Fossil Creek; Strawberry, Arizona

For more information on real estate opportunities in Strawberry, Arizona contact Dennis Riccio at (928) 517-4550 or visit [ Ссылка ]

Fossil Creek's warm water, beautiful waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and wilderness setting make it a popular recreation area that attracts over 60,000 visitors each year. Most visitors come to the Fossil Creek Wilderness to swim, sunbathe, fish, hike, watch wildlife, or visit the historic Child's-Irving hydro-electric plant. It's also a great place to take photographs. The lush riparian area of Fossil Creek offers miles of stunning water features, and secluded crystal clear swimming holes, and serves as beautiful oasis in the surrounding desert.

Fossil Creek seasonal headwaters are on top of the Mogollon Rim north of Strawberry, Arizona, but the year round sections of Fossil Creek originates from Fossil Springs, a series of springs at the bottom of 1600 foot deep Fossil Creek Canyon and flows at about 20,000 gallons a minute. Eighty percent of Fossil Creeks flow comes from Fossil Springs where the water emerges from the ground at a constant temperature of 72 degrees.

Accessing Fossil Creek is always going to involve some hiking and there are 4 main trailheads in the Fossil Creek Wilderness Area.

Waterfall Trail

Waterfall Trail to the Fossil Creek Waterfall is the most widely known and popular recreational area at Fossil Creek. The trail is a 1 mile hike along Fossil Creek to the gorgeous waterfall featured in many of the photographs of Fossil Creek. This trail attracts many visitors who enjoy Fossil Creek's crystal clear warm water, and beautiful landscape.

Due to a cliff collapse that damaged Fossil Creek Road, Waterfall trailhead cannot be accessed by vehicle from Strawberry, Arizona. Fossil Creek Road (FR 708) is closed indefinitely from Bob Bear Trailhead to the Waterfall Trailhead. The Waterfall Trailhead can now only be accessed by vehicle from the Fossil Creek Road (FR 708) turnoff between mile marker 228 and 229 along highway 260. It is a 14 mile drive down a rugged dirt road to reach the Waterfall Trailhead at Fossil Creek.

Bob Bear Trailhead (Formerly Fossil Springs Trailhead) Strawberry, Arizona

The name of the Fossil Springs Trail has been changed to Bob Bear Trail. This trailhead is most easily accessed from Strawberry, AZ by heading west 5 miles on Fossil Springs Road (FR 708), and a parking permit can be obtained from the Bob Bear Trailhead permit website. Permits are required from April 1 - October 1. The Bob Bear Trail is open for both hiking and horseback riding.

This is an 8 mile round trip hike that is steep and strenuous. This trail goes towards Fossil Springs and ends at the historic Fossil Creek Dam. It does not access the Fossil Creek waterfall which people commonly associate with Fossil Creek. it also does not provide direct access to Fossil Creek's water.

Fossil Creek Flume Trail #154 near Strawberry, AZ
The Flume Trailhead is located on Fossil Creek Road (FR 708) at the old Irving power plant parking lot. The trail is a 5-mile one way hike that follows the line of the removed-flume that used to carried the water to the power plants for generating electricity. The Flume trail ends at the Fossil Creek Dam.

Fossil Creek Fishing

Fishing is allowed in Fossil Creek from October through April in designated areas with special regulations. All fishing is catch-and-release only for roundtail chub, and they must be taken with lure and fly only with a single barbless hook.

Fossil Creek Wildlife, Fish, and Flora

Fossil Creek and its lush riparian zone support about 200 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. A tremendous effort has been made to support native fish in Fossil Creek including the headwater chub, roundtail chub, speckled dace, longfin dace, Sonora sucker, and desert sucker.


Fossil Creek Permits & Season Information
Permits are required to park a vehicle in the Fossil Creek permit area April 1 through October 1, and they must be purchased in advance.

Camping is prohibited in the Fossil Creek permit area from April 1st through October 1st. The Fossil Creek Wilderness area is day use only from 8 am to 8 pm during these dates. The last entry is 4 pm.

Directions to Fossil Creek

DUE TO A CLIFF COLLAPSE ONTO FOSSIL CREEK ROAD, THE FOSSIL CREEK WATERFALL TRAIL IS NO LONGER ACCESSABLE BY VEHICLE FROM STRAWBERRY HEADING WEST ON FOSSIL CREEK ROAD. FOSSIL CREEK ROAD IS CLOSED BETWEEN BOB BEAR TRAILHEAD (FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOSSIL SPRINGS TRAILHEAD) AND THE FOSSIL CREEK WATERFALL TRAILHEAD.

Instead those looking to reach the Fossil Creek Waterfall Trailhead from Phoenix, Payson, Pine, or Strawberry must travel north on Highway 87 to highway 260, and then left on Highway 260 for 24 miles to the Fossil Creek Road Turnoff between mile markers 228 & 229 and follow the rugged 14 miles dirt road to the Fossil Creek Waterfall Trailhead.

свернуть