Fossil Creek overview
Community Reviews
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Fossil Creek
<!-- COMMON fseprd500500 --><link href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd500500.css" rel="stylesheet" /><!-- NAV MENU fseprd492525 --><link href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd492525.css" rel="stylesheet" /><div id="navigation"><img alt="Fossil Creek Dam" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprd3852113.jpg" style="width: 800px;" /><ul class="navbar"><li id="nav_cur"><a href="/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=75356">Visit Fossil Creek</a></li><li><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/?cid=FSEPRD534245">Site Tour</a></li><li><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/?cid=STELPRD3852090">Permit Information</a></li><li><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/?cid=FSEPRD492521">FAQs</a></li></ul></div><p style="clear: both;"> </p><div class="side_vmenu"><p>Destinations</p><ul><li>Fossil Creek</li><li><a href="/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=72066">Bob Bear Trail</a></li><li><a href="/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=75368">Flume Trail</a></li><li><a href="/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55272">Waterfall Trail</a></li><li><a href="/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=75014">Fossil Springs Wilderness</a></li><li><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/?cid=FSEPRD500342">Other places to go</a></li><li><a href="http://www.recreation.gov/wildernessAreaDetails.do?page=detail&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74997" target="_blank">Make Reservations</a></li></ul></div><p>Fossil Creek, one of two "Wild and Scenic" rivers in Arizona, seems to appear out of nowhere, gushing 20,000 gallons a minute out of a series of springs at the bottom of a 1,600 foot deep canyon. Over the years these calcium laden waters have laid down huge deposits of a type of limestone called travertine. <strong><a href="/generalinfo/coconino/recreation/generalinfo/?groupid=102543&recid=75356">Read more...</a></strong></p><p><a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHskrSBWNA" target="_blank"><strong>View Fossil Creek & Fossil Springs Wilderness photo gallery</strong></a> [Flickr]</p><p style="clear: both;"> </p><div class="notice"><a href="http://www.recreation.gov/wildernessAreaDetails.do?page=detail&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74997" target="_blank"><img alt="Book Now on Recreation.gov!" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd493380.png" style="width: 170px; height: 35px; padding-left: 5px; float: right;" /></a><h2>Permits Required April 1 to October 1</h2><div class="img_box_white_left"><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd492963.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="Fossil Creek Summer Map and Guide" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd492967.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 150px;" /></a><p><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd492963.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Spring-Summer Guide</strong></a><br />April 1 - October 1<br />(PDF, 1.7 MB)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd518443.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Mapa y guía de área de permisos de Fossil Creek (Español)</strong></a><br />(PDF, 400 kB)</p></div><p style="clear: right;"><strong>Fossil Springs Trailhead permits must be reserved as Bob Bear Trailhead as its name has changed.</strong></p><p><strong>Spring-Summer Season (April 1 - October 1):</strong> A reserved, printed permit is <strong><em>required</em>.</strong> Reserve a spot at <a href="http://www.recreation.gov/wildernessAreaDetails.do?page=detail&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74997" target="_blank">Recreation.gov</a> for any of the parking areas in the Fossil Creek area. During the Spring-Summer Season, the Fossil Creek and Springs area is day use only. Camping, campfires, and glass containers are prohibited.</p><p>See <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/?cid=STELPRD3852090"><strong>Fossil Creek Reservation System Information</strong></a>!</p><p style="clear: both;"> </p></div><p>For current conditions, call<br /><strong class="notice">Fossil Creek Hotline 928-226-4611</strong></p> <br /><!--p>Make parking permit reservations at <a href="http://www.recreation.gov/wildernessAreaDetails.do?page=detail&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74997"><strong>Recreation.gov</strong></a>.</p-->
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, campgrounds, fishing spots, and other landmarks so a quick visit can grow into a full day.
Parks
- Wilderness Fossil Springs
- Coconino National Forest
- Wilderness Cedar Bench
- Wilderness Pine Mountain
- Wilderness West Clear Creek
- Verde River Access Area
Campgrounds
- Fossil Creek
- Childs
- Childs Dispersed Camping Area
- Bull Pen Dispersed Campground
- Clear Creek And Clear Creek Group Campgrounds
- Clear Creek National Forest Campground
Responsible visitation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site (BLM, NPS, state agency, or private owner) for access rules, permits, and seasonal closures before driving out.
- Stay on trail
- Many points of interest sit in fragile ecosystems. Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation and prevent erosion.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and give nesting birds and denning mammals plenty of space.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Take all trash, food scraps, and gear back with you. Remote sites often have no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, fossils, or artifacts. Federal law protects cultural and natural resources on public land.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Fossil Creek as a favorite, set a weather threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Fossil Creek
What is Fossil Creek?
A point of interest in Arizona tracked by Snoflo -- typically a scenic landmark, named summit, monument, or viewpoint.
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no public feeds.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get there?
Tap Directions in the hero above for Google Maps driving directions, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the spot.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this POI, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other points of interest near here
Snoflo-tracked landmarks within driving distance of Fossil Creek.