Verde Vallley News – With summer fast approaching, the permit season for visiting Fossil Creek will begin soon which allows individuals a chance to reserve a parking space at this popular destination on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between the months of April to October. Fossil Creek will be closed Mondays through Thursdays.
Permit sales will begin online at 8 a.m. on March 16 at recreation.gov. At that time, a parking space reservation can be secured for one day among the dates of April 4-6 or April 11-13, as the maximum allowed for an individual is one permit per person per calendar month. Each permit is valid for one vehicle, and the maximum group size per permit is 12 people.
Similar to the 2024 permit season, 80% of the permits will be sold one month in advance of the date of visitation to Fossil Creek. For example, if a visitor wanted to reserve a parking space for April 18, permits would only be available for purchase at 8 a.m. on March 18 or later and would be sold on a first-come, first-served basis until permits sold out for that date.
The other 20% of permits will be available for purchase at 8 a.m. three days in advance of the date of visitation to the creek. For example, reservations for a parking space on April 19 could be purchased at 8 a.m. on April 16. Individuals who want to visit Fossil Creek should be aware that permits sell out extremely quickly.
Permits are required only during the months of April through September. Reservations and permits are not required during the fall-winter months of October through March, when parking spaces are only available on a first-come, first-served basis.
With the permit season starting, access gates to the Dixon Lewis, Irving/Flume, Tonto Bench, Fossil Creek Bridge and Homestead parking lots will close at 3 p.m. each day. Identification will be checked upon arrival to ensure the permit holder is in the permitted vehicle. Permit holders will need either a printed copy of their permit or a PDF downloaded to their phone to access their assigned parking lot.
Fossil Creek area has very few developed facilities, and visitors should be prepared for rustic and remote conditions. Recreationists seeking to explore Fossil Creek are reminded to bring ample water, pack out all trash, stick to developed recreation areas, and abide by all posted signage indicating restrictions or closures.
Campfires and glass containers are never allowed in the area, and camping in the Fossil Creek Permit Area is prohibited from April 1 to October 1.