Five Mile Creek watershed drains 78 square miles (49,920 acres) residing completely within the boundaries of Jefferson County, Alabama. The creek headwaters originate at the western base of Red Mountain and flow 44 miles westward to its confluence with the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River east of Flat Top. Its two longest tributaries are Newfound Creek and Tarrant Springs Branch. Other minor tributaries include Barton Branch, Black Creek, Dry Creek, Halfway Branch, Sectionline Creek, and Wolf Branch. There are two waste water treatment plants that flow into Five Mile Creek; Five Mile Creek WWTP and Prudes Creek WWTP. Five Mile Creek runs through several municipalities. A list of these cities includes Birmingham, Tarrant, Chalkville, Centerpoint, Fultondale, Gardendale, Brookside, Cardiff, and Graysville.

The Five Mile Creek Greenway which is currently under study and construction could become an attractive destination for running, hiking, horseback riding, biking, canoeing, and kayaking during all seasons of the year. If properly developed and protected, the Five Mile Creek Greenway Corridor could provide new and exciting opportunities to enjoy scenic landscapes, historical mining sites, historical cultural sites, a rails to trails destination, camping sites, environmental and nature education areas, great fishing, as well as, commercial and residential developments.