Fossil Creek visit.

385 Views 8 Replies 7 Participants Last post by bearfoot1, 14 d ago

RickWild

Discussion Starter · 17 d ago

For some reason I have never been to this area and I need to fix this. I’m open to your suggestions. I enjoy hiking so: do I take the trail that can be reached from Strawberry? 4 miles one way?
Must I buy a permit just to hike in and look around? I know parking passes are required with reservations to use a parking lot. Can I avoid that?

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bearfoot1

· #2 · 16 d ago

Thats too bad Rick, You use to be able to drive down into the canyon until they closed the road due to maintenance costs. The bottom where the road crosses the creek is the swimming hole, Blue water, and I MEAN Crystal Clear, swim with the endangered CHUBS !!!

Beautiful area, Good spot for Javalina and whitetail deer towards bottom Dont know about permits other then you got to have one.

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AZ~ThunderDan

· #3 · 16 d ago

This should help...

Fossil Creek

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Robert Gonzalez

· #4 · 16 d ago

You can avoid permits if you go after October 1st.
Here is the link for the permits: Fossil Creek Wild And Scenic River, Coconino National Forest Recreation - Recreation.gov

I would take the longer trail from Strawberry, beautiful scenery.
I cannot remember if you can get all the way to the waterfall trail from there, I am looking at OnX and I do not see them connecting.
You could probably follow the creek all the way down but I do not know how thick it gets.
It is worth checking out the approach from the other direction up to the waterfall, super short hike - about a mile. The water is beautiful will lots of riffs and pools up to the fall. I have done both trails, the shorter one with my daughters when they were younger, lots of swimming holes. Go early, gets packed even with permits.
ALSO - park where you can easily get out. I have seen Jack Asses block other people in - seriously no regard or consideration for others. Hence the reason the area is permitted during summer. Now, during the summer, Asshats go across the 260 to West Clear Creek to pull up their trucks, unload BBQ grills and leave behind their garbage.

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Ryan S

· #5 · 16 d ago

I've been there a couple of times, but it's been at least a decade. Still one of my favorite places I've been. Absolutely worth the hike, and going in and out isn't too bad of a day trip. Since it's been a while, I'm not sure about what permits might now be required. Definitely a must-see.

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Maricopa Mike

· #6 · 16 d ago

Plant Water Fluvial landforms of streams Natural landscape Bedrock

Here is a pic from a couple years back...crystal clear water.

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RickWild

Discussion Starter · #7 · 15 d ago

Thanks folks

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SingleShot20G

· #8 · 14 d ago

Haven't been that way in many years but it's a fascinating drive from Strawberry down to Camp Verde, I enjoy checking out the Irving and Childs power plants.

EXPLORING AN ABANDONED POWERPLANT IN THE DESERT (Childs - Camp Verde, Arizona) - YouTube

If you park at the Fossil Creek trailhead be sure to stash any valuables visible in your vehicle and lock up, that parking lot is notorious for break-ins.

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bearfoot1

· #9 · 14 d ago

OH MAN, The dirt road from 260 to the Junction going to Irving / Childs is one of the worse Ive seen, Super washboard and rocky, like 5 MPH. 14 miles of pure Heck, swore Id never do it again. Some GREAT deer hunting past the saddle on top.

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