Hot springs or hot pots sometimes get a bum rap for being popular amongst nudists and emitting a rank smell of sulfur. Fortunately, Dane and I found none of the first and only some of the latter on our hike to Fifth Waters in Diamond Fork Canyon (see below for specific directions).
I was surprised just how hot the water was at the source, but there is enough cool water coming off of the falls that I could find spots that were the right temperature. We went in the morning, so we had the whole place to ourselves, but these springs must be pretty popular because people have built up stones overtime to make little tubs down the stream. I know that some springs can release so much sulfur that whatever you wear in the water is hard to clean later, but the smell really didn't bother us after a minute or two, and our clothes and towels are no worse for wear.
 |
| This is the biggest and one of the hotter pots. |
 |
| The falls--I've heard there are more springs above them, but we didn't venture far enough to find any. |
If you find yourself wanting to check out these hot pots, here are some driving and hiking instructions. From I-15 take Exit 258, US-6 E towards Price. You'll drive about 11 miles, then turn left onto Diamond Fork Rd. You'll follow that road about 9 miles, then stop at the Three Forks Trailhead on the right. It has a big sign, so you shouldn't miss it, but if the creek is ever of the left side of the road, you've gone too far (cause maybe it happened to us). There are two trails that leave from the parking lot. Take the one that keeps the creek on the right. After about 1 mile, you'll come to a bridge. Then at 2.4 miles, after about 45 minutes, you're there.
