Waterwheel Falls
- Elevation
- 5,100 ft
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Required
Waterwheel Falls is a waterfall on East Verde River in Gila County, Arizona. Height and flow season are not on file yet.
The falls
| Flow note | Cascades and swimming holes along the East Verde River at the Water Wheel recreation site. |
|---|
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Creek pool |
| Entry | Walk in |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | Houston Mesa Road (FR 199) about 7.5 miles to the Water Wheel site. |
| Parking | Day-use parking at Water Wheel along Houston Mesa Road; lot fills on summer weekends. |
| When it fills | Arrive early in summer; parking is limited. |
| Fee | Tonto Daily Pass $8/vehicle (vendor) or $12 at fee machine; Tonto Discovery or America the Beautiful Pass accepted |
| Hours | Day use only |
| Reservation or permit | Required |
| Elevation | 5,100 ft |
| Managed by | US Forest Service (Tonto National Forest, Payson Ranger District) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | No |
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Vault toilets and picnic tables; no potable water. Pack it in, pack it out. |
Rules
| Camping | Not allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Waterwheel Falls open?
Hours: Day use only.
Can you swim at Waterwheel Falls?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Waterwheel Falls.
How do you get to Waterwheel Falls?
The road in is paved. Houston Mesa Road (FR 199) about 7.5 miles to the Water Wheel site. Parking: Day-use parking at Water Wheel along Houston Mesa Road; lot fills on summer weekends. Arrive early in summer; parking is limited.
Do you need a reservation for Waterwheel Falls?
Yes. A reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Waterwheel Falls?
The fee is Tonto Daily Pass $8/vehicle (vendor) or $12 at fee machine; Tonto Discovery or America the Beautiful Pass accepted.
When is Waterwheel Falls flowing?
Cascades and swimming holes along the East Verde River at the Water Wheel recreation site.
What facilities are at Waterwheel Falls?
Restrooms and picnic sites. No drinking water. Vault toilets and picnic tables; no potable water. Pack it in, pack it out.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Waterwheel Falls is inside Tonto National Forest .
Sources
1
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/tonto/recreation/first-second-third-crossings-and-water-wheel (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / waterbodyName / elevationFt, access.fee / permitRequired, access.hours / rules.camping, access.roadNote / parking, access.amenities, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed, waterfall.flowNote / waterType / entryType, access.roadSurface)