Fossil Creek Waterfall
- Hike
- 1 mi each way
- Elevation gain
- 128 ft
- Elevation
- 3,820 ft
- Road
- High clearance
- Permit
- Required
Fossil Creek Waterfall is a waterfall on Fossil Creek in Gila County, Arizona. Reaching it is a 1 mi hike each way with 128 ft of elevation gain. Flow season is not on file yet. See every spot on Fossil Creek.
Closures and warnings
USFS: swimming and cliff diving near the waterfall is extremely dangerous and has led to drowning deaths and severe injuries. Call Fossil Creek Hotline 928-226-4611 for road and closure status. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Flow note | Natural waterfall on perennial Fossil Creek; spring discharge about 20,000 gallons per minute at the headwaters canyon. |
|---|
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Waterfall basin |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Water clarity | Travertine creek with crystal-clear swimming holes along Fossil Creek. |
Access
| Hike | 1 mi each way |
|---|---|
| Elevation gain | 128 ft |
| Road | High clearance |
| Road note | 14 miles of rough dirt on FR 708 from SR 260 near Camp Verde; high clearance recommended. No vehicle access from Strawberry. |
| Parking | Dixon Lewis (formerly Waterfall) Trailhead lot: twenty 22-ft spaces. Walk about 960 ft up the dirt road to the trail start. |
| Fee | $6 Recreation.gov reservation fee/vehicle Apr 1-Oct 1; no fees Oct 2-Mar 31 |
| Hours | Permit-season day use 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; access gate for lots 1-5 open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fall-winter gates open 24 hours unless weather-closed. |
| Reservation or permit | Required |
| Reservation window | Parking permit required April 1 to October 1 via Recreation.gov; one permit per person per month; max group 12. Not required October 2 to March 31. |
| Elevation | 3,820 ft |
| Managed by | US Forest Service (Coconino National Forest) |
| Drinking water | No |
|---|---|
| Note | No potable water; vault toilets at most Fossil Creek parking lots. |
Rules
| Camping | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Fires | Not allowed |
| Glass | Not allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Fossil Creek Waterfall open?
USFS: swimming and cliff diving near the waterfall is extremely dangerous and has led to drowning deaths and severe injuries. Call Fossil Creek Hotline 928-226-4611 for road and closure status. As of September 28, 2026. Hours: Permit-season day use 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; access gate for lots 1-5 open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fall-winter gates open 24 hours unless weather-closed.
Can you swim at Fossil Creek Waterfall?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Fossil Creek Waterfall.
How long is the hike to Fossil Creek Waterfall?
It's a 1 mi hike each way with 128 ft of elevation gain. The road in is high clearance. 14 miles of rough dirt on FR 708 from SR 260 near Camp Verde; high clearance recommended. No vehicle access from Strawberry. Parking: Dixon Lewis (formerly Waterfall) Trailhead lot: twenty 22-ft spaces. Walk about 960 ft up the dirt road to the trail start.
Do you need a reservation for Fossil Creek Waterfall?
Yes. A reservation or permit is required: Parking permit required April 1 to October 1 via Recreation.gov; one permit per person per month; max group 12. Not required October 2 to March 31.
Is there a fee at Fossil Creek Waterfall?
The fee is $6 Recreation.gov reservation fee/vehicle Apr 1-Oct 1; no fees Oct 2-Mar 31.
When is Fossil Creek Waterfall flowing?
Natural waterfall on perennial Fossil Creek; spring discharge about 20,000 gallons per minute at the headwaters canyon.
What facilities are at Fossil Creek Waterfall?
No drinking water. No potable water; vault toilets at most Fossil Creek parking lots.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Fossil Creek Waterfall is inside Tonto National Forest .
Just outside: Coconino National Forest (under 0.1 mi) , Fossil Springs Wilderness (0.3 mi) , Mazatzal Wilderness (0.4 mi) .
Sources
3
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/dixon-lewis-trail-fossil-creek-waterfall-trail (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / trail stats, access.hikeDistanceMi / hikeDistanceBasis / elevationGainFt / elevationFt, access.parking / roadSurface / roadNote, access.permitRequired / reservationWindow, hazardNote / swimmingAllowed, swimmerNotes.waterClarityNote / waterType)
- https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4251919 (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.fee)
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/fossil-creek-wild-and-scenic-river (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.hours, rules.fires / glass / camping, waterfall.flowNote / ephemeral / waterbodyName, access.amenities)