HikeArizona.COM

Hi, can anyone tell me if it is possible to hike to Verde Hot Springs in the winter? My main concern is how to cross the river. Also can the road to the camp site be driven in by car and if so, how many miles is it from the main, paved road? Thanks in advance, Rob

My buddy Brian the hot springs freak says they graded the road since it got washed out over the winter. Evidently the best shape its been in years. It is accessible by passenger car now, still probably some rough spots though.

We chose this place for our first hike and our first with our dog. Since we are new to hiking I am sure that we will not be properly prepared, but luckily it is only a short 2 mile hike(rt) if we find the correct trail. I think that we are going to try the Fossil Creek Rd route via I-17 Camp Verde. Is there a reason that no one has GPS 'd this hike yet? Too easy? Too boring? I had planned on bringing my Garmin along with me for the trip. Maybe we will be the first to upload it Wish us luck on our adventure

TwoTxns wrote:We chose this place for our first hike and our first with our dog. Since we are new to hiking I am sure that we will not be properly prepared, but luckily it is only a short 2 mile hike(rt) if we find the correct trail. I think that we are going to try the Fossil Creek Rd route via I-17 Camp Verde. Is there a reason that no one has GPS 'd this hike yet? Too easy? Too boring? I had planned on bringing my Garmin along with me for the trip. Maybe we will be the first to upload it Wish us luck on our adventure

Fair warning...nudity is not uncommon at the Verde Hot Springs. Approach with an open mind!

TwoTxns wrote: Wish us luck on our adventure

Good luck and

hippiepunkpirate wrote:Fair warning...nudity is not uncommon at the Verde Hot Springs. Approach with an open mind!

You might be able to write an interesting trip report, but probably Joe won't let you put the photos up!

TwoTxns wrote:We chose this place for our first hike and our first with our dog. Since we are new to hiking I am sure that we will not be properly prepared, but luckily it is only a short 2 mile hike(rt) if we find the correct trail. I think that we are going to try the Fossil Creek Rd route via I-17 Camp Verde. Is there a reason that no one has GPS 'd this hike yet? Too easy? Too boring? I had planned on bringing my Garmin along with me for the trip. Maybe we will be the first to upload it Wish us luck on our adventure

I hiked it back in Highschool about 7 years ago with some friends while we were camping. We had no idea where the place was, just a general idea of the area and we were able to find it no problem. That was 7 years ago. Couldn't tell you how it is now. But definitely be prepared for the nudity. We walked up and there was a little bit more than we bargained for, and left. We drove down to Child's Power plant, and hiked in from there.

It's pretty easy to figure the area out upon arrival. I would have GPS'd it but tracking hadn't taken off way back when I did it. It's one of those must see places. On the same token once you've seen it the curiosity has been cured and the likelihood of returning is low for most.

Thank you for the welcome.

So, our 1st trip did not turn out quite like I had wanted it to be. Myself, wife and 2 of her female coworkers and 2 dogs came down the Camp Verde Fossil Creek Road in our Jeep Liberty and it took about 45 minutes to get down to the bottom of the trail. As soon as we got out of the Jeep, the women complained about the heat and the dogs were jumping up/down and whimpering from the hot sand that they were standing on. The sand and the rocks for the first 1/2 mile were very hot and I actually had to carry my dog over most of it. We got to the large rocky section and took a break. My dog jumped in the water and did not want to leave from there, my wife was ready to call it quits as well and her co-workers were complaining about the heat. I finally talk them to continue over the rock wall to the shallow water crossing. There my dog jumps in to the water and is swimming around, one of the girls wades across carrying her dog, but leaving her backpack for me to carry across, my wife wades across leaving me with her backpack and the other girl and I go further up stream to the shallow faster moving water to cross and meet up with the others.We go another 100yds up the trail to cross back over the water and my wife decides the water is too fast moving, her friend's dog still won't get in the water and she has decided that this trail is too much and so she with her dog and my wife decided to head back to the Jeep. Mind you we are 3/4 of the way there and now we all have to turn around and go back. The one girl, my dog are on one side of the water and they are on the other side. We decide to travel down stream by staying in the water to help my dog with the hot sand & rocks and just meet up with the others down the way. When we finally all meet back up I then have to carry my wet dog (45lbs dry) back to the jeep and listen to the girls all complain about the heat. We get back in the Jeep and decide to head in to Payson for DQ and ice cream and then go home.
We haven't even completed our first hike and we did not see any nudist

On a good note our Teva water shoes were great and I am still looking for that 1st completion of a hike

Sorry to hear about your woes, but thanks for the report! Better luck on your next attempt.

Stick around, and keep trying. You are a good storyteller!

In Payson, you could hike Horton Creek. That would be cooler. It seems to be everyone's first high country hike, although I have never been there myself.

I would definitely recommend Horton Creek! See my last hike there http://www.hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=11622

Very gradual uphill for 4 miles, beautiful creekside walking for most of the time, and the springs at the top are wonderful! And BONUS! It's all downhill going home!