When I was in high school I had to do several self guided field trips to historical sites in Arizona for an Arizona history class I was taking. Andrew enjoying the scenery on Fossil CreekĪ little background about my love of Strawberry. But mostly I love this area because of the intense beauty and peaceful serenity it offers. Partially because the hike in, on the recently renamed Bob Bear Trail, begins from Strawberry, one of my favorite towns in Arizona. The waterfall at Fossil Creek Damįossil Springs has long been one of my favorite areas in Arizona. We had a wonderful weekend filled with fun and family adventures, but we still needed an epic waterfall hike to round out Andrew’s trip. Our son Andrew was supposed to join Ryan and I on the Havasupai trek this year, so he came to visit anyway and we went camping as a family with our daughter Sara, son-in-law Ron and 1 year old grandson Jameson. Thanks to COVID-19 the area remains closed and our trip to Havasupai has been rescheduled for next year. To avoid the crowds, you can work your way upstream beyond the falls, though you won’t find a swimming hole as deep.Last weekend we were supposed to have hiked to one of these world renowned areas called Havasupai, which is a remotely located canyon on an Indian reservation in Northern Arizona that boasts a series of stunning turqouise blue waterfalls along a creek as it decends into the Colorado River. We came in February and appreciated the solitude. 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. 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. 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. This trail leads down to the river and then requires some creativity to make your way over and onto the main trail. Anyway.there is a trail that starts from the creek side of the parking area, but this is not the main trail. We ripped open a tire on our way back and had to drive 10 miles of bumpy dirt road on a donut. 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. This short, easy trail starts just up the road (east) of the Waterfall Trailhead parking area. What’s Nearby?: Devil’s Bridge Trail, Soldier Pass-Brins Mesa Loop, Montezuma Castle, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Visit the Coconino National Forest website here for additional details. 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). Permits are required 1 April – 1 October, and the area is open 8am – 8pm, with last entry at 4pm. This is not always reflected on gps directions. Note that approach from the east, via Strawberry, is CLOSED INDEFINITELY. Red Tape/Notes: Extremely popular trail, particularly in summer when people come here to swim. Time Required: 1+ hours (include additional time if you’re planning to swim) Location: near Camp Verde, South of Sedona, Arizona Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Arizona → Sedona Area → Waterfall Trail on Fossil Creek
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