Fossil Creek - Classic Section


Fossil Creek, Arizona, US

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Classic Section

Usual Difficulty III+(IV) (for normal flows)
Length 14 Miles

Fossile Creek


Fossile Creek
Photo of Fossile Creek

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level


River Description

This creek is currently being designated as a Wild and Scenic River...therefore *possibly* excluding kayaking. It is a special place to all who visit it, and needs to be protected. TAKE CARE!! Kayakers always do, but just as a reminder.

Anyways, with that said...the run is straight forward and fun. Start at the trailhead (see put in directions) and hike upstream for 1 mile till you reach a 15'er that drops into a beautiful big pool. This is your "Classic Section" put in. Drop off the waterfall and enjoy the ride down (class IV) Scout accordingly and watch out for the various piton rocks. Take out is a fun 10' double fall. Enjoy!


Directions: Put in is the bottom of the canyon down Fossil Creek Road (out of Strawberry, AZ) You will make your way down the dangerous windy road till you reach a parking area and a coupla homes (powerplant). This is you take out and the beginning of your put-in hike.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2007-07-09 13:14:14

Fossile Creek

Detail Trip Report  Fossile Creek  Fossil Creek, AZ(34.46KB .jpeg)

Micro Creek Boatin

Detail Trip Report  Micro Creek Boatin  fossil creek, az(139.52KB .jpeg)

Jon Droppin the last of the falls

Detail Trip Report  Jon Droppin the last of the falls  fossil creek, az(114.78KB .jpeg)

Watch out for the dog!!!

Detail Trip Report  Watch out for the dog!!!  fossil creek, az(120.68KB .jpeg)

Az Boatin!

Detail Trip Report  Az Boatin!  fossil creek, az(117.83KB .jpeg)

Fossil Creek

Detail Trip Report  Fossil Creek  fossil creek, az(122.73KB .jpeg)

Droppin into fossil creek

Detail Trip Report  Droppin into fossil creek  fossil creek, az(115.77KB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

We have no additional information about how various flows affect runnability (or playability) of this section of river. If you can provide additional information, please either directly contact the StreamTeam member for this reach, or add a 'comment' or a 'report' with your information to help out your fellow boaters.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level

Report - Reports of Fossil Creek Classic Section and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
fossil creek [az] Micro Creek Boatin n/a Chad Stone
Fossil Creek [AZ] Fossile Creek n/a will reeves

WXPort

News





User Comments
2010-03-23 11:10:43 (689 days ago)
canoist (151597)
I ran this yesterday from above the power house falls downto the bridge. Somekayakers ran the
falls, but being in a canoe i portaged. The whitewater was constant, and very technical. one blade
would make me rate it a III+ to a IV without hesitation. I ran into a lot of deadfall. BE CAREFULL!
The drive there is sketchy, fossilcreek road goes through the drainage, and the Strawberry side is
slightly faster and a lot cleaner.
2010-02-08 01:30:36 (733 days ago)
YaknAZ (150513)
Jerry Lovett 2/6/10 Ran the classic section from the 20 footer (not a 15' like the description
Say's) to the power house yesterday at double base flow, probably 100 CFS. Perfect level! A big
flood cleaned up the one pin rock we used to avoid and made it a perfect III chute, it's a whole
different creek now. This is a fun creek run all year but if you can catch it a high flow it's a
blast. Look for about 130 CFS on the West Clear creek gauge.
2009-06-19 07:06:50 (966 days ago)
Well you might count the falls at a IV, but they are really easy. I would not say this is over a
III+ though unless you are there on a monsoon flood. Fossil is one of my favorite places to kayak.
It is very technical and just fun to play in. Edit
2009-03-22 06:14:13 (1055 days ago)
From what I hear, this is NOT class III. Closer to class IV or IV+. Edit
2008-08-25 03:23:09 (1265 days ago)
Kevin ColburnDetails
The USFS has closed the river for the 2008 fall and spring during the demolition of the Irving
power Plant. You can check out the details at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/news/2008/081408.shtml
2008-07-31 11:58:33 (1289 days ago)
We talked to a Forest Service ranger and he said that they were going to close this creek off to
kayakers soon. So here goes another public area that the government is going to restrict. Their
reasoning is that kayakers damage the build up of mineral deposits in the river. Kayak this while
you can. It is fun! Edit
2008-06-29 07:35:27 (1321 days ago)
I believe this is a 3 mile run if you go from the put in to the take out at the power plant. It is
probably a 14 mile run if you go all the way to Verde river. It is a mega fun run though... except
the 2 mile hike in. Scout each rapid for debrie and pinning rocks. There are 2 bad pinning places
that I know of. Edit
2007-07-25 01:23:06 (1662 days ago)
will reevesDetails
Based on the description this is NOT a 14 mile run.
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Rapid Descriptions

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 Classic Section, Fossil Creek Arizona, US (mobile)