Looking for a Fun and Fit way to beat the Arizona heat? This hike is only 90 minutes outside of the Valley and a great way to spend a Saturday with a group of friends or coworkers. This trail has reopened after closing for cleanup and rehabilitation after years of misuse and trash build-up. Now requiring a permit in advance to visit, Tonto National Forest has made the experience cleaner and safer for all visitors. This is a day hike that requires preparation and planning. Below we will give you a brief account of our experience to help you become better prepared!

One of the most important things to know is that a permit is required in advance to reserve the day you wish to make the hike. We reserved our spot about a month ahead of time! It may seem like a hassle but it keeps the area from overcrowding and makes it a more pleasant experience for everyone (Click here to reserve a permit). In the past, you would have to leave at the crack of dawn to beat the traffic but the permit allows you to visit on your own timing. We left the Scottsdale area at about 6:30 am and made the trip to Payson, AZ.  In middle of the summer, morning time is best to begin your hike so make sure to get an early start. We stopped for breakfast in Payson in order to give our bodies the “fuel” needed to make the 11 mile round-trip hike. Check out Beeline Cafe if you are looking for a quick stop with some great food! It was just what we needed to get us going in the early morning!

Leaving Payson, we traveled through Pine to Strawberry and kept a lookout for the “Fossil Springs” road turnoff. Make sure that you double check your permit before you leave, there are a few entrances to the hike. The National Park Rangers will be there to check your permits and give you any advice you  may need to know for the hike. Park the car and gear up for the trek!

Here is the most important part… What to bring!

• WATER, WATER, and more WATER: The suggested amount is 1.5 liters per person, but we are here to tell you that is not enough in the Summer time. Bring a camel-pack full of water and bring extra water bottles in your back pack. If you freeze the bottles the night before, you will have cold water for the hike back up the canyon. The return hike will be the hottest time of the day so ensure that you have enough water toward the end of your trip. We suggest about 3 Liters per hiker!
• SUNSCREEN and BUG SPRAY: Apply sunscreen before you begin the hike and make sure you REAPPLY. You are in the direct sun through most of the hike and protecting your skin is a priority. Go for a higher SPF that will give you the most amount of coverage. Using 35 SPF began to wear off much faster than expected and we needed to switch to 50 SPF by the end of the hike. We did encounter many bugs on the trip, packing a miniature size OFF spray just in case is a great idea.
• CLOTHING: A few members in the group opted to wear long sleeves which was great for sun protection and for others tshirts did the trick. Hiking boots or tennis shoes are a MUST! Do not wear sandals or flipflops, there are rocky portions and dirt throughout the entire path. Swimsuits can be worn underneath clothing or packed in a backpack. No need to bring dry cloths, that Arizona sun will do the trick. Sunglasses and hats will protect your eyes and your face along with the sunscreen.
• SMALL HAND TOWEL: This was a LIFESAVER when hiking back up the canyon at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon. Right before you leave the Spring, soak the towel in the water and place around your neck. The towel stayed cool and kept our bodies from overheating for the 4 mile hike back.
• WATER SHOES: If you are planning to take a dip in the water, cliff jump, or any underwater exploring, water shoes are great! A few in our group went barefoot, making it more difficult to climb rocks and keep their feet protected.
• SNACKS: When we reached the bottom of the canyon and reapplied our sunscreen, re-hydrated, and enjoyed a granola bar we had packed in our backpacks. This helped us from being to hungry and allowed our bodies to refuel. 6 hours is too long to go without food when you are exerting that much energy in the heat.
• SMALL FIRST AID KIT: Bring a first aid kit to be prepared in any situation. Band-aids were our most used item so be sure to pack plenty!

The hike is down in moderate and we were able to complete it in 2 hours without any need to stop. You will come to a fork in the road where you can take the path to the “Toilet Bowl” or the “Spring”. The Toilet Bowl is another half mile down into the canyon where you can swim, jump, and picnic.

Tip* Bring a Fitbit, Apple Watch, or use the Health app on your iPhone to track your mileage and steps. This will allow you to know how close you are to the 4 mile marker on the way in and the way back!

We reached the “Toilet Bowl” at about 11:10 am, just under 2 hours of hiking. When you arrive: Refuel with snacks, Reapply that sunscreen, and Recreate in the refreshing water! Remember that there are no lifeguards and swimming/jumping is at your own risk. Please be careful as there are rocks and cliffs throughout the spring.

We left the spring and began our hike back up the canyon at about 2:00 PM to avoid the heat as much as possible. The trek up in much more difficult than the way down and many more stops are needed to catch your breath, re-hydrate, and  protect your skin from the sun. We reached the top and returned to our car by 4:00 PM and were ready for a little R & R! In the town of Pine we stopped at THAT Brewery to cash in on all of the calories we had burned 🙂 (Click on link to view THAT Brewery’s Facebook).

Comment any questions below about the Fossil Springs Hike and we would love to answer them for you!!