Two Gals & a Tripod: That Time We Chased a Waterfall

"I must be a mermaid, Rango, I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living." –Anaïs Nin

Like a Boy Scout or Girl Scout, Jana is Always Prepared

One of the great things about hiking or traveling with a friend who is much more type-A than you is that she organizes everything and you just have to show up with a good attitude (and preferably some snacks).

For instance, Fossil Creek is the first hike where we needed to purchase a permit online and Jana took care of the pass situation for us. It was a good thing too because there were signs everywhere we turned our heads while we drove through Strawberry, AZ. The signs informed us: if we did not have a pass, we WOULD get a ticket or fine.

It was the first time on this trail for Jana, but I had done this hike previously (years ago when passes weren't required) with my sister and some of her friends. I didn't fully remember the trail and we might have taken a different route down to the falls way back when.

This is what I did remember: as we were hiking back up from Fossil Creek we saw a group of people in bikinis, trunks, and flip flops that were struggling with full coolers as they made their descent. Those scantily clad humans had no idea what was in store for the hike back. Their poor feet and skin were going to be so unhappy later.

This is all to say that this hike isn't for the faint of heart or the lacking of water/proper clothing & equipment.

Bob's Bear Trail/Fossil Creek: Hike #6

As I mentioned, there are a few ways to access the falls, but Jana and I hiked in via Bob's Bear Trail, which is 8.3 miles round trip, out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of 1,505 ft. The hike down was easy but steep, which meant the hike out would probably be pretty brutal, especially since it would be during the hottest part of the day.

In reflection, this could have been called "The Hike With All the Signs," because we saw more signs explaining how hikers should have enough water for each person on the trail as well as the common symptoms of heatstroke and the average number of people rescued from the trail per year. Yikes.

Determined not to be a part of that scary statistic, we had two full Camelbaks with ice, not to mention our usual drinks/snacks, so we were in good shape (metaphorically and physically). We'd been hiking every week for five weeks now, so our bodies were used to the sweat and strain that hiking in Arizona during the summer requires.

Where There's a Waterfall There's a Way

The signage towards the bottom is admittedly a little confusing. I remember some wooden signs with the words "dam" and "upper" or "lower" but they all blurred together a little bit and pointed in directions that could be interpreted loosely.

We crossed back and forth over a little creek a few times attempting to find our way but we ended up hiking the last portion on the wrong side of the creek. Luckily, we met a group of guys on the wrong side, and under their guidance, we found the safest spot to cross. They even offered to spot us if we were worried about falling.

Spoiler alert: we were super nervous about walking across the top of a waterfall because the water was moving pretty swiftly. But these guys waded into the creek with us, ankle-deep, to help us if we lost our balance (I can't emphasize this enough–we encounter the nicest humans on these trails).

Jana and I made it to the right side of the falls safely, or the side with better access to the main set of pools without having to jump in with all of our stuff. We decided to rest in the shade and snack before venturing into the water.

The area near the waterfall is mostly occupied by cliff jumpers, but a section of the creek has a little cove for those feeling less daring. We still wanted to enjoy some mermaid vibes so we swam out and perched for a bit on a rock wall. The water was surprisingly cold despite the hot weather, but it was a welcome way to cool ourselves down before the long hike back up to the car. Some people brought inflatable floaties, which showed a commitment to having a good time in the water that I really admired. We also saw a couple that hung a hammock between two trees for a little siesta. If I had to describe the energy of this hike in one word it would be: oasis.

I will admit, one of the nicer things about Fossil Creek requiring a pass is that it wasn't too crowded. There were still quite a few people there but it was a relief to know that the pass situation and the threat of a ticket/fine would deter random passersby from wandering down. Or at least it might stagger the number of visitors per day so we were still able to achieve that feeling of "escape" that we began to hold so dear.

The hike back up to the car was no joke. It was as hard and as hot as we expected; it was the first hike that reminded me of hiking the Grand Canyon, which is saying something. We made sure to conserve our water and rest as much as we needed.

One thing I truly appreciate about our hiking days was how we always carved out a full day for our adventures. The feeling of not being in a rush made us able to enjoy our surroundings and soak in our experience fully. We live in a world with a fast pace--whether it be information immediately at our fingertips or being reachable at all times--and sometimes those things, along with time constraints, can ruin or taint our experiences. And after six weeks of hiking, I realized an adventure buddy who matches your same pace is pretty important and not something to take for granted.

Giving yourself enough time can also lead to little unplanned detours such as visiting a cool local brewery. And on that note, I'll leave you with a little local tip for our fellow beer lovers out there: check out THAT Brewery & Pub on your way back down to the valley.

After the hike out, there's nothing better than a refreshing pint that you feel like you've really earned. Cheers and happy hiking, friends!

~~~

*Bob’s Bear/Fossil Creek: Difficulty—4.5/5; Scenery—5/5

Becca—The end of the hike down gave me so many mermaid vibes.

Jana—The view is worth the struggle on the way out.

*Busy/Heavily Trafficked

Note: You need a permit for this hike and you should bring TONS of water.