Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls
Springville, Utah · on Fifth Water Creek · Uinta National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- hot spring
- FALLS
- Waterfall on site
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls
Fifth Water Hot Springs (also called Diamond Fork Hot Springs) is a series of geothermally heated, turquoise-tinted soaking pools along Fifth Water Creek in the Uinta National Forest near Springville/Spanish Fork, Utah, reached by a roughly 4.5-mile round-trip hike from the Three Forks Trailhead. Part hot spring, part warm swimming hole, it is one of Utah's most popular hot-spring hikes, well documented by first-hand visitor accounts and repeatedly covered in local news for severe overcrowding and parking enforcement.
The route climbs gently through a narrow Uinta National Forest canyon, following Diamond Fork Creek and then the smaller Fifth Water Creek past conglomerate rock formations, with the trail becoming progressively more elevated above the water and passing several waterfalls before reaching the main pools.
Swimming at Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls
Visitors soak rather than swim laps: roughly seven to a dozen small, informally rock-and-masonry-lined pools sit beside a waterfall where geothermal spring water (reported around 110F) mixes with cold creek water, letting soakers dial in temperature by adjusting how much cold water flows in. The adjacent creek itself runs cold and is used by some for plunging between soaks.
How to get to this swimming hole
From the US-6/I-15 junction near Spanish Fork, head north/east on Diamond Fork Road roughly 10-11 miles (partly unpaved near the end) to the Three Forks Trailhead; the trail crosses the Diamond Fork River, follows the canyon east, crosses Sixth Water Creek on a bridge, then follows Fifth Water Creek about 2.25-2.5 miles upstream to the main pools.
Parking: Small US Forest Service trailhead lot holding about 20 vehicles, commonly full by 8am; a strict no-parking zone (with towing) extends roughly two miles along the road in each direction, and overflow parking during winter/peak periods is about 1.5 miles down the road, adding roughly 3 miles to the round-trip hike.
The hike in
Fifth Water Trail (also called Diamond Fork/Fifth Water Hot Springs Trail)
- To the water
- about 2.25-2.5 miles one-way from the Three Forks trailhead to the main soaking pools
- Time on foot
- roughly 1-1.5 hours hiking one-way at a casual pace; most visitors budget 3-4+ hours round trip including soaking time
Difficulty: easy to moderate: gradual elevation gain of roughly 600-640 ft over the approach, but with narrow, rocky, and sometimes eroded or icy (Nov-May) sections close to the creek that require sturdy footwear
Trailhead: Three Forks Trailhead (also called Rays Valley Trailhead), at the end of Diamond Fork Road, reached by driving Diamond Fork Road roughly 10-11 miles northeast from the US-6/I-15 junction near Spanish Fork (the last stretch is unpaved); look for the USFS-painted ~20-car lot with vault toilets.
The hot spring pools sit at roughly the 2.25-2.5 mile mark of a loop/out-and-back that totals about 4.5-5.3 miles round trip depending on exact route/trailhead measured; the trail first crosses the Diamond Fork River, follows the canyon, crosses Sixth Water Creek on a bridge, then follows Fifth Water Creek upstream past several waterfalls to the pools.
Trail is popular enough that weekend crowding routinely reaches 100+ people at the pools; dogs must be leashed; dispersed camping is permitted along the trail corridor (not at the springs themselves).
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
First-hand visitor accounts describe 'TONS of kids hiking to the springs,' so families do go, but the trail has narrow paths right next to the creek and steep, rocky, sometimes slippery sections, and the geothermal water itself runs hot (~110F) near where cold creek water mixes in, so scalding and slip/fall risk near pool edges warrant close supervision. Heavy weekend crowding (100+ people) and documented public nudity at the pools are additional factors parents should weigh.
Parking
Paid, $10 day-use fee (cash, valid 3 days) or America the Beautiful annual pass ($80/yr)
Small USFS trailhead lot holds ~20 standard-size cars and commonly fills by 8am on weekends. A strict no-parking zone with painted lines is enforced roughly 2 miles each direction along Diamond Fork Road, with $40 citations and towing for violators (documented in an October 2024 enforcement crackdown). During busy/winter periods, overflow parking is about 1.5 miles down the road near the seasonal road gate, adding roughly 3 miles round-trip to the hike.
Restrooms
Yes
Two vault toilets at the Three Forks trailhead parking lot; multiple first-hand accounts describe them as poorly maintained, with no trash cans provided anywhere on-site (pack out all trash).
Water clarity
Mostly clear
First-hand accounts describe the hot-spring pools as clear with a mineral-driven turquoise/blue tint that shifts by season and pool ('milky turquoise' in winter, more 'electric blue' in warmer months), and note the pools vary from each other in color, clarity, and depth. The adjoining Fifth Water Creek itself is separately described as clear and cold. No accounts described the water as murky or cloudy; a sulfur smell is common but doesn't affect visual clarity.
Hours
No fixed daily hours are posted (Uinta National Forest, generally open dawn-to-dusk informally); access is seasonal because the lower Diamond Fork access road is gated closed at the first snowfall and reopens in late spring, and 4WD may be needed for winter/early-spring visits when the gate is open.
On the water
Restrictions: Not applicable - this is a hike-in creek with small waterfalls and constructed soaking pools, not navigable or suitable for any watercraft.
No source mentions kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, tubing, or boating of any kind at this location; all documented access is on foot via the Fifth Water Trail.
What regulars say
The notes below are candid visitor observations rather than official information: expect the ~20-car trailhead lot to be full by 8am on weekends; bring cash for the $10 day-use fee; wear real hiking shoes for the narrow, rocky creekside sections; the vault toilets at the trailhead are basic and not always well kept; nudity is common at the pools despite being technically illegal; and visitors are advised to check for posted bacteria/water-quality advisories before soaking, since unsafe bacteria levels have been detected in the pools in the past.
Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls: FAQ
Does Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls charge a fee?
A day-use fee (reported around $10, valid 3 days) or an America the Beautiful annual pass is used at the trailhead; parking outside the marked lines has resulted in $40 citations and vehicle towing.
Is Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls kid friendly?
First-hand visitor accounts describe 'TONS of kids hiking to the springs,' so families do go, but the trail has narrow paths right next to the creek and steep, rocky, sometimes slippery sections, and the geothermal water itself runs hot (~110F) near where cold creek water mixes in, so scalding and slip/fall risk near pool edges warrant close supervision. Heavy weekend crowding (100+ people) and documented public nudity at the pools are additional factors parents should weigh.
How hard is the hike to Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls?
A hike is required, about about 2.25-2.5 miles one-way from the Three Forks trailhead to the main soaking pools to the water (roughly 1-1.5 hours hiking one-way at a casual pace; most visitors budget 3-4+ hours round trip including soaking time). Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls?
Small USFS trailhead lot holds ~20 standard-size cars and commonly fills by 8am on weekends. A strict no-parking zone with painted lines is enforced roughly 2 miles each direction along Diamond Fork Road, with $40 citations and towing for violators (documented in an October 2024 enforcement crackdown). During busy/winter periods, overflow parking is about 1.5 miles down the road near the seasonal road gate, adding roughly 3 miles round-trip to the hike.
When is the best time to visit Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls?
Accessible spring through fall; can be hiked in winter (sometimes without snowshoes on packed snow) but the road gate may be closed and 4WD can be needed; summer weekends are the most crowded and midday heat can make the hot pools uncomfortable.
What are the rules at Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls?
Nudity is documented as common at the pools despite being illegal; dogs must be leashed; no trash receptacles are provided so visitors must pack out waste; dispersed camping is allowed along the trail corridor but not at the springs themselves; the lower access road gate closes at first snowfall and reopens in late spring.
What water body is Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls on?
Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls is on Fifth Water Creek, a natural hot spring verified in USGS hydrography data.
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