Another hot springs post already?! Yes, yes it is. For the past couple of months, I’ve been hearing about some stunning hot springs in Spanish Fork Canyon in Utah. We all loved the springs we visited in Meadow, Ut, and we’ve been itching to make our way to check out these springs in Spanish Fork next. We were finally able to make the time this past weekend.
The Fifth Water Hot springs, aka Diamond Fork Hot Springs, aka Spanish Fork Hot Springs, are located up the Diamond Fork Canyon off of HWY 6.
Getting to the springs requires an approximately 2.5 mile hike on a well maintained trail through beautiful scenery. Much of what I have read concerning the springs gloss over this hike, but let me just take a moment to say…It Is Stunning.
Hiking in June after {well…during} a particularly wet winter and spring, we were greeted with beautiful green foliage, bright red rock formations, and the occasional early flower bloom, all while traveling alongside a picturesque creek rolling along its way.
The number of times I turned to Mr. Ray and said, “It’s just so pretty!” was out of control. In fact, even Mr. Ray, who mostly goes along with my hiking shenanigans out of love for me rather than love for the trail, said, “This is the first hike that I’ve actually thought is really enjoyable instead of just, like, walking around.” If that’s not an endorsement of the trail, I don’t know what is. Even without the hot springs to look forward to, this trail is 100% worth it.
Some insights into the trail: The parking lot for the trail is at the Three Forks trailhead, about 10 miles after turning onto Diamond Fork road from HWY 6. The parking lot fills up quickly, so it’s a good idea to get there early in the morning, especially if you are visiting on the weekend. You are NOT allowed to park on the road, and will be ticketed for doing so. When we arrived at about 7:30 in the morning, the lot was already pretty full around the perimeter. By the time we returned, all of the center area, and all of the way up to the road, was filled in as well.
The trail starts next to the bathrooms, and almost immediately forks. To get to the springs, keep on straight ahead, ignoring the bridge to your right. Spend the next couple of miles taking in the stunning scenery.
After a time you will come to a bridge, crossing from the left side of the creek over to the right. This bridge marks about the halfway point to the springs.
The bridge also marks the point when the lovely aroma of sulfur in the air starts to get stronger. So enjoy that too.
If you’re so inclined as to want to spend the night along the trail, there are several little camping areas off the trail. I think, perhaps, I’m going to convince Mr. Ray that we need to go on an overnight backpacking date up the trail to revisit these hot springs sans kids. And dogs. {Side note – I probably wouldn’t take dogs on this trail again, as keeping them out of the springs meant that someone was always with them…out of the springs.}
The springs: As you round a corner of the trail, you will suddenly have a view of a beautiful waterfall, and not long after, you’ll begin to see the springs. The first one you pass will be the more greenish looking one, and then closer to the falls, there are more little soaking pools. I suggest you wander up to the falls and take a look around, scoping out your options and feeling the different temperatures. The main soaking area is quite hot. Much too hot for one of our hooligans, who was having a rough go of it.
We eventually made our way back down to the first pool, where the temperature is more like warm bath water, and less like scalding hot tub water. After some convincing, Mr. Disgruntled Hooligan, was able to admit that it was, in fact, enjoyable. We all soaked in that pool for a while until we’d had our fill. Then we packed up and headed back out.
Note: the pools here are not deep at all. They are more of a sitting and soaking experience, than an exploring one like the Meadow Hot Springs. Still enjoyable, but different.
There is also a small soaking pool right by the waterfall, across the creek. Because the water was running so high, we didn’t make our way over there.
However, one man we talked to, who visits the pools often, said that when the water is running lower, you can get to the pool by crossing behind the waterfall. I guess we’ll have to make another trek when the water is running lower!
Since our visit to the Fifth Hot Springs, we’ve also learned that there is another waterfall further up the trail. Between the first and second waterfall are a couple more hot pots, apparently quite picturesque. I’m sad I didn’t know about this beforehand, because we definitely would have continued our trek to check them all out. Se la vie. Just one more reason to visit again!
Have you been to these springs before? Would you go again? If you haven’t been, and you decide to visit after reading this post, I’d love to hear about it! Tell us what you think in the comments and share this post with your friends so they can enjoy it too!
