dahkota wrote:
If you were taking switchbacks, chances are it was Shafer Trail and Potash Road. From along the top, you would see the potash mine. There are other smaller pools along Potash road (I have some pics somewhere) with calcium build up and, during the rainy season, water. But none of them are hot springs. Potash Road takes you past the main ponds also.
The OP noted that it was a paved road. Plus, there's one thing about Shafer Trail and the Potash Road that doesn't quite fit the description: "You come over a rise from the top and descend this very windy road that weaves around little aqua pools, may be hot springs, not sure, and you look out towards...mainly open vista, desert." Sounds like once you're down the windy road, you're looking out at open vista, desert. Once one is down Shafer Trail, one is in the canyon with walls on both sides and mesas in front. Don't know, just an observation.
Moki Dugway is another possibility, but again, the switchback section is a dirt road. Plus, the road is cut into the cliffs with few places where there would be ponds or even low spots.
One place that comes to mind when I hear about switchbacks in Utah is US 191 dropping south from Flaming Gorge down into Vernal. But the view is off into some of the mining pits. Unusual geology and colors, but not ponds.
I am having trouble picking a road that has all the requirements: Paved, switchbacks, pools of water or low spots where water evaporates and leaves residue, almost but not quite barren, open desert.
It will be interesting to see if the OP ever figures out which road it was. Maybe using google street view to go to road level to see if anything is recognizable.
