Fossil Creek Trail

So, we now have been in Arizona for almost 2 years. A local hike we've heard about but didn't know the exact whereabouts of is Fossil Creek. Those unfamiliar with Arizona might think we've been lazy or stupid. Not so. I don't know about other parts of Arizona but in central AZ; it's a lot of canyons, mountains, the separation by the Mogollon Rim of southern and northern AZ, the actual water erosion of landscape. It's a hard ass region; rocky, dry, high altitude and finally, at the bottom of the canyon that Fossil Creek runs through, a total paradise. Yesterday, (April 27th, 2012 for those who are really interested), my husband and 3 other friends from the Payson Packer C Group decided to get a little frisky and head out to the Fossil Creek Trailhead. Randy and I had heard of the trail for months but didn't know exactly where it was. Finally, we could stand it no longer and researched the trail head. Heck, it wasn't that hard. After polling the C Group on our last Tuesday hike, we garnered the interest of 3 others: John, Lisa and fortunately, Gail. Lucky thing for us; Gail is both a Search and Rescue member for the area, and she also has been down the trail and knows the area. The big thing about hiking down into the Fossil Creek canyon, is to find the spring that feeds the creek. The area has been designated a natural riparian wilderness area (Talk about UNIQUE!) and access is limited. We were heading down on a weekday so we didn't expect much human traffic. It's a 4 mile hike down into the canyon with a 1500 foot descent. We were aware of that loss of elevation every foot we went on the way down. However, nearly every step down into the canyon was a beautiful view.

Once down, we had to cross a creek bed, heavily strewn with boulders. Much of the year it's a dry stream but we were down there the day after a rain, so there was actually water in the creek bed. The spring was a little south of us. Crossing the creek, we traveled down a stream side path for a short way until we came to a V intersection. Thank goodness Gail was with us. She told us the spring was to the left hand fork of the trail. Taking that path, we traveled only a short way until we came to the spring. This is a force of nature. The spring pumps out 20,000 gallons per minute. Pure, cool, clean, water.

Just above the spring is a small, sandy spot where someone had placed turquoise green stones in a spiral shape. Totally appropriate. This spot is where Fossil Creek originates and it's so lush and fragrant that you would think you were in Upstate NY. After drinking in the moist air, we traveled back up from the spring a few feet and crossed back to the right side of the now full stream. We traveled a couple hundred yards and found a very small water fall and a small pool. We took off our packs and had our snacks. Gail and I braved what seemed like a rapid flow of the stream, crossing it with just a little caution, and sat on a dry rock overhang to the pool below the small waterfall. We could see small fish, about 3 - 5 inches long, swimming in the pool below us. Lush green water plants covered much of the edges of the waterfall and pool. It was a joy to sit and watch the fish swim in the pool below us. After enjoying the pool, Gail and I waded back across the rapidly flowing stream, rejoining out hiking companions. We picked up our packs and hiked south, through a clearing where a couple was packing up from their overnight camp. We picked up the southbound trail and about 1/2 mile later reached the old dam. There were remains of a building or housing there. Their irises, gone native, were spreading out from their original spot. It was too early in the canyon for them to be in bloom. Maybe, if I go back in 2 weeks, I'll seem them in all of their glorious color. From the trail, the building remains are to the right, the stream is to the left. Directly across from the remains of the buildings is the old dam. So old that the plant life has softened the top edges of it.

You just about have to be told it was or is a dam, it looks so natural. We climbed down the steep bank to rock outcroppings just south of the waterfall the dam creates. It's so nice there. We took lots of pictures of course. Along the right bank, below the falls, lots of Golden Columbine are making a home, in full bloom. Raspberry vines are making a home in the circular holes the water has dug in the bedrock. As much as we hated to do so, we had to leave. After having the creek to ourselves, we weren't 100 yards north of the dam before we met our 1st set of hikers. They questioned us and we reassured them that the dam was just ahead. We then made our way back to the spring. There, we refilled our water bottles with some of the best water on the planet, before heading upstream to cross the creek bed back to

the trail leading back up the canyon. Yea, it was a brutal 2 miles up, winding and steep. It was noonish and we met a lot of people, mostly young, heading down. They may have had the right idea. We were doing the hardest part of the hike in the hottest part of the day. Even though we were hiking on a relatively cool day, hiking up 1500 feet of elevation is no stroll. However, at the halfway point going back up, we stopped for a real rest, not just a breathing stop. The spot was wide, covered with trees and previous hikers had build a small, no more than 6 feet tall and 2 X 3 feet wide and long structure. I'm not sure what the builders were thinking but there was a fallen log to sit on and shade. Good enough of a rest stop for me. We all rested there for 15 - 20 minutes. Randy had packed in a Coke. Total refreshment for him! When we left, the trail became less steep. We met several more people going down into the canyon as we were going up. We rested once more, at the base of the final steep slope, then made the final climb. Yes, it was still uphill after that, for about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile but not steep! We made it to the top, 2 hours and 20 minutes from the spring at the bottom. Was the trip worth it? You betcha!