Fossil Creek Falls
Pine, Arizona
Details
Distance
2.42 miles
Elevation Gain
328 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Dane Nilsson
Enjoy a beautiful waterfall with a 25 foot cliff to jump off. There are multiple swimming areas, breathtaking scenery, and nearby camping spots along the adventure. There are no park/admission fees.
The journey is definitely worth it! Don't let the description discourage you from visiting here. This is simply to help you be prepared so that you can enjoy this wonderful place as safely as possible!
Fossil Creek Rd can only be accessed from Camp Verde via FH 9 (Hwy 260) and FR 708 due to road closures until Spring 2017. Before setting off on your journey, it is highly recommended that you travel in a vehicle suited for very rugged and rocky terrain. From the beginning of Fossil Creek Rd to the parking area is a 21 mile stretch of winding, narrow, mountainous unpaved road. There are many rocks, holes and other hazards that can pop tires or cause damage to your vehicle, so drive with caution. Your vehicle is going to get very, very dirty! Wait until after your adventure to take it to the car wash. Be sure to pack plenty of food and water. You will be in the wilderness and won't have easy access to supplies.
Drive on Fossil Creed Rd until you can't drive any farther due to the road closure. Parking is limited, not well labeled and there is a good chance that you will need to find a spot on the side of the road as this is a very popular location. The walk to the waterfall trail head is only about 1/4 mile and then another mile from the trail head to the waterfall. There is no noticeable incline and the terrain is suitable for all ages and experience levels. Boots or hiking shoes are recommended because of rocky areas and the possibility of encountering a rattlesnake. To lessen your chances of finding such a serpent, stay on the designated trail. Keep in mind that you will be in a remote area with no easy access to medical care or cellular service.
The mile walk goes through a beautiful forest alongside the colorfully stunning Fossil Creek. The crystal clear water emits vibrant hues of blues and greens along a rocky yet lush desert landscape that will entice any photographer or owner of a smart phone to capture the scenery in a digital image. If you prefer the serenity of nature over the crowd's excitement at the waterfall, the trail offers side paths to more peaceful locations on the creek that still facilitate swimming and the same beauty as the main attraction; complete with waterfalls! Take a moment to look down at your feet as you stand in the creek and you will discover that you are sharing the water with dozens of fish ranging in size from 3-12 inches. They are friendly and curious but completely harmless. This creek is their home and they don't mind having respectful visitors.
Once you've reached the destination, cool off from the desert heat by taking a swim in the large natural pool at the base of the waterfall. If you're feeling brave, take a dive off of the 25 foot rock ledge! Expect to share the area with people of all ages and walks of life. It's a great place to be social and make some new friends while creating exciting adventures and unforgettable memories.
Please remember to pack it in and pack it out! Keep this natural wonder clean for future visitors and preserve the ecosystem in which it thrives.
Geo Coordinates: 34.414668, -111.605477
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Fossil Creek Falls Reviews
Probably my favorite outdoor adventure I’ve ever been on. Relatively new to the hiking scene and not from AZ. Out of Bull Penin camp verde, Wet Beaver Creek (“The Crack”), and Fossil Creek this was by far my favorite. We parked in Lot 1 Dixon/Lewis Trailhead lot and the hiking distance was perfect. Little over 1 mile there and back. Trail is somewhat easy to follow at first but can get confusing once you get down closer to the creek. I had to stop and ask someone on the creek if i was headed there right way for the waterfall and they pointed me in the right direction. The trail goes away and you have to walk through a rock bed to continue to the waterfall. Once you see the wooden planks (makeshift bridge) you know you’re on the right track and getting close. Once you make it, the views and scenery are incredible and even better in person. Unexpectingly, the water was over 30ft deep under the waterfall. Theres an abundance of fish in the water and we swam around in the water for a couple hours. Would recommend bringing some sort of float and goggles if you plan on hanging out for a couple hours. If you have waterproof camera or go pro I highly recommend bringing it. A permit is REQUIRED for parking and it is highly competitive to obtain one if you don’t get one on the first of the month. It took me three weeks of waking up early to compete for one and finally succeeded on the 3rd week. Permits open online the first day of the month before you are trying to acquire a permit (ex. June 1 for July permit). If youre too late on that, they open two days before on the weekends at 8am AZ time. If you’re late there’s almost no chance you’ll get a permit. On my third try I got Lot 1 out of the 8 lots available. Unless you have a bike, walking seemed reasonable from lots 1-3. Park ranger mentioned rattlesnakes and bears but we never saw either.
5.0
Great Water flow in March! Just got back, hike is short and easy to follow, with multiple spots along the creek to hop in and cool off. Getting there is the hard part! Would highly reccomend for the average person to come from Camp Verde taking Fossil Creek Rd. It is a roughly 16 mile washboard dirt road. AWD/ 4x4 is reccomended. If coming from Strawberry/Pine it is worth driving the couple extra miles to take Fossil Creek Road from HWY 260, as google maps will take you on FR708. FR708 is a unmaintained rocky Technical Trail that will require High Clearance 4x4 and requires you to stay at 5-10mph for 15ish miles leading to a much longer drive out. I would reccomend avoiding taking this road unless you’re ready and prepared for a long rocky drive. A few pics above for anyone coming that way!
5.0
Unbelievable water! So worth hiking in the heat and we went in spring. Permits are checked and enforced. Total distance depends on what parking lot you get a permit for, ours added a mile each wY but there were spots to stop and jump in to cool off!
5.0
Make sure you have a permit and also make sure you have the vehicle that can make it over the 14 mile rocky road. The falls and grotto areas are worth both these hurdles.
5.0
The hike to get to the waterfalls is short and easy making it a popular summer destination. There is a permit system in place which helps to control the crowds, but it is still quite busy. The waters that flow through the creek are crystal clear and run at 70 degrees year round
5.0
This was my wife and I's first trip out here in AZ. It was a really beautiful area. Went on a Friday so it wasn't terribly busy. The drive in was 14 miles of unfinished road with some decent sized rocks that'll slow you down. We parked at the closest parking lot and it was about a 30 minute hike. I thought it was going to be an easy "walk" to the falls, so I went in flip flops. It was definitely easy enough to do in flip flops, but next time I'll be bring some actual shoes ;). Speaking of which, you're going to want to have some kind of water shoes for the falls. I will be going again for sure.
5.0
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