Grotto Falls in the Spring!

We took a quick hike up to Grotto Falls near Payson, Utah. The run off is unbelievably high right now. Last time we went it was barely a trickle, but the water is so high and fast right now that it has washed away a lot of the foot bridges that criss cross the stream. You can get all the way to the top of the falls with a much steeper path than the normal one, but you cannot get to the base of the falls. The pictures we took were as close as we dared get. 

Fish Creek Falls, Steamboat, Colorado.

These falls are absolutely stunning. It's a really short hike to either the top or bottom observation area and only a short drive from downtown Steamboat Springs. It is one of the prettiest waterfalls we have seen.

Steamboat Lake State Park, Colorado

Having a blast with our extended family at Steamboat Lake State Park. Gorgeous weather and amazing vistas. It's about 6 hours from Salt Lake City and 4 hours from Denver.

Warm Spring, Gandy, Utah

This is the best vacation spot you have never heard of. It is an oasis on the Utah/Nevada border. A warm spring with crystal clear water, very few visitors, a wading/swimming area down stream, and great primitive camping. There is also Batesfamilyranch just 5 minutes down the road that offers cabins and camping areas with some more amenities if primitive isn't your favorite.

Crystal Ball Cave, Gandy, Utah

Crystal Ball Cave is one of the coolest caves in Utah. It is home to some formations that are only found in 2 other caves in the world. The entire inside of the cave is covered in calcite and many of the boulders that are covered look like spikey crystal balls, hence the name Crystal Ball Cave. It was about a 1 hour tour and exited about a third of the way around the mountain from where we entered, so we went pretty deep inside.

The tours are given by Gerald Bates of Batesfamilyranch and Crystal Ball Cave, a volunteer tour guide, gentleman, cowboy, and general stuard of the mountain and warm spring. We were lucky enough to arrive at his ranch a bit early and get to know him. He took us around to see his horses and cows and let the kids chase a peacock around. The BLM does not allow him to charge for the tours, but donations are accepted, so please help keep these tours going by donating when you visit.

Red Ledges, Diamond Fork Canyon, UT

 If you are passing through Spanish Fork Canyon, you should definitely turn off to the Diamond Fork Canyon. About 2/3 of the way to Fifth Water Hot Spring, you will see the Red Ledges Picnic Area. Pull off and take a look at a sandstone arch in the making. You can also hike around the back up to the arch. If you have a whole afternoon to spare, keep going down the road to the hot springs. They are spectacular.

Fifth Water Hot Springs.

Another weekend of beautiful weather meant another weekend unplugging on a hike. We had heard that the Fifth Water Hot Springs were some of the most beautiful hot springs around, so we decided to find out for ourselves. The trailhead is located at the end of the road past the Diamond Fork Campground off Highway 6 in Spanish Fork Canyon.

The trail follows the Sixth Water Creek and Fifth Water Creeks the entire way, which makes for a very scenic hike. It is an easy to moderate hike and is appropriate for people of all ages as long as they can manage the 2.5 miles each direction. The canyon walls and tall trees provide a lot of shade for most of the hike. Once you cross the Sixth Water Creek and start following the Fifth Water Creek, it looks like something out of a Bob Ross painting full of happy little waterfalls and happy little pools. It is one of the most beautiful hikes we have been on yet. You can tell when you are getting close to the hot springs when the light breezes coming down the canyon will have an increasing amount of sulfur in them.

Once you arrive at the pools you will have a variety of pools and temperatures to choose from. There is hot water seeping out of the rocks that combines with the cool water coming down the waterfall so everyone can find their perfect spot. All of the pools are just made from the rocks you find in the canyon and the bottom is covered in a black silty mud. We ended up relaxing there for just under two hours and probably would have stayed longer had the traffic not picked up. Morning definitely seems like the time to get there if you want to avoid the large crowds of college students. While you may go to the hot springs to get in touch with nature instead, please remember that the law prohibits bathing in the nude and there are kids around.

Parking is limited in the adjacent parking lot and parking is not permitted along the street, so get there early to get a spot to park or prepare to hike from other designated parking areas along the roads. The No Parking areas are strictly enforced by the US Forest Service. There are also pit toilets at the trailhead, but no trash service, so please pack everything out and keep it beautiful.

Activity rating 0-10
Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 5
Cost: $0