| |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 8.57 Miles |
1,753 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.57 Miles | 4 Hrs 22 Mns | | 2.55 mph |
| 1,753 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | We drove from Mesa, arrived at the TH at about 9:35am. It was the perfect day for a visit to Fossil Springs and then down to the waterfall and toilet bowl. We obtained our permit and parking pass ahead of time and there was a ranger at the very beginning of the road to check that all things were in order. I hadn't been down to Fossil Creek in several years - last time was in my car! The TH is only about 2 miles after leaving the pavement and there appears to be parking for about 20-25 vehicles. The trail is well marked. The only confusion was that all of the signs at the TH state that "this trail does not go to the waterfall". Well, we had hoped to go to both the spring and the waterfall so we just hoped for the best when we got down there. We descended in about an hour & half, trail is rocky in some places and so we were careful not to slip. We arrived at the bottom and the trail crosses the dry creek bed at one point, just look for a wooden sign hanging from a tree on the other side and you'll know where to go. Soon you get to a fork in the trail that is going down the north side of the creek bed - that sign points you to the spring. It is a short walk to the spring and it is worth seeing - there's a good flow of water coming right up from the ground - although when you get further down the creek you wonder how could that amount of water soon turn into much more water??!! We back-tracked from the Spring back to the trail and took the route that is marked by another trail sign that says "To Dam". From there, it is only about a half mile to the waterfall and toilet bowl. What a magnificent sight and location!! And, we had it all to ourselves which is amazing - not a soul there (although we encountered 5 hikers ascending while we were descending). We swam (water was cool, but not really take-your-breath-away cold) and relaxed for about an hour, then started back up. On the way up we passed 15 or so more people going down - one playing rather loud annoying music - glad we weren't going to be needing to share the serenity of the creek with that background music! We climbed steadily and made it out in about the same time it took to descend - an hour and a half. All the way up my daughter and I were commenting about how much we LOVE Arizona. We live in the best state!! A comment to all hikers and campers (if allowed) who've done this trail - thank you to all - it is so clean down there, I didn't see any trash. Pats on the back!  |
 |
Fossil Springs |
Gallon + per minute |
Gallon + per minute |
| | | A healthy flow by my standards - really kind of surprising given our state of drought, but so grateful! | | _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
