Length: 8 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Moderate

Wilderness Area: Fossil Springs Wilderness

Journal: "Flume Road to Fossil Creek" and "Mudder's Day"

**Kid Friendly Hike**

From Payson, drive north on SR 87 to Strawberry. Turn left (west) on Fossil Springs Road. Drive 8 miles to the Flume Trailhead. If you come to the Irving Power Plant (now closed), you've gone too far. Accessible in a sedan.

Trail Description:

This trail provides the easiest access to Fossil Springs. The springs put out a constant flow of 100,000 gallons of 72º water per minute. There are large swimming holes near the springs. The springs are warm enough that I swam there comfortably in November of 1999.

From the trailhead, the trail drops down and crosses Fossil Creek. It then climbs steeply for 1/2 mile to the Flume Road. The road is still used by APS to maintain the flume, but it is closed to the public. The road follows along the flume for 3.5 miles, with some up and down, but not much.

The views of Fossil Creek are nice, but you will want to check out the flume. It is open on top and carries water from Fossil Springs to the power plant at Childs. I believe it was built around 1915.

The road ends at the dam where the flume draw its water. The trail continues east along the creek and its numerous swimming holes. The water is crystal clear and there are several nice camping areas.

Return the way you came.

This area is also accessible by way of the Fossil Springs Trail and the Mail Trail.