Waterfall Trail at Fossil Creek

   
Keywords
Arizona Coconino National Forest Forest Service Fossil Creek Red Rock Ranger District Tonto National Forest USFS canyon creek forest outdoors riparian water
File Details
Published: 08/27/2018 Rating:
Category: People, Religion and spirituality Viewed: 567 Downloads: 163
Color
                                          


Share
       

Devostock Waterfall Trail at Fossil Creek

ID : 89397
Dislike 0

License:
TitleDownload
Small Free
Medium
Large
Original size

Files:

JPG: 4672x3104px @ 16.50 Mb.



Foot bridges were built over wet spots along the trail to protect the area from increasing foot traffic and erosion, and to make the trail easier to navigate for hikers.

Fossil Creek 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. That rock-like substance encases whatever happens to fall into the streambed, forming the fossils for which the area is named. Fossil Creek is one of two "Wild and Scenic" rivers in Arizona. This special designation was achieved when the Irving power plant was decommissioned, and removal of flume and dam on the creek allowed this magnificent creek to once again flow freely through Arizona_qt_s arid landscape.

Most people come to Fossil Creek to sunbathe, wade, hike and birdwatch. It_qt_s also a great place to take photographs. The lushness of the riparian area strikes a sharp contrast to the brittle desert that surrounds it. Increasing popularity has led to the Coconino and Tonto National Forests to implement a parking permit reservation system in 2016. Reserved parking permits give visitors the peace of mind knowing they_qt_ll have a spot waiting for them in this remote location. Many visitors drive two or three hours to get to the creek. The final descent to the creek at the bottom of a canyon is on an extremely rough, rocky jeep road.

Photo by Deborah Lee Soltesz, March 2, 2016. Credit: USFS Coconino National Forest. Learn more about visiting <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=75356">Fossil Creek</a>, <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=72078">Fossil Springs Wilderness</a>, and the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino">Coconino National Forest</a>.