Waterfall Trail on Fossil Creek

June 28, 2020 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Arizona → Sedona Area → Waterfall Trail on Fossil Creek

Location: near Camp Verde, South of Sedona, Arizona

Distance: 2.6 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain/Loss: 250 feet

Time Required: 1+ hours (include additional time if you’re planning to swim)

Red Tape/Notes: Extremely popular trail, particularly in summer when people come here to swim. Note that approach from the east, via Strawberry, is CLOSED INDEFINITELY. This is not always reflected on gps directions. Permits are required 1 April – 1 October, and the area is open 8am – 8pm, with last entry at 4pm. No reservations are required 2 October – 31 March and access is allowed 24 hours a day (though camping is not permitted in the area immediately around Fossil Creek). Visit the Coconino National Forest website here for additional details.

What’s Nearby?: Devil’s Bridge Trail, Soldier Pass-Brins Mesa Loop, Montezuma Castle, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

This short, easy trail starts just up the road (east) of the Waterfall Trailhead parking area. Getting to the parking area is probably more of an adventure than the trail itself, since it requires driving around 15 miles on a dirt/gravel road. We ripped open a tire on our way back and had to drive 10 miles of bumpy dirt road on a donut. I’m pretty sure that’s not recommended. Anyway..there is a trail that starts from the creek side of the parking area, but this is not the main trail. This trail leads down to the river and then requires some creativity to make your way over and onto the main trail. It’s much easier to just walk up the road a short distance and connect with the actual trail which is pleasant and easy to navigate, although the other trail (more of a beaten path) does provide access all along the creek. There are numerous spots with small rapids and water deep enough to splash around in, but none are nearly as nice as the final waterfall which sits amid interesting rock formations and pours over the edge of a small cliff into a deep, clear pool perfect for swimming. Unfortunately, the perfection of this spot for swimming and the ease of the trail mean that in the summer it’s always overrun, and generally with people leaving their beer and trash around. We came in February and appreciated the solitude. To avoid the crowds, you can work your way upstream beyond the falls, though you won’t find a swimming hole as deep.