Fifth Water Fall Hot Spring

With last weeks trip to the Uintas still fresh on our minds we decided to take another trip up into the cooler mountains today. We loaded up in the Rover and headed up American Fork canyon to a favorite spot of mine called Fifth Water Fall hot springs.

A nice 2.5 mile jaunt up the canyon hikers are rewarded by a cool dip and a hot soak in the sulfur springs. It is a local hot spot as well and it is well traveled in the summer. A local hot spot for those that like to soak in the buff too! A common occurrence at other hot springs I know as well and it can be somewhat daunting for the virgin eye. Today was no different.

The hot walk up to the top of the canyon weaves in and out of shaded pathways and follows a river to the falls. Bugs galore are hatching right now and if we didn't keep moving the flies started to eat us alive. After about 45 minutes we arrived at the springs. There are lower and upper hot springs. The lower were occupied by the indigenous bares.

We gave the bares their space and moved up to a pool a few yards upstream closer to the waterfall that was so refreshing. Alternating between the falls and the pools was such a great feeling after the hike. Behind the water fall is a small cavern that you can sit in and escape the sun. The cool spray quenches thirst and cools the skin. I was glad that we went later in the day as it would have been way too hot for that steep climb.

The pools are fueled by underground thermal activity of course, but there seems to be a sulfuric reaction as well. The smell is very potent and you can tell when you are getting close as you are hiking.

The kids loved it despite the strong smell of sulfur and were sad to leave just a little bit later. I have a personal goal to go up there in the winter by snowshoe.

P.S. If you do go up to these hot springs, be ready for snakes! We saw three on the trail and almost stepped on the one rattler of the bunch!