If you go
Hiking Time: 4 - 6 hours (round-trip), this does NOT count the time spent at the creek or in the water.
Rating: Strenuous, 1,500 feet elevation change over four miles between the trailhead and the springs. Hot with little shade in the warmer months. Wear appropriate footwear (e.g., hiking boots) and carry at least a gallon of water per person.
Notes: No motorized vehicles or mechanical equipment, including mountain bikes and remote controlled aircraft.
Spring water is not suitable for drinking.
This is a very hot hike in summer. Carry at least one gallon of drinking water per person.
In the past week, the volunteer group has responded to five rescues.
âIt is a pretty busy start to the year,â said TRSAR Commander Bill Pitterle. The rescue season typically kicks off in May when the weather warms up and unprepared hikers find themselves in need of help because of dehydration. But recent warm temperatures meant things started sooner than normal.
âWe had some warm weather come faster than normal,â he said. âIt caught a lot of people off-guard in terms of water.â
Things kicked off Wednesday, March 31 with a call for help at Fossil Creek and ended Monday at Water Wheel with another injured hiker.
Fossil Creek permits on sale: What you need to know
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Coconino National Forest
The Sally May site on Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River offers some of the best swimming along the entire creek. There are two parking areas on either side of the bridge, which crosses Sally May Wash, on FR 502 (the Childs Power Road). Each lot has a path leading to separate pools along the creek.
On the east (upstream) side of the bridge, the path leads to a large, deep pool at the base of a steep water feature. Rock shelves and cliff walls provide a lot of great spots for sunbathing and enjoying the canyon views. A smooth rock outcrop makes a great jumping-in spot. A small sandy beach at the far end of the pool offers shallow water entry and a good spot for smaller children to play.