Fossil Creek Wild And Scenic River
Coconino National Forest Recreation
Fossil Creek is a Wild and Scenic River in central Arizona on lands managed by the Coconino and Tonto National Forests. The creek flows from its source at Fossil Springs 14 miles to its confluence with the Verde River, downstream of the historic and decommissioned Childs Power Plant. Fossil Creek is one of only two Wild and Scenic Rivers in Arizona. At temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, water gushes out at 20,000 gallons per minute from springs at the bottom of a 1,600-foot deep canyon. Over the years these calcium-rich waters have laid down huge deposits of a material called travertine. That rock-like substance encases whatever happens to fall into the streambed - forming the fossil-like formations for which the area is named.
Fossil Creek has several Western Apache and Yavapai cultural sites. The Western Apache and Yavapai peoples lived along Fossil Creek for generations and still consider this to be part of their homeland and of great cultural importance.
Because of its beauty and year-round water, people are drawn to this area. The lushness of the riparian area strikes a sharp contrast to the dry and sparse desert vegetation that surrounds it. Fossil Creek recreation sites can be accessed in two ways. The first is by taking State Route 260 near Camp Verde to Forest Road 708 and driving the 14 miles of rough dirt road to designated parking lots and creek access sites near Fossil Creek. The second is via a strenuous hike four miles one way and 1,500 feet of elevation down to the headwaters of Fossil Creek from the Bob Bear Trailhead parking lot outside of the town of Strawberry. Please note that Forest Road 708 does not provide access to the Fossil Creek canyon from Strawberry. To obtain a permit for Bob Bear Trailhead please visit the Bob Bear Trailhead page on Recreation.Gov.
The Fossil Creek area has very few developed facilities and visitors should be prepared for rustic and remote conditions. There is no camping in the Fossil Creek Permit Area from April 1 through October 1. Please note that the state of Arizona does not acknowledge Daylight Savings Time.
Notifications and Alerts
Parts of Fossil Creek burned in the 2021 Backbone Fire. You may encounter hazards including flash floods, debris flows, and loose rocks and woody material. Consider potential hazards when entering Fossil Creek, and take the following precautions:
• Check the weather forecast before you leave;
• Actively assess current and changing weather conditions—forest and weather conditions change constantly and quickly;
• Let someone know your plans.
Permit & Season Information
Advance permits are required to park a vehicle in the Fossil Creek permit area April 1–October 1. During this season, a maximum of one permit per person per calendar month may be reserved (one permit = one day). Permits are made available on the first of the month one month ahead of time. For example, permits for the month of April are available beginning March 1.
The permit allows parking for one vehicle only at one of eight designated parking lots. Maximum vehicle length is 22 ft. All persons listed on the permit must be accommodated inside the vehicle with a legal seatbelt. The permit guarantees a parking space within the specified parking lot, but specific parking space assignments are not made. Parking spaces are occupied on a first-come, first-served basis.
Permits are not required October 2–March 31.
Need to Know
Fossil Creek is a special place to many people. It is also in a remote location with few services and some parts of the river are difficult to access. Being prepared will help you enjoy your trip and ensure Fossil Creek remains healthy and accessible for all to visit.
Key Facts
- A permit is required April 1 through October 1.
- Beware! GPS directions to Fossil Creek are often wrong. Forest Road (FR) 708 from Strawberry only provides access to the Bob Bear Trailhead. It doesn’t access the waterfall or parking lots in the Fossil Creek canyon because a 4-mile section of FR 708 is closed. To access the eight parking lots in the canyon, you must use FR 708 from Hwy 260 near Camp Verde. This 14-mile dirt road is very rough, so a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
- No trash service is available and toilets are limited. Please pack out what you bring and plan your bathroom breaks. Toilets are available at most parking lots. Trash and human waste left on the ground can hurt wildlife, pollute water, and detract from visitors’ experience.
- Phone reception in Fossil Creek is virtually nonexistent.
Printing your Permit
- You must print your permit and parking pass. The permit holder must carry the permit and the parking pass must be placed on your vehicle’s dashboard. You are only permitted to park in the parking lot you reserved. You may print your permit when you make your reservation; however, once your permit has been printed, you can’t make changes to the permit. Your email confirmation page is not your permit. You can only print your permit by logging into your Recreation.Gov account profile and selecting “My Reservations.”
Parking Lots
Fossil Creek contains 8 parking lots:
- Waterfall Trailhead, Irving (Flume Trailhead), Tonto Bench, Fossil Creek Bridge, Homestead, Sally May, Purple Mountain, Mazatzal are in the Fossil Creek canyon. Access is via FR 708 from State Route 260 only.
Hours of Operation
- Sally May, Purple Mountain, and Mazatzal: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Waterfall Trailhead, Irving (Flume Trailhead), Tonto Bench, Fossil Creek Bridge, and Homestead: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The access gate to these parking lots closes at 4 p.m. daily but you may still exit the parking lot after 4 p.m.
Other Information
- Access to the area may be limited to protect public safety due to road conditions or fire restrictions. For real-time information, call the Fossil Creek Hotline: (928) 226-4611.
- No potable water is available; you must bring your own water.
- No campfires, warming fires or charcoal grills are allowed anywhere within the permit area. If you plan to cook, bring your own gas stove.
- There is no camping in the Fossil Creek permit area April 1–October 1.
- Vehicles exceeding 22 feet in length are prohibited, including buses and vans. Vehicles with trailers are prohibited. All persons must be accommodated inside the vehicle with a legal seatbelt.
- No rope swings may be erected.
- Glass containers are prohibited in the permit area.
- No amplified sound (music or loudspeakers) is allowed in Forest Service facilities, including all eight parking lots.
- Tampering with or removing cultural and historic sites and artifacts is illegal.
- Vehicles are permitted on open Forest Service roads only; consult a USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map for more information.
- Use reasonable caution: trails are rugged; flash flooding may occur; be aware of fire danger.
Fee Policy
One Vehicle: $6.00 non-refundable reservation fee
Please note: There are no refunds.
Cancellation Policy
Change Policy
Changing the date of your reservation requires you to cancel your existing reservation and make a new reservation, should space be available. The $6.00 reservation fee is non-refundable.
Cancellation Policy
Please cancel your reservation if you are unable to use it! This ensures the space will be available for others. You may cancel up to the day of your reservation date. All fees are non-refundable; however, if you do not cancel your reservation, you will not be able to make another reservation in the same month.
In the event that the Forest Service is required to close the Fossil Creek Permit Area due to weather, natural disasters or fire danger, all reservations in this instance only will receive a full refund.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
8375 State Route 179 Sedona AZ 86341
Visitor Center Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, except 12 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Phone Number
(928) 203-2900
