Diamond Fork Hot Springs!!!!

Diamond Fork Hot Springs.  A 1.5 hour drive from Salt Lake followed by a 2.5 mile hike (each way) to some sweet hot springs and waterfalls, enjoyable in any season.  I'd only been there once before, several years ago when I was still single, by the light of the moon and in the middle of winter, so I've been wanting to re-visit this old friend.  The idea surfaced in my mind a couple of weeks ago when I realized that my kids were old enough to do this and enjoy it.  Casey was busy (read: "fire by Christmas") and I thought this was an adventure that I could handle solo, but my sister Mary and her entourage and my mom ended up joining us too.

I knew that the girls would be fine hiking five miles, but I brought the carrier for the ride I knew Zeke would inevitably suck out of me.  He actually did fairly well, hiking nearly half of the way to the springs and more than half of the way back to the trailhead, but that guy weighs a ton.  I'm serious.  At least that is what empirical evidence suggests.  (My back is still feeling THAT.)

We met last Saturday morning at 10 am to start the adventure at the Three Forks Trailhead.  It was COLD.  Frosted leaves covered the trail and the puddles of mud along the trail were frozen solid.  I had to hike swiftly--pretty much dragging Hallee and Zeke along, one on each hand--to keep warm enough.  Mary's kids were fun company and the time passed quickly.  Once Zeke took up residence in the carrier, I was soon sweating my way up the rising trail.  Since I'd never hiked this trail in the light of day, I was delighted to see the beauty of the changing, falling leaves and the clear streams that we hiked along.  As the trail shifted from following Sixth Water Creek to Fifth Water Creek, the smell of sulfur hung in the air and the stream took on a lovely turquoise hue.

Sophie and Hallee with cousins Phoebe and Anni

Hallee with the turquoise creek running behind her

Gretha with Soph and Hal

Mary, making her way up the trail toward the spprings

My happy boy, Zeke.  He was so excited to come along on this adventure.

 At the springs, we spread out our lunch fare on a patch of grass and feasted.  Then it was on to the main course--a soak in the springs.

Sophie looked so pretty with the sun-drenched grasses as her backdrop.

Zeke was glad to have his cousins friend, Jake, along.

This place is the GOODS!!!

My kids were a bit hesitant at first, but once they got in it was a veritable party.

Mary and I with a herd of kids in one of the lower pools, relaxing our cares away.

Adam, running down the trail

Sixth Water Creek

Mary's five-year-old son, Adam, insisted on taking my picture.  We'd been laughing and playing trail tag nearly all the way back down.  And he is FAST.  And SNEAKY.

Phoebe and Sophie near the foot bridge.

Zeke and Hallee hiking back down the trail with my mom

My next plan for Diamond Fork is to return in the winter with the kids AND Casey.  Any interested partied are welcome to join the expedition.  I can't wait.