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This trek has been moved to Astertiki, where it can and may have been updated.

Update - I believe the Irving power generation facility was scheduled to be shutdown in the summer of 2005.  The plans called for returning the stream to it's natural flow and I believe they were going to drain the damn, therefore much of the discussion below is out of date.  Even with the anticipated changes this is a worthwhile and recommended hike.  Since I no longer live in Arizona, it is unlikely that I will ever have the opportunity to revisit the area and properly update this page - Trekker

Fossil Springs is a wonderful riparian community supported by several springs which reportedly produce a combined million gallons of water per day.  The water is a consistent 70 - 72 degrees F. year round which supports a rich variety of flora and fauna between the springs and a damn constructed a little less than a half mile below the springs.  The damn serves to provide water to a flume which was built in 1916 to carry water to the Irving Power Plant.  This historic flume is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  There are several springs which feed the stream - they are located primarily along the northern bank of the creek.  There are no fossils in the creek - one author attributes the name to the Travertine formations associated with the highly mineralized water from the springs.  Fossils might be found in the nearby Redwall Limestone formation.

Fossil Springs can be reached by two primary routes.  The route described by the solid red line on the TOPO map is the Fossil Springs Trail which starts above the springs and proceeds about 3.6 miles down to the damn on Fossil Creek.  The hike back up the Fossil Springs trail is a little more than easy and is a nearly relentless climb back to the parking area.  There is no water on the Fossil Springs Trail so bring plenty in the some months and I would recommend treating the water in Fossil Creek, although it is probably too heavily mineralized for drinking.

A second trail, the Flume Road Trail indicated by the dashed red line on the TOPO map, starts at the Irving Power Plant and proceeds 4.4 mi. upstream following the course of the flume to the damn and then on to the springs.  The Flume Road Trail starts out with a strenuous 525 ft. climb in the first 0.6 mi. before leveling off as it winds along toward the damn.

Undoubtedly, the easiest way to visit Fossil Springs would be to bring two vehicles, park one at the Irving Power Plant and then return to the Fossil Springs Trail trailhead for the hike down to the springs.  After spending time in the serenity of the area of the springs, continue on down the Flume Road Trail to the shuttle car - a wonderful "no climb" hike.

In December there were only three or four other people in the area of the springs when I arrived, however, from the presence of fire rings, etc., it is clear that in the summer months it is a popular destination for weekend campers.  There are two natural swimming holes complete with rope swings for the youthful and adventurous. None-the-less, with the December's solitude, Fossil Springs immediately became one of my favorite places.  And even though I made the trek a week after the first snow of the year, I spent a very enjoyable afternoon in shirtsleeves.

Trekker