With few exceptions, the higher temperature geothermal areas in Utah occur either in the Basin and Range Province or within the Basin and Range-Colorado Plateau transition zone.

In central and western Utah, most thermal areas are located in valleys near the margins of mountain blocks, and are probably controlled by active basin-and-range faults. Other geothermal systems occur in hydrologic discharge zones at the bottom of valleys. A few thermal areas are situated in mountainous regions.

Geothermal resources of Utah showing thermal wells and springs.
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The most significant known occurrence of geothermal water in eastern Utah is from oil wells of the Ashley Valley oil field, which yield large volumes of nearly fresh water at temperatures between 43°C and 55°C (109°F and 131°F) as a byproduct of oil production. In 1981, the Ashley Valley field yielded 5.42 million m³ (26.1 million barrels) of water.

By using geothermometry and other information, six areas in Utah were determined to probably contain high-temperature geothermal systems with reservoir temperatures above 150°C (302°F). Ten other areas could be classified as moderate-temperature geothermal systems with reservoir temperatures between 100°C and 150°C (212°F and 302°F).

Known high-temperature systems include the Roosevelt Hot Springs and Cove Fort - Sulphurdale Known Geothermal Resource Areas (KGRA). KGRA is a federal classification pertaining to geothermal areas where federal lands have competing leasing interests.

Other potential high-temperature systems are Thermo Hot Springs, Joseph Hot Springs, the Newcastle area, and the Monroe-Red Hill area.

In and around the Sevier, Black Rock, and Escalante Deserts in southwestern Utah, a number of geothermal systems have estimated reservoir temperatures greater than 100°C (212°F). The name "Sevier thermal area" has been proposed for this region.