Flume Trail

On 31 March 2012, we left Cottonwood and drove through Camp Verde on Hwy 260, turned right on Fossil Creek Road (ten miles from the Hwy 260/I-17 interchange at Camp Verde) and continued for another 16.5 miles to arrive at the Flume Creek Trailhead.  We crossed Fossil Creek Bridge about 1.1 miles before reaching the trailhead.  We also passed another small parking area on the left of the road before we reached the trailhead.  The correct spot s distinguishable by the open space that once contained buildings across the creek.  There is limited amount of parking at the trailhead, so plan on an early start in order to beat all the visitors from Phoenix.  However, if you do find the lot full, there are other parking facilities a short distance ahead that might not yet be filled.  I repeat, get there early.  From what I saw, any time before 0900 should count as early.

The picture below shows the crossing (just to the left of the sign) and the open space across the creek.  Note that the people in the creek are standing on a wide concrete walkway that is covered by just a few inches of water, making crossing a breeze.

Looking across Fossil Creek from the Flume Trail parking lot 

- Our cars are parked to the left

One can also normally access this trailhead by driving in on Fossil Creek Road from Strawberry; unfortunately, at the present time, that section of road is closed due to a landslide. We crossed the creek, paused to change from waders back into hiking boots and then headed up Flume Trail, following the old flume service road.

I saw no specific spot that was marked as the trailhead.  Some reports I have read place the trailhead across the creek from the parking lot and at least one makes reference to a sign-in sheet located in a box placed there.  Having seen neither a sign-in sheet nor a trailhead marker, I am referring to the exit from the parking lot as the trailhead.  That makes sense to me; that’s where I started my hike.

The trail leads sharply uphill at first then gradually becomes less steep and even having some down sloping sections.  In the end, though, the crossing at Fossil Springs where we turned back was almost 600 feet higher in elevation than the lower trailhead.  The trail profile is shown in the graphic included here (right).  We started our hike at the right side of the graphic and hiked to the left and back.  You can easily see, as I kept repeating to myself during some of the sharp climbs on the way back, “on average, it is downhill all the way."

About 2.6 miles up the trail we came to a place that has been referred to in some reports as “Rope Assist” because a rope had apparently sometime in the past been provided to assist in crossing a gulch where a bridge had been removed.  The rope is no longer there and the trail has been rerouted so that it now continues up the up the gulch a short distance and then switchbacks down to cross over to the other side.  As shown below it is still possible to climb out of the gulch without taking the switchback section of trail.

Hikers taking the shortcut at “Rope Assist” on the return hike

Other reports of this hike give the one-way distance as four miles.  I measured the distance to the old dam site as being 4.4 miles and the distance to where the trail crosses the creek at Fossil Springs as being five miles.  The differences can probably be attributed to the following factors: one, I started at the parking lot whereas others may have started at various points across the creek and two, I counted the 0.6 miles from the old dam site to the creek crossing at Fossil springs as part of flume Trail whereas others ended at the old dam site.  In any case, we hiked a good ten miles.

As we made our way up the trail we climbed high above the creek and then descended again as we approached the old dam site.  At one point after we had passed the “Rope Assist” and had descended close enough to see down into the creek, we noted a place where part of the stream appeared to flow through a rock, creating a spout on the downstream side (see photograph below).

Water appearing to “spout” out of a rock

Several of us had hiked on ahead of the main party and we paused at the old dam site for everyone to catch up.  While waiting we looked around at the site of what apparently had been a caretaker’s dwelling in the early days.  Someone had obviously cared for flowers in the past and we noted a lush stand of irises that, although not presently in bloom, I know from a previous visit when they were are a deep purple in color.  We also noted another very striking flower, shown below, but not yet identified.

Unidentified flower (perhaps desert onion) found at the old dam site

The dam itself is long gone, leaving the foundation to form a very pretty waterfall.

Waterfall formed by the foundation of the old dam below Fossil Springs

After the rest of the group arrived some of the hikers decided to remain here to enjoy the peaceful surroundings and the murmur of flowing water rather than continue on the remaining short distance to the springs.

The main party did continue on to the crossing and then retraced our steps for about two-tenths of a mile to eat lunch at a spot we had noted on the way upstream. The spot was still above the main part of Fossil Springs and the stream was easily crossed (see photograph below) to a spot on the other side where one could choose sun or shade for a lunch break. Also, it must be noted, the rocks provided prime spots for taking naps.

Crossing over for lunch on the stream bank

After lunch we returned to the old dam site, where Daisy spent a lot of time taking pictures, then rejoined the rest of the party who were waiting alongside the stream just below the site and started our “downhill all the way, on average” return hike.  We made good time and were soon enough back at the trailhead.  The following photograph was taken just after we had crossed the creek upon completion of our hike.

Left to right: Jim Manning, Lila Wright, Colleen Maktenieks, David Nelson, 

Dolly Yapp (still shoeless), Mary Gavan, Becky Fowski (sitting) David Beach, 

Daisy Williams (sitting) and Betty Wolters – photograph by the author

The included map (below) shows our hike in yellow.  It also shows (dotted line) Fossil Creek Trail leading in to Fossil Springs from above.

This hike was 4.9 miles one way, the maximum elevation was 4383 feet and the total ascent was 1079 feet.

For those who are interested, the Childs Power Plant produced 2.8 megawatts from the constant 43 cubic feet/second Streamflow.  Arizona Public Service constructed the plant, starting in 1908.  Construction involved 400 mules, 150 wagons and 600 men (all, save the foreman and timekeeper, Apache and Mojave Indians).  The Indians were paid $2 per day and the flume was erected at a rate of 120 to 150 feet per day at a daily cost of about $100: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childs-Irving_Hydroelectric_Facilities)