Fossil Creek - Vehicle & Directions

[jewelsaz33]

I am looking to hike down to Fossil Creek in late April. I have tried to gather as much info online, but figured I would come to a direct source.

These are my questions:

Will my Hyundai Elantra make it to the trailhead or should I borrow an SUV for the drive?
Detailed directions from Strawberry, AZ to the trailhead...???
Any other generals tips and info specifically about this hike.

Thanks everyone,
Julie

[joebartels]

Will my Hyundai Elantra make it to the trailhead or should I borrow an SUV for the drive?
Detailed directions from Strawberry, AZ to the trailhead...???

both of these are in the directions at description

the road was closed for awhile, I'm not sure on that part?

2012-03-30 edit: official order added about FR708 - Fossil Creek Road - segment closed until April 15th 2013

12-12-019-fossil-tonto.pdf

(428.79 KiB) Downloaded 87 times

[chumley]

Hi Julie-

The road to Fossil Creek is closed just past the trailhead, so if you were planning on driving down to the bottom and hiking up the creek or up the old flume trail, you are out of luck. See this thread for more on that:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6487#p79886

If you were planning on hiking the actual Fossil Springs Trail (http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=183), that is still possible. The directions are at the bottom of the hike page, and can be done in a sedan without any problem (except in the snow!).

[Dschur]

In late April it may be very busy. Not sure since the rest of the road is closed if they will be closing up farther then the trailhead if it gets crazy with cars.

[jewelsaz33]

Thanks everybody, this helps a lot. Not having been there before, I was a little confused with the description listed here on hikeaz.

[Hippy]

Hey Jewels when are you going and which trail/hike were you thinking of doing?
My boyfriend and I want to mountain bike part of the trail and I have a subaru outback that can make all the roads down there easy. ((although 2 years ago my chevy malibu and my best friend's geo prism made it down to the campsite no problem ))
anyway, depending and when and where we can carpool it/split fuel cost etc and have a nice day with new friends at the "falls"!

[Dschur]

Now going to control the traffic from and people coming in from the Camp Verde side...
http://verdevalleynews.com/main.asp?Sec ... leID=47465

[Canyonram]

Hello jewelsaz33,

The 'Payson Roundup' (the local newspaper for Payson-Pine-Strawberry), has been following the management of the Fossil Creek Trail. It is a big deal for the small communities because a lot of the local business operations/restaruants, etc value the $$$ brought in by the 90,000+ people who come to hike/swim in Fossil Creek. Others resent the trash, human waste, a long string of parked cars, destruction of the unique stream environment, the numerous medical emergencies, etc. Even the native fish are in danger as smallmouth bass have been discovered in the stream. This trail is no longer a wilderness---more like showing up at Slide Rock in Sedona or Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon.

http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2012/ ... sil-creek/

http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2012/ ... -paradise/

http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2012/ ... sil-creek/

Map: http://www.paysonroundup.com/photos/2012/apr/20/44910/

Last time I hiked this trail (about two years ago) I hauled out a full trash bag of beer cans, food wrappers, etc. Probably still worth the hike to see the unique travertine environment---before it is either trashed or 'managed' out of existence.