Right now
Right now as of Oct 29, 2026
- Status Permit season over: the 2026 season ended October 1, and no permit is needed from October 2 to March 31, the Forest Service says.
- Permit Not needed now. The 2026 season ran Apr 1 to Oct 1; 2027 dates are not announced yet.
Status note (Oct 29, 2026): Permit season over: the 2026 season ended October 1, and no permit is needed from October 2 to March 31, the Forest Service says. On October 29, 2026, the Coconino National Forest alerts page listed no Fossil Creek closure and no FR 502 or FR 708 closure. Call the Fossil Creek hotline at 928-226-4611 before you drive. What the status labels mean
Fossil Creek Waterfall is a travertine waterfall on Fossil Creek, Arizona, at the end of a 1-mile creekside trail, per the Forest Service. From April 1 to October 1 you need a $6 per-vehicle reservation on Recreation.gov. As of October 29, 2026, the permit season has ended, and no permit is needed until March 31. In permit season, the only drive in is 14 rough miles of FR 708 from State Route 260. Call the hotline before you drive.
About Fossil Creek Waterfall
Fossil Creek Waterfall is on Fossil Creek in central Arizona, in the Coconino and Tonto national forests. The Forest Service describes 'a 1-mile trail' that 'follows the creek to a natural waterfall, where crowds spend the day swimming'.
The trail and its parking lot used to be called Waterfall. Recreation.gov now lists them as Dixon Lewis, Lot 1. We found no official height for the falls, so this page doesn't give one.
Wikipedia says Fossil Springs, at the head of the creek, puts out more than 20,000 gallons per minute at a constant 72°F. It calls Fossil Creek the fourth-largest travertine producer in the US.
Fossil Creek's full flow is fairly recent. APS closed the Childs-Irving power plants in 2005 and removed the diversion dam in 2008, per Wikipedia. Fossil Creek became a Wild and Scenic River on March 30, 2009.
Don't confuse the waterfall with Fossil Springs. The Bob Bear Trail from Strawberry goes down to the springs at the headwaters. It needs its own Bob Bear Trailhead permit and does not reach this waterfall.
Getting there and parking
In permit season, the only way to drive to the waterfall is Forest Road 708 from State Route 260. Recreation.gov says the road is 14 miles and 'very rough, so a high-clearance vehicle is highly recommended.' It also warns, 'Do not rely on GPS maps.'
From Strawberry, FR 708 reaches only the Bob Bear Trailhead in permit season. A Tonto National Forest alert closes a 4-mile section to motor vehicles then, through October 1, 2033. We could not confirm whether that section is open from October 2 to March 31.
Park at the Dixon Lewis Trailhead lot, Lot 1 on Recreation.gov. It is the old Waterfall Trail trailhead, renamed along with the trail. In permit season, Recreation.gov says you must reach the Hwy 260/FR 708 junction by 2 PM, and the access gate closes at 3 PM.
In permit season, Recreation.gov also says drop-offs at any lot other than the one you reserved are no longer allowed. Print your permit and display it on the dashboard, because ID is checked.
From October 2 to March 31, the Forest Service says parking is first-come, first-served and gates stay open 24 hours unless closed for weather. It adds that FR 708 'occasionally closes during periods of inclement weather or when road conditions warrant.'
Call the Fossil Creek hotline at 928-226-4611, or the Red Rock Ranger District at 928-203-2900, to check the road before you drive.
Map and nearby falls
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OpenPartly open / seasonalUnconfirmedClosedLarger map
The hike
The Forest Service describes a 1-mile trail along the creek to the waterfall, so plan on about 2 miles round trip on the same path. The agency doesn't rate its difficulty.
We could not confirm an official elevation gain, hiking time or wheelchair access. Recreation.gov says vault toilets are available at most parking lots, but there is no potable water, so bring your own.
Fossil Creek has other permit lots besides Dixon Lewis. Recreation.gov lists Irving (Flume), Tonto Bench, Fossil Creek Bridge, Homestead, Sally May, Purple Mountain and Mazatzal. In permit season, your permit is valid only for the lot named on it.
When to visit
As of October 25, 2026, the 2026 permit season is over. It ran April 1 to October 1, and no permit is needed from October 2 to March 31, the Forest Service says.
The 2026 season started slowly. Reservations opened March 1, 2026 at 8:00 AM Arizona time, and the area first opened Friday to Sunday only. A Coconino National Forest release opened it seven days a week from May 15, 2026.
For 2026, permits were released on a rolling basis one month ahead, with more held back until two days ahead. The 2027 season had not been announced as of October 25, 2026.
Summer brings storms. The National Weather Service in Flagstaff says the northern Arizona monsoon officially runs from June 15 to September 30. In heat, it advises planning outdoor activity early in the morning or late in the evening.
The Havasupai falls are a different kind of trip. Mooney Falls and Havasu Falls need a 3-night reservation, while Fossil Creek bans overnight use in permit season.
| Trail | About 1 mi each way along the creek on the Dixon Lewis Trail (formerly the Waterfall Trail), per the Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy (not officially rated; the Forest Service describes a 1-mile creekside trail) |
| Entry fee | April 1 to October 1 (2026 season): $6 non-refundable reservation fee per vehicle on Recreation.gov. October 2 to March 31: no permit or fee, per the Forest Service. |
| Permit / reservation | $6 per-vehicle Recreation.gov reservation for a named lot, April 1 to October 1 |
| Parking | Dixon Lewis lot via FR 708 from SR 260 |
| Hours / season | Permit season: day use 8 AM to 8 PM, no overnight use. October 2 to March 31: gates open 24 hours unless closed for weather, per the Forest Service. |
| Dogs | No rule found; the Recreation.gov permit pages don't mention pets |
| Swimming | Allowed at your own risk; Recreation.gov says 'There are NO LIFEGUARDS on duty. Enter the water at your own risk.' We found no official rule on jumping. |
| Crowds | The Forest Service says 'crowds spend the day swimming' at the waterfall |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest (Red Rock Ranger District) and Tonto National Forest |
Safety and swimming
Swimming is allowed but unsupervised. Recreation.gov says, 'There are NO LIFEGUARDS on duty. Enter the water at your own risk.' It also says, 'No rope swings may be constructed.'
We found no official rule on jumping from the falls. On March 22, 2026, a 25-year-old man drowned at what the Gila County Sheriff called the 'Fossil Creek Lower Waterfalls', KNAU reported.
According to that report, he jumped from the falls, surfaced, then swam under the falls and stayed submerged. We could not confirm whether the Lower Waterfalls is the falls at the end of the Dixon Lewis Trail. Do not jump, and do not swim under falling water.
The road has its own risk. Turn around if water covers the road. The NWS says 'NEVER drive through flood waters', that '12 inches of water can sweep a car off the roadway', and that 'Most flood fatalities happen in vehicles.'
Two Coconino National Forest orders ban camping, campfires and glass containers in the Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River area. Order #03-04-06-23-07 covers the permit season, April 1 to October 1. Order #03-04-06-23-21 covers October 2 to March 31, so these bans apply all year. In permit season, Recreation.gov also bans overnight use, warming fires, charcoal grills and amplified sound in the permit area. See our waterfall safety guide for more on swimming near falls.
Where to stay near Fossil Creek Waterfall
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Photos
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Fossil Creek Waterfall FAQ
Can you hike Fossil Creek without a permit?
Yes, from October 2 to March 31, when no permit is needed, the Forest Service says. From April 1 to October 1, you need a $6 per-vehicle reservation on Recreation.gov for a named lot; Dixon Lewis is the waterfall lot. The 2026 season has ended.
How long is the hike to Fossil Creek Waterfall?
About 2 miles round trip. The Forest Service describes a 1-mile trail along the creek to the waterfall. The trail is now called the Dixon Lewis Trail.
Is Fossil Creek a hard hike?
The Forest Service doesn't rate it. It describes a 1-mile trail along the creek to the waterfall, about 2 miles round trip. The drive in is rougher: Recreation.gov calls FR 708 from State Route 260 14 miles and 'very rough' and highly recommends a high-clearance vehicle. In permit season you must reach the junction by 2 PM.
Is Fossil Creek Waterfall the same as Fossil Springs?
No. Fossil Springs is at the creek's headwaters, reached by the Bob Bear Trail from Strawberry, which needs its own trailhead permit. That trail does not reach the waterfall, which you reach from the Dixon Lewis lot off FR 708.
Is Fossil Creek closed right now?
Not as far as we can tell. As of October 29, 2026, Fossil Creek is in its no-permit season, which runs October 2 to March 31. That day the Coconino National Forest alerts page listed no Fossil Creek closure and no FR 502 or FR 708 closure. The area and FR 708 can close for weather, road conditions, natural disasters or fire danger, per the Forest Service and Recreation.gov. Call the hotline at 928-226-4611.
Can you swim or jump at Fossil Creek Waterfall?
Swimming is allowed, but there are no lifeguards. We found no official jumping rule. A man drowned at the Fossil Creek Lower Waterfalls in March 2026 after jumping and then swimming under the falls.
Are dogs allowed at Fossil Creek?
We could not confirm a dog rule. The Recreation.gov permit pages say nothing about pets, and we found no official Fossil Creek pet policy. Ask the Red Rock Ranger District at 928-203-2900.
Nearby waterfalls
No other waterfalls within 75 miles are on the site yet.
More waterfalls to explore
Havasu FallsArizona · 141 mi straight-lineOpen100FT
Mooney FallsArizona · 142 mi straight-lineOpen200FT
Kanarra FallsUtah · 232 mi straight-lineUnconfirmed
On these lists: Waterfalls you can swim in
Sources
Some facts credited to the Forest Service come from search-result excerpts of its official pages. Confirm fees and rules on the official site.
- Recreation.gov: Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River permit
- Recreation.gov: Fossil Creek permit (alternate listing)
- Recreation.gov: Bob Bear Trailhead permit
- USFS Coconino: Dixon Lewis Trail (Fossil Creek Waterfall Trail) (read via search excerpt)
- USFS Coconino: Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River (read via search excerpt)
- USFS Coconino release: Fossil Creek permits now available seven days a week (May 15, 2026) (read via search excerpt)
- USFS Coconino NF: Alerts, incl. Fossil Creek forest orders #03-04-06-23-07 and #03-04-06-23-21 (read Oct 29, 2026)
- USFS Tonto alert: Fossil Creek motor vehicle closure (read via search excerpt)
- KAFF News: Fossil Creek permits now available seven days per week (May 15, 2026)
- Signals AZ: Fossil Creek permit rules change for 2026 (May 15, 2026)
- KNAU: Man drowns at Fossil Creek (Mar 23, 2026)
- NWS Flagstaff: Monsoon information
- Wikipedia: Fossil Creek
Last verified Oct 29, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest (Red Rock Ranger District) and Tonto National Forest before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.