How to visit Utah’s Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork Hot Springs)

Last updated on July 23rd, 2025

Tucked into Utah’s Diamond Fork canyon lies the magical Fifth Water Hot Springs (also known as Diamond Fork Hot Springs). Here you’ll find a beautiful blue river that cascades down multiple levels, creating different pools to soak in. Combine that with the canyon walls, forest, and a waterfall and it’s easy to see why this is one of the most popular hot springs in Utah!

Over the years we have explored some of the best hot springs in Idaho, the Eastern Sierra, and remote British Columbia, and Fifth Water Hot Springs is about as good as it gets! 

But there is quite a bit to know before heading there, like how some months it requires a pretty long hike. 

And in this guide we’re sharing everything you need to know to visit Fifth Water Hot Springs. Including proper etiquette, parking information for summer and winter, what to expect while there, a packing list, and so much more!

Fifth Water Hot Springs Etiquette

Where are Fifth Water Hot Springs in Utah?

Fifth Water Hot Springs is located about 1.5 hours southeast of Salt Lake City, close to Spanish Fork, Utah. The Fifth Water Hot Springs trailhead is about 10 miles down Diamond Fork Road, which is fully paved and accessible in any vehicle.

But depending on what season you’re visiting Fifth Water Hot Springs will determine how close you can park to the trailhead. More on that in a bit!

Also, as we mentioned above, Fifth Water Hot Springs is also called Diamond Fork Hot Springs, after the road and canyon it is on. You’ll see both names online. But since the AllTrails route calls it the Fifth Water Hot Springs trail, we will be referring to it by that name.

Logistics for visiting Fifth Water Hot Springs in Utah

Parking

The parking situation for Fifth Water Hot Springs depends on the season. In the summer, there is a parking lot right at the trailhead, but it is very small. We wouldn’t have been able to park our 23 foot Sprinter van here without blocking someone in later or being blocked in ourselves. 

When this parking lot fills, there are some spots alongside the road, but you can ONLY park in roadside spots that say parking is allowed (it is marked with signage). If you park outside of these spots, you will very likely get a ticket. They love to pass out tickets here!

In the fall through spring (typically sometime in November until April/May), the road is closed to the trailhead. Instead, you will need to park in this parking lot. It is obvious where to park, since there is a gate blocking the road past this point. There are lots on both sides of the road, with the lot on the left side being much larger. From this parking area, it is about a 7.5 mile round trip hike to the hot springs

Hours

Fifth Water Hot Springs is open 24/7. So if you want to arrive before sunrise (like we did!) it is totally doable. It is also sometimes popular to visit at night, so even if you come in the dark, be prepared to see others. And maybe some glowing eyes staring at you. 😬

Restrooms

There are pit toilets at the trailhead, but be warned, they are often in poor condition. In fact, during our visit there was a sign on the door stating that if people keep abusing them, they will close them down. So please respect the pit toilets!

Cost 

There have been talks of implementing a $10 fee (good for 3 days) to park at the trailhead for Fifth Water Hot Springs. However, this is pushed until June 2026. Whenever it does go into effect, if you have the America the Beautiful pass, you will be able to park for free.  

Is the Fifth Water Hot Springs trail dog friendly?

Technically, dogs are allowed on leash. However, we would advise not bringing your dog to the hot springs for a couple reasons. One, they should not go into hot springs to begin with, as it could be too hot for them. And since they won’t be able to join you in them, they’ll just have to stand around, which wouldn’t be fun for them. Not all people like dogs and having your dog close to them could make them uncomfortable. Also, no one wants to hear barking while trying to relax at a hot spring.

Camping

If you want to camp the night before or after visiting Fifth Water Hot Springs, there are a handful of campgrounds along Diamond Fork Road, like Diamond Fork Campground and Three Forks Campground. These are only open during the warmer months. 

If you’re like us and are traveling in a van, you are ONLY allowed to camp in designated spots. You cannot sleep at the trailhead. So since we visited in the early spring and no campsites were open, we camped for free at the Sheep Creek Camping Area, which was open in April and is 30 minutes from the trailhead. 

There are also some backcountry campsites along the trail, if you want to spend a night near the hot springs. But you are NOT allowed to camp at the hot springs themselves.

Be mindful of wildlife

Fifth Water Hot Springs is located in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, which is home to moose, bears, mountain lions, and other wildlife, like rattlesnakes. Be alert while hiking and make noise, so you do not have a bad encounter.

Bacteria

In the past, there has been harmful bacteria in the hot springs. Make sure to check this page before you go to ensure it is safe.

When to visit Fifth Water Hot Springs (& how to avoid crowds)

Fifth Water Hot Springs is open year-round, but the season, day of the week, and time of day all play a role into what your experience will be like. Here’s a quick rundown of when to visit, plus our top tips to avoid crowds!

What to expect by season

Fifth Water Hot Springs is open year-round and each season brings a different experience. The summertime means easier access, but the crowds will be higher. Fall brings incredible foliage, while winter coats the canyon with snow.

We personally visited the hot springs in early April and we think that spring was a great time to go! This is the shoulder season in the area. The snow is melting, making skiing tough, but most hiking trails are still too snowy to hike. 

And since the road to the hot springs is still closed, those who don’t want to hike far won’t make the trek and may hold out for summer. Also, with most kids in school (some spring breaks do happen in April), there are less people exploring the area.

Go early in the morning!

We personally do not enjoy crowds when outdoors, so beating the crowds was our top priority. And one of our top tips for beating the crowds at Fifth Water Hot Springs is to GO EARLY! 

We arrived at the hot springs about 1.5 hours before sunrise, to try to be some of the first people there. And we succeeded! We were the only ones there when we arrived and only ONE other person showed up during our time at the hot springs. 

On our hike down, we encountered more people, but since we visited early on a weekday in April, it never got too crowded. Even after getting back to the van and cooking lunch, the parking lot was still pretty empty.

Visit on a weekday

As we implied above, weekdays are KEY! This place can be a madhouse on the weekends! If you time your visit for early in the morning AND on a weekday (preferably not during a holiday week or summer break), you will likely have a good amount of solitude. 

Hiking the Fifth Water Hot Springs trail in Utah

Miles (round trip): 4.5 in the summer, 7.5 in the late fall-spring (the additional 3 miles is on the road)
Elevation gain: 636 feet (we tracked about 880 feet with the road)
Trail conditions and recent reviews

The Fifth Water Hot Springs trail is a relatively straightforward hike, whether you walk the road (which is super easy and actually very scenic!) or start at the actual trailhead. You will follow the river, crossing a couple of bridges, with the smell of eggs getting stronger towards the end.

While we thought the trail was pretty easy, it is still a trail with various hazards. And being prepared is key! There is some elevation and the terrain can be rocky, with a couple steeper sections with looser rock. So this is not a hike to wear flip flops on… yes, people do this. 🤦🏻‍♀️ And if you hike in the winter, you will want microspikes to help you not slip.

There is also no cell phone service along the Diamond Fork Hot Springs Trail (at least for us), so make sure to download the AllTrails map in advance, just to make sure you don’t get lost!

What to expect at Fifth Water Hot Springs in Utah

Once arriving at Fifth Water Hot Springs you’ll instantly be greeted by numerous steamy pools along the river, with a waterfall behind them. It’s a gorgeous sight!

These hot springs are fed by a spring, which you can see bubbling in some areas. Not the river itself. The river is very cold, so keep that in mind if you try to get close to the waterfall or dip your toes in the water.

We didn’t count how many hot spring pools there were, but we would guess that there are at least 5 different options. Some are larger, some are shallow, while others are deeper, and some have clearer water, while others are milkier. 

In many photos online, the water looks milky blue, like what you’d see at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. During our visit, this wasn’t the case. One pool was more of a milky blue, but for the most part, the pools were a clearer blue color. We hear that the color can change depending on the time of year and conditions. So we suggest looking at recent photos on AllTrails to get a better idea of what to expect.

Besides the size and color varying, they all vary in temperature too! While we didn’t have a way to measure the temperature, it is said that many of the hot springs are around 100-110ºF. On a frigid morning in the 20s like we had, the water felt amazing! We suggest scoping them all out to see which one is best for you.

What to bring to Fifth Water Hot Springs in Utah

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