Fossil Springs Trail No. 18
Pine, Arizona
| Address: | Fossil Springs Trail, Pine, AZ 85544, USA |
| GPS: |
34°24'24.4"N 111°34'6.4"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Arizona |
| Trail Length: | 9.50 miles |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
| Hike Difficulty: | Advanced |
| Elevation Gain: | 1400 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 0.1-3.8 mi |
Rivers Trails
Hike, Horseback, and Swim
Located within the Fossil Springs Wilderness, this trail leads down a canyon to the springs for which it is named. At the trailhead, there are several hikes, some of which are available for horse riding. Trail No. 18 ends at the old dam, where it meets the Flume trail after 4.75 miles.
This trail has very little shade, and as such, is highly NOT recommended during the summer months of June, July, or August. The hot trail conditions can very quickly lead to illness, or worse. Be sure to bring plenty of water for the trail (at least one gallon per person minimum is recommended), and a filtration device if you want to refill at the springs. The hike is downhill to the springs, but uphill back, which can be exhausting.
As with all Fossil Creek locations, pre-registration and a $10 permit are required for parking during the months of April through October. The parking lot for this trailhead has 3 spots for horse trailers.
Mapped Route/Trail Distances
| Fossil Springs Trail | 3.8 miles |
| Fossil Springs Trail | 388 feet |
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Pine, Arizona
- Head east on Hardscrabble Mesa Rd toward AZ-260 W/AZ-87 N (138 ft)
- Turn left onto AZ-260 W/AZ-87 N (3.1 mi)
- Turn left onto Fossil Creek Rd (4.7 mi)
- Turn rightDestination will be on the right(0.2 mi)
This trailhead is inaccessable from the western end of Fossil Creek Road (FR 708) due to road closures. Instead, head in through the towns of Strawberry or Pine going east. The road will transition from paved to unpaved a couple of miles in, so continue until reaching the parking lot.
Make sure to have pre-printed your parking pass if going between the months of April to October.
Fossil Springs Trail No. 18 courtesy of Deborah Lee Soltesz of USFS Coconino National Forest.↗
The trail ends at the old Fossil Creek Dam, which was decommissioned in 2005 to allow the creek to f courtesy of Deborah Lee Soltesz of USFS Coconino National Forest↗
This side trail leads to the first spring source, where many hikers refill their water bottles courtesy of Deborah Lee Soltesz of USFS Coconino National Forest↗
Warning signs along the upper reaches of the trail warn the unprepared and unwary. Many visitors see courtesy of Deborah Lee Soltesz of USFS Coconino National Forest↗
Added by camilledupar
Trails
Distance ?
3.8 milesElevation Gain ?
-1,333 feetReal Ascent ?
281 feetReal Descent ?
1,614 feetAvg Grade (-4°)
-7%Grade (-19° to 15°)
-34% to 27%Distance ?
388 feetElevation Gain ?
-34 feetReal Ascent ?
3 feetReal Descent ?
37 feetAvg Grade (-5°)
-9%Grade (-15° to 3°)
-27% to 5%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
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