3.9 miles away
Verde Hot Springs
A group of thermal mineral springs on the western bank of the Verde River near Camp Verde, beside the ruins of a former resort.
Fossil Creek
A perennial travertine-forming stream below the Mogollon Rim, one of only two Arizona streams in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
- Rank in Arizona
- #102of 727 ranked
- Overall score
- Score 51.0 out of 100medium confidence
- Most looked up
- Julyby Wikipedia readers
- Category
- Natural Landmark
Fossil Creek is a perennial stream in central Arizona, a tributary of the Verde River, flowing from its headwaters on the Mogollon Rim to meet the larger stream near the former Childs Power Plant. It is reached by Forest Road 708 off Arizona State Route 260 east of Camp Verde. Fossil Springs, near the headwaters, emits upwards of 20,000 US gallons a minute into the creek year-round. Calcium carbonate precipitating out of the 72 °F spring water forms travertine dams and deposits for several miles downstream, making the Fossil Creek system the fourth largest producer of travertine in the United States. It is one of only two streams in Arizona included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and its riparian corridor supports flora and fauna that include endangered and otherwise imperilled species. The former power-plant complex is listed as a National Historic District. Since the stream's natural flow was restored in 2008, a rise in recreational visits has raised concerns about overuse and led to road closures and other restrictions. Its Yavapai names are Hakhavsuwa and Vialnyucha.
Where it is
Fossil Creek is a natural landmark near Pine-Strawberry, in Gila County. It is one of the natural landmarks in this database, and appears in the statewide ranking of Arizona attractions.
How this ranking was reached
No official visitor count is published for Fossil Creek, so its score rests on public interest and tourism significance, and is capped below the level a measured attraction can reach. That is why the medium confidence above is not higher. The weighting is explained in full on the methodology page, and every axis is broken out under Facts and sources at the foot of this page.
Note on the data: No official visitor count is published for this attraction.
Sources
- Public interest: Wikimedia pageviews (en.wikipedia, human traffic), 2024
- Coordinates and designations: Wikidata(opens in a new tab)
- County: U.S. Census geography via FCC Area API, resolved from coordinates
Record last verified 2026-08-12.
More photographs
Alan Stark from Goodyear, AZ, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 · licence(opens in a new tab) · source(opens in a new tab) 
Gonzo fan2007, CC BY-SA 3.0 · licence(opens in a new tab) · source(opens in a new tab)
Nearby attractions
11 miles away
Strawberry Schoolhouse
An 1885 log schoolhouse in Strawberry, often called Arizona's oldest, though the 1879 Arivaca Schoolhouse predates it.
13 miles away
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world, standing 183 feet over a 400-foot tunnel.14 miles away
Pine-Strawberry Museum
Pine-Strawberry Museum, in Gila County, Arizona, displays prehistoric and pioneer artefacts, period antiques, and room displays.
20 miles away
Rim Country Museum and Zane Grey Cabin
Rim Country Museum and Zane Grey Cabin, in Payson, Arizona, covers the history of northern Gila County and the Mogollon Rim.21 miles away
Verde Valley Archaeology Center
Camp Verde's archaeology museum, founded in 2010, covers Sinagua culture and hosts an annual archaeology fair and film festival.
Facts and sources
Place
- Category
- Natural Landmark
- Destination
- Pine-Strawberry
- County
- Gila County
- State
- Arizona
Visitation
- Annual visits
- Not published
Ranking
- Overall score
- 51.0 / 100
- Visitation score
- No published count
- Popularity score
- 42.6
- Significance score
- 58.0
- Confidence
- medium
Visiting
- Coordinates
- 34.3058, -111.6756
- Last verified
- 2026-08-12