Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork) is a primitive hot spring listed near Spanish Fork, Utah. Reported soak temperature: 101°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open and extremely popular — soak the milky-blue pools free after a 2.5-mi hike, but pay the Three Forks Trailhead parking fee ($10/3 days, started May 2024) and heed the standing Utah DEQ Health Watch — harmful bacteria may be present and rashes have been reported; keep your head above water, shower after, and check habs.utah.gov for the current advisory.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 9 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A Utah Valley base for a separate drive to Diamond Fork.
Provo is about 19 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF — Three Forks Trailhead.
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: Reported 2.5 mi trail — confirm the route, road, and seasonal access.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 101°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: No permit to soak; parking fee pass required at Three Forks Trailhead ($10/3-day, $20/7-day, $60/season; interagency passes honored)
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings; fall/spring shoulder seasons; winter weekdays are quietest but add ~3 mi road walk
- Clothing reality: Official: no USFS nudity prohibition posted (a 'Nudity Is Not Prohibited' trailhead sign was REMOVED by the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF in Dec 2009 as misleading). Customary: decades of nude soaking custom, especially upper pools, still occurs. Legal: Utah County Sheriff enforces state lewdness law (Utah Code 76-9-702, Class B misdemeanor, up to $2,500/6 months) — Oct 2009 deputies cited 8 nude soakers (6 were USFS firefighters); Utah County Attorney later dropped the charges; sheriff's office confirmed ongoing enforcement per ABC4 (Sgt. Spencer Cannon). Effectively: nudity occurs but is citable.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible — 2.5-mi moderate trail (~636 ft gain) with creek crossings
- $10/3-day parking fee at Three Forks Trailhead (since May 1, 2024); $20/7-day, $60/season; America the Beautiful passes honored — cash envelope or online
- Small lot fills fast on weekends/holidays; cars ticketed outside designated spots
- Winter gate (roughly mid-Nov to late Apr/May) closes the road ~1.3 mi below the trailhead — adds ~3 mi RT (7-7.5 mi total)
- DEQ health watch: toxigenic cyanobacteria in pools (first confirmed Dec 2022; monitoring Nov 24, 2025; 'harmful bacteria may be present' per May 5, 2026 update) — keep head above water, don't swallow, keep dogs out, shower after, avoid algal/benthic mats
- No cell service in the canyon; pit toilet at trailhead only
- Water near the source/waterfall runs hotter than the lower pools — test before entering
- Icy trail in winter — traction spikes advised
- Hazard: Toxigenic cyanobacteria health watch
- Hazard: Icy/snowy trail in winter
- Hazard: Creek crossings
- Hazard: Hotter water near source
- Hazard: Parking tickets outside designated areas
About this spring
Popular series of rock-walled soaking pools (~100-102°F) on Fifth Water Creek in Diamond Fork Canyon, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, set below small waterfalls. Reached by a moderate ~4.5-5 mile round-trip hike from Three Forks Trailhead. Also called Diamond Fork Hot Springs. Fee: Soaking free; Three Forks Trailhead parking $10/vehicle. Small lot fills fast on weekends — illegal parking ticketed. Winter road gate adds mileage. No cell service. Dogs leashed.
Fifth Water Hot Springs — equally known as Diamond Fork Hot Springs — is a chain of volunteer-built, rock-walled soaking pools along Fifth Water Creek in Diamond Fork Canyon, in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest's Spanish Fork Ranger District. A geothermal source around 111°F emerges too hot to enter directly; as it spills past a series of small waterfalls and mixes with creek water it settles into soakable 100-102°F pools, taking on a distinctive milky-blue cast from dissolved minerals. The springs sit at roughly 5,500 feet in a forested canyon flanked by red-rock cliffs.
The standard approach is the Fifth Water Trail from the Three Forks Trailhead — about 2.5 miles each way with roughly 636 feet of gain, following Sixth Water Creek before forking up Fifth Water Creek. The Forest Service charges a $10 trailhead parking fee valid for three days, and a seasonal road gate closed roughly mid-November through late April lengthens the round trip to about 7-7.5 miles. Because the springs see heavy traffic, Utah DEQ periodically posts bacteria advisories; officials recommend not dunking your head, keeping pets out of the water, and showering after soaking.
Directions & trailhead access
I-15 exit 257A to US-6 east; left on Diamond Fork Road ~11 miles to Three Forks Trailhead. Follow the trail ~1 mi along Sixth Water Creek, cross the footbridge, continue ~1.5 mi up Fifth Water Creek.
Utah geothermal context
Utah's springs surface along the Wasatch Front fault system and across the western desert basins. Canyon sites like Fifth Water can flash-flood in storms and close under avalanche danger in winter; desert sites like Meadow involve long graded-road approaches through open range. Elevation changes of thousands of feet mean 'the weather' varies wildly by site.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Best time to visit
June – September (Late Spring through Early Autumn)High-altitude mountain access routes and backcountry trailheads can experience seasonal snowpack from November through May. Peak summer and early autumn provide clear trail access and pleasant evening soak conditions.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 101°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 110°F |
| Hiking distance | 2.5 miles (moderate) |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF — Three Forks Trailhead |
Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork) FAQ
Is Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork) open right now?
Open and extremely popular — soak the milky-blue pools free after a 2.5-mi hike, but pay the Three Forks Trailhead parking fee ($10/3 days, started May 2024) and heed the standing Utah DEQ Health Watch — harmful bacteria may be present and rashes have been reported; keep your head above water, shower after, and check habs.utah.gov for the current advisory. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Is Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork) free?
Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork) is listed as free to access in Utah County, Utah. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork)?
Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork) has a reported soak temperature of 101°F and a historical source temperature of 110°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork) clothing optional?
Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork) is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How far is the hike to Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork)?
The hike to Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork) near Spanish Fork, Utah is a 2.5-mile walk (moderate) from the designated vehicle access area, per public trail records.
Where to stay in Provo
A Utah Valley base for a separate drive to Diamond Fork. Fifth Water’s hike and winter road access need planning.
Provo is about 19 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF — Three Forks Trailhead — official · 2025
- Utah DEQ — Fifth Water Hot Springs Recreational Monitoring — official · 2026-05
- Gephardt Daily — Toxic bacteria detected at Fifth Water Hot Springs — news · 2022-12
- Deseret News — Nude bathers cited for lewdness at Diamond Fork Springs — news · 2009-12
- Salt Lake City Weekly — Skinny-Dipper Crackdown — news · 2009-12
- ABC4 — Diamond Fork Hot Springs a nudist destination (Utah Co. Sheriff enforcement) — news · 2021
- Utah Valley — Complete Guide to Fifth Water Hot Springs (fee details) — community · 2024
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/provo-utah-valley/fifth-water-hot-springs
- www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/fifth-water-hot-springs-utah
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
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