The Western Apache and Yavapai peoples lived along Fossil Creek for generations and still consider this to be part of their homeland and of great cultural importance.īecause of its beauty and year-round water, people are drawn to this area. That rock-like substance encases whatever happens to fall into the streambed - forming the fossil-like formations for which the area is named.įossil Creek has several Western Apache and Yavapai cultural sites. Over the years these calcium-rich waters have laid down huge deposits of a material called travertine. At temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, water gushes out at 20,000 gallons per minute from springs at the bottom of a 1,600-foot deep canyon. Fossil Creek is one of only two Wild and Scenic Rivers in Arizona. The creek flows from its source at Fossil Springs 14 miles to its confluence with the Verde River, downstream of the historic and decommissioned Childs Power Plant. Don't touch any plant with "leaves of three" and check everyone's skin after the hike for any ticks.Fossil Creek is a Wild and Scenic River in central Arizona on lands managed by the Coconino and Tonto National Forests. ![]() Ticks and poison oak have been spotted along this trail so take caution.Follow the dirt road away from Laguna Canyon Road, turn right at the first trail and follow it as it travels almost directly back towards Laguna Canyon Road. Trail starts at the Willow Staging Area.Stroller Accessibility: Difficult to use over narrow trails and rocks.A 4-mile loop along Laurel Canyon, Laurel Spur, and Willow Canyon Trail is an option. Distance: 1.8 miles to the waterfall one-way 3.6 miles there and back.Difficulty: Easy to moderately strenuous.The trail then continues along the ridge, the Laurel Spur, and then down the steep Willow Canyon Trail to the parking lot where it all started. Hikers who pass the waterfall will continue uphill for approximately 1/2 mile further and on clear days, the ocean is visible. The trail crosses the top of the waterfall and continues uphill for another 1/2 mile. Take some time to look at the rocks in the creek beds for fossil prints of shells. ![]() For those brave enough to hike another mile uphill, there are dry creek beds to cross and vistas of the valley behind. The trail climbs uphill after Ghost Rock, so that spot can be a good turn-around-spot for families with young kiddos. About 1/2 mile through the meadow, Ghost Rock appears on the right side where eagles have been seen soaring out of its "eyes." Along the trail are wooden posts with a phone number to dial and listen to a prerecording of information about that section of the trail. The trail then seems to head right parallel to Highway 133/Laguna Canyon Road, but quickly takes hikers into a quiet meadow. The Laurel Canyon Trail starts at the parking lot of the Willow Staging Area off of Laguna Canyon Road and climbs over some rocks with small caves just begging to be climbed through. We have come back to this trail time after time and it is now one of our favorites. Our kids loved climbing through the small cave holes and spying shell fossils in the creek beds. Despite not getting to see the water in action, we did discover quiet meadows, towering oak trees, and a large rock that looks almost identical to the shimmering ghosts from Pac Man. ![]() We were a bit disappointed, but not too surprised, to not see any water flowing over the rocks at the top because we knew there was not a good water source for the seasonal creek bed. Seeing the waterfall of Laurel Canyon has been an enticing prospect for us and was the main reason we first hiked this trail. The Laurel Canyon Trail is one of our favorite hikes in Orange County because of the exciting things we have discovered there.
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