health food store and asked about the spring. A gal there said it was closed down for a while, and that there had been a huge controversy about the spring, and that is was now open again. The water is very easy to gather, I filled each of my gallon jugs in about a minute each. The water tastes wonderful, and feels energizing. It’s really an amazing spring and worth the time to stop and fill up.
The correct name of this spring is “Matrimony Spring”. It is located on highway 128, AKA the “River Road”, which follows the Colorado River. The local authorities removed the pipe and tried to close the spring due to the presence of non-pathogenic (harmless) fecal chloriform bacteria. There are no known cases of illness caused by this water and the public still has full access as of 08/07/11.
This spring is open. There was some noise about closing it a little while back but lots of people love this spring and it’s fine. It’s right on the side of the road about 100 yards from the main highway.
Oh Thank You for responding, I really didn’t think I would hear anything. Just to confirm (cuz my husband is the one who would go get it and he is terrible with vague direction), as you are leaving Moab on HWY 191, you turn right on the road (where all that construction is/was) that goes out to the ranch and the winery (sorry I do not know the names), and after you turn right it is about 100 yards? Is it on the right side of the road or on the left down by the river? It says it is in a little cove. I am so excited.
The powers that wish to be did close the spring. They dismantled to pipe an spout that had served so well for so long. They then ran a pipe from the stub of the old pipe to carry the water under the roadbed of Hwy 128. Locals winched out the pipe. The powers that wish to be pulled the pipe that brought the water out of the rock. The locals built another spout. Thus far, the powers who wish they were have paused in frustration.
No, I don’t know who the PTWTB are. My guess is people in the federal bureaucrasy. Perhaps some of the locals will enlighten me.
Not sure how long this spring has been out of commission but was not flowing and pipe could not be found as of January 2018 when I visited my beloved Moab after living abroad for 12 years. Hadn’t heard news of the controversy while away, but its really too bad since this is the second best spring water I’ve had around the world and would always drive out of my way to get my drinking water if camping anywhere near the area and take carboys of it home for homebrewing. Total Bummer!
Not sure how long this spring has been out of commission but was not flowing January of 2018 when I visited my beloved Moab after living abroad for 12 years. I drove up and down the road thinking to myself “I swear it was RIGHT here!” Hadn’t heard news of the controversy while away. Bastards!!!
The water here was very sharply tasting like iron. All the rock surrounding it is red, oxidized iron clay. The mouthfeel was great, but the water was dry tasting. I didn’t drink more than 4-6oz.
Would like news of this spring : is the water still good? is there bacteria again? Is it accessible near the road, we would like to fill the water tank of our rv there!
Just a quick note: locals have been drinking this water for hundreds of years…a local geologist told me the spring has been flowing continuously for probably tens of thousands of years. He said the water comes ultimately from the Lasal Mtns. and takes years to get to that point, a few feet from the river, being filtered by many layers of rock during its passage. I like the fact that it is naturally fluoridated only, although Moab city water also has low fluoride levels. Also it is naturally structured water to boot. The myth is that if you drink this water, you will return to Moab…try not too!
Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.
The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.
FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.
Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.
Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug
When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.
When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.
How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.
How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.
I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.
Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.
Written by Dakota Chanel. Water Priestess and Ceremonialist. DakotaChanel.com
I visited this spring in Aug 2023 and it is tucked into the rock a little further than someones pic shows. No pipe but rather a metal funnel contraption. You could easily miss this if you were looking for a pipe out of the rocks. In any case, locals said they rely on this for all their drinking water, I filled three large jugs, drank all of it over 1 week, and suffered no ailments. Water seemed very clean and was very cold.
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River Road Water Spring, Moab, Utah
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Marg
Hi, does anyone have any recent information on the condition of this water? I have been drinking from it gratefully and periodically the last few months. I do wonder the truth in hearing mixed info.
thanks
The waypoint is off. If you follow the road a 1/4 mile to the trees on the right side (south-east side) of the road, you will see a small pull out.
And this name on the topo maps – is called “Matrimony Spring”. Someone should change that.
As a local I’ve always known this as Matrimony Springs.
This is the freshest water I have ever tasted. Highly recommend!
Thank you all- God bless each one of you!
Mike B I stop at the spring today for the first time, I ck the TDS it was 165 and the temp was 68 degrees. The water come’s out crystal clear and has a sweet taste to it. I filled 2 five gal bottle’s and 2 one gal bottle’s 12 gal’s total. It took 2.5 min on the five gal bottle’s.
Great tasting water. Easiest to access when driving East on 128 – the pullout will be on the right a couple of pullouts after leaving the intersection with 191. The spout is a little hidden by the large boulders at the end of the pullout, but the water is evident.
Thanks Daniel for creating this website. I just stopped in Moab to visit Arches National Park. While in town we stopped at Moonflower health food store and asked about the spring. A gal there said it was closed down for a while, and that there had been a huge controversy about the spring, and that is was now open again. The water is very easy to gather, I filled each of my gallon jugs in about a minute each. The water tastes wonderful, and feels energizing. It’s really an amazing spring and worth the time to stop and fill up.
Just an update. We have been getting water from this spring for about 4 months now; it’s awesome!
The correct name of this spring is “Matrimony Spring”. It is located on highway 128, AKA the “River Road”, which follows the Colorado River. The local authorities removed the pipe and tried to close the spring due to the presence of non-pathogenic (harmless) fecal chloriform bacteria. There are no known cases of illness caused by this water and the public still has full access as of 08/07/11.
coliform* not chloriform
This spring is open. There was some noise about closing it a little while back but lots of people love this spring and it’s fine. It’s right on the side of the road about 100 yards from the main highway.
Oh Thank You for responding, I really didn’t think I would hear anything. Just to confirm (cuz my husband is the one who would go get it and he is terrible with vague direction), as you are leaving Moab on HWY 191, you turn right on the road (where all that construction is/was) that goes out to the ranch and the winery (sorry I do not know the names), and after you turn right it is about 100 yards? Is it on the right side of the road or on the left down by the river? It says it is in a little cove. I am so excited.
I just found this info, and was hoping to go try it. Does not sound promising after last comment.
I believe this spring has been shut down. Anyone out in Moab or Castle Valley know why ?
The powers that wish to be did close the spring. They dismantled to pipe an spout that had served so well for so long. They then ran a pipe from the stub of the old pipe to carry the water under the roadbed of Hwy 128. Locals winched out the pipe. The powers that wish to be pulled the pipe that brought the water out of the rock. The locals built another spout. Thus far, the powers who wish they were have paused in frustration.
No, I don’t know who the PTWTB are. My guess is people in the federal bureaucrasy. Perhaps some of the locals will enlighten me.
Beautiful delicious spring, easy to find. What a treasure! Drank a good amount over the last several days and feel great.
Not sure how long this spring has been out of commission but was not flowing and pipe could not be found as of January 2018 when I visited my beloved Moab after living abroad for 12 years. Hadn’t heard news of the controversy while away, but its really too bad since this is the second best spring water I’ve had around the world and would always drive out of my way to get my drinking water if camping anywhere near the area and take carboys of it home for homebrewing. Total Bummer!
Not sure how long this spring has been out of commission but was not flowing January of 2018 when I visited my beloved Moab after living abroad for 12 years. I drove up and down the road thinking to myself “I swear it was RIGHT here!” Hadn’t heard news of the controversy while away. Bastards!!!
The water here was very sharply tasting like iron. All the rock surrounding it is red, oxidized iron clay. The mouthfeel was great, but the water was dry tasting. I didn’t drink more than 4-6oz.
Would like news of this spring : is the water still good? is there bacteria again? Is it accessible near the road, we would like to fill the water tank of our rv there!
Just a quick note: locals have been drinking this water for hundreds of years…a local geologist told me the spring has been flowing continuously for probably tens of thousands of years. He said the water comes ultimately from the Lasal Mtns. and takes years to get to that point, a few feet from the river, being filtered by many layers of rock during its passage. I like the fact that it is naturally fluoridated only, although Moab city water also has low fluoride levels. Also it is naturally structured water to boot. The myth is that if you drink this water, you will return to Moab…try not too!