Tonto Bench at Fossil Creek
The Tonto Bench site at Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River offers a deep swimming hole and shady creek banks to explore. Two short paths lead out of the parking area. The path to the left leads to shady, shallow pools and interesting water features. The righthand path leads straight out of the parking area to a deep pool. There are rock benches and walls all around the area, providing plenty of places to relax out of the water. A few sandy entries make it easy to get in and out of the water. Look for bits of history along the canyon wall above the creek where pilings from the old flume used to transport Fossil Creek's water to the Childs hydroelectric power plant before the Childs-Irving Hydroelectric Facilities were decommissioned and removed between 2005 and 2008.
This photo was taken in early spring, just as trees were starting to bud. As the weather warms, the riparian area along Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River becomes lush with thick greenery. Credit USFS Coconino National Forest. Original public domain image from Flickr.