Diamond Fork Warm Springs
Diamond Fork Warm Springs flows at 68°F from the Uinta National Forest, emerging 35 meters from Diamond Fork Road at 5,993 feet elevation in the Wasatch Range canyon country. US Forest Service-managed lands carry a protection status of three with open public access to water running 22 degrees above ambient air. Recent measurements confirm a thermal discharge that remains active year-round despite significant seasonal temperature swings.
The spring emerges from the steep, heavily vegetated slopes of Diamond Fork Canyon, where Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and Gambel oak crowd the drainage alongside the perennial creek. At this elevation, the canyon bottom supports riparian vegetation including cottonwood and willow, while aspen groves colonize disturbed areas on north-facing slopes. Annual precipitation totals 20.7 inches, with 92.9 inches of snow falling in winters when avalanche risk closes the upper canyon. The surrounding Uinta National Forest encompasses rugged terrain carved by the ancestral Provo River system, with elevations ranging from valley bottoms near 5,000 feet to peaks exceeding 11,000 feet.
The springs take their name from Diamond Fork Creek, which drains this section of the Wasatch Range into Spanish Fork River and ultimately Utah Lake. Ute peoples utilized these canyons for hunting and seasonal camps before Mormon settlers arrived in the 1850s, though specific documentation of thermal spring use has not been preserved. The Forest Service assumed management authority when the Uinta Forest Reserve was established by presidential proclamation in 1897. Civilian Conservation Corps crews developed recreational infrastructure in the 1930s, though the springs themselves remain in a natural state.
Visit from late spring through early fall when Diamond Fork Road remains open and snow levels recede. Winter access requires snowmobiles or skis, as the Forest Service closes the road to vehicle traffic due to avalanche hazards and snowpack exceeding seven feet. The 68°F temperature feels noticeably warm in spring when snowmelt keeps the creek near freezing, less so in summer when air temperatures reach the eighties. Diamond Campground lies 9.4 kilometers downstream at 5,200 feet, offering developed sites among cottonwoods along the creek.
Is Diamond Fork Warm Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Diamond Campground is located among shady cottonwoods and willow at an elevation of 5,200 feet. The family sites are located just 15 miles from Spanish Fork and the group sites are 2-3 miles further. Visitors enjoy exploring local trails and relaxing along the stream.Recreation The stream and creek offer fishing for brown and cutthroat trout. An interpretive nature trail winds through the campground along the stream. Hiking, biking and off-road vehicle trails are abundant in the area...