Ash Creek Falls
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainBefore you go
The Forest Service directs hikers onto Ash Creek Detour Trail #307A around the Ash Creek Falls area because of unsafe conditions on that segment of Trail #307, and the trail passes through a hazard-tree area from the 2017 Frye Fire.
Photo Credits (3)
Difficulty
Hard
Trail Length
4.9 miles
Trail Type
Out And Back
Elevation Gain
1,400 ft
About Ash Creek Falls
Ash Creek Falls drops over Slick Rock in Ash Creek on the north side of Mount Graham, in the Pinaleno Mountains on the Coronado National Forest's Safford Ranger District. The falls sit at about 7,900 feet, below the Columbine Visitor Center, and are reached on Ash Creek Trail #307. The hike is all downhill on the way in, so the climb comes on the return. The 2017 Frye Fire burned through the area, and the Forest Service routes hikers around the falls section on the Ash Creek Detour Trail #307A.
Trail & Hike Details
The Approach
The hard 4.9-mile out-and-back trail gains 1,400 feet of elevation on the way to the falls.
Trail Description
Ash Creek Trail #307 starts at the Columbine Corrals and Ash Creek Trailhead, across from the Columbine Visitor Center at about 9,500 feet, and descends along Ash Creek through mixed conifer forest. GPS tracks to the falls area show about 4.9 miles round trip with roughly 1,400 feet of climbing on the way back out. Near the falls the Forest Service directs hikers onto the Ash Creek Detour #307A because of unsafe conditions on that segment of #307; expect downed logs, a hazard-tree area from the Frye Fire, steep loose footing and stretches that are hard to follow.
What to Expect
Expect a cool, forested descent with several creek crossings and a steep climb back out. Ash Creek is a perennial stream, so the falls usually have some flow, with the most water during spring snowmelt and the summer monsoon.
Accessibility
The trail involves steep, uneven terrain with significant elevation change and is not accessible to mobility devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Ash Creek Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Ash Creek Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Spring and early summer are the best times to visit, as the waterfall flow is typically strongest during these seasons.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Access roads and trails may close during winter due to snow. Watch for flash flood warnings during monsoon season (July through September).
Safety Information
The trail can be steep and rugged, with loose rocks in some areas. Be prepared for sudden weather changes and carry sufficient water. Watch for wildlife, including snakes. Let someone know your hiking plans before heading out.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Bonita Creek, 26.2 miles away, not on Ash Creek Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
5 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 45 years of record
3.66 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a regional waterway. Conditions at the falls may differ, especially after local rain.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge BONITA CREEK NEAR MORENCI, AZ. (42 km away).
Today
Barely Flowing
5 cfs
5/10Tomorrow
Barely Flowing
5 cfs
5/10Fri
Barely Flowing
5 cfs
3/10Sat
Low
5 cfs
4/10Sun
Low
5 cfs
4/10Mon
Barely Flowing
5 cfs
5/10Tue
Low
6 cfs
3/10Best window: Today — barely flowing flow, sunny (trip score 5/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid December to late February, peaking in January.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Swift Trail Junction hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Ash Creek Falls Frozen?
Updated about 8 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded
Ash Creek Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 54°F to 43°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 5 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
The laser survey finds one clean step here: roughly 394 feet of drop concentrated at the brink. Elevation at the pin is about 7,874 feet.
Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 206 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 160 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing north, the falls stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 7,874 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 394 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- North
- Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading north).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
From Safford, drive 8 miles south on US 191, turn right onto the Swift Trail (AZ 366), and continue about 29 miles to the Columbine Visitor Center. The trailhead is at the Columbine Public Corrals across from the visitor center. Vehicles and trailers longer than 22 feet are not recommended on the AZ 366 switchbacks.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Park at the Columbine Public Corrals and Ash Creek Trailhead across from the Columbine Visitor Center. There is no trailhead parking fee; potable water is available only at the campground.
Elevation
7,913 feet above sea level
Coordinates
32.729791° N, -109.893969° W
Visitor Tips & Gear
Start early to avoid hiking in the heat, and bring plenty of water and snacks. Wear sturdy hiking boots and be prepared for changing weather conditions. Cell service may be unreliable, so carry a map or GPS device.
This trail sits at 7,913 ft above sea level
Elevated TrailUV radiation is roughly 32% stronger at this elevation than at sea level, and the dry air accelerates dehydration. Extra sun protection and fluids go a long way.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Coppertone Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen
UV intensity jumps ~4% per 1,000 ft — at this elevation you can burn in half the time.
Sun Bum SPF 30 Lip Balm (3-Pack)
Lips have almost no natural UV protection and burn fast in thin, dry mountain air.
Liquid I.V. Electrolyte Packets
You lose moisture ~2x faster at elevation — electrolytes help you absorb water efficiently.
ROCKNIGHT Polarized UV400 Sunglasses
High-altitude glare off rock and water is intense — UV400 lenses block 99%+ of UVA/UVB.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
This challenging 4.9 miles trail gains 1,400 ft in elevation — come prepared with proper hiking boots and trekking poles. Sun exposure on the trail makes good sun protection a must in summer.
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
The backcountry standard — filters 99.9% of bacteria and weighs just 3 oz.
Polarized Sunglasses (Knockaround)
Cuts glare off the water so you actually see the falls — and your photos turn out better too.
Columbia Watertight II Rain Jacket
Packs into its own pocket, seam-sealed, and keeps you dry from spray and surprise rain.
Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag
Keeps your phone and gear dry when waterfall mist soaks everything else.
Waterproof Phone Pouch (AiRunTech)
Cheap insurance — take photos right next to the falls without killing your phone.
Timberland Euro Sprint Mid Waterproof
Trusted waterproof boot with premium leather and grippy rubber sole — reliable on rocky, wet trails.
Where to Stay
Thatcher Home with Fenced Backyard 3 Mi to Downtown
Best Western Desert Inn
Days Inn by Wyndham Safford, AZ
Comfort Inn and Suites Thatcher
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Campground
Riggs Lake
4.2 miles away · 1 sites
Overview Riggs Flat Lake is located at the end of Swift Trail, a road that winds along the top of the Pinaleno Mountains. It is a small picturesque lake, 11 acres in size, set in alpine forest and meadow. Its cold waters are stocked during the summer with rainbow, brown and brook trout, and anglers report that the fishing is usually good. Best baits for the rainbows are corn, cheese, garlic cheese, salmon eggs, and worms. The brown and brook trout are taken on artificial lures and flies as well.
Book on Recreation.govNearby Hot Springs
Hot springs near Ash Creek Falls, Arizona
Roper Lake State Park Hot Spring
Roper Lake State Park Hot Spring provides developed thermal water recreation at 72°F within a popular state park near Safford, ...
Indian Hot Springs
Indian Hot Springs (also called Holladay Hot Springs) flows at 118°F, emerging just 165 feet from Hot Springs Road in Graham Co...
Grapevine Spring
Flowing 26 degrees above ambient temperatures, Grapevine Spring emerges at 91°F from Arizona State Trust Land near Pima in Grah...
Warm Spring
Warm Spring flows at 90°F in Graham County near Bylas, emerging 21 degrees above the region's 69°F average on Bureau of Land Ma...
Hot Well Dunes
Hot Well Dunes sits essentially roadside at just 190 feet from the nearest road on BLM public lands in Graham County. This unus...
Warm Spring
This 79-degree thermal spring sits on Bureau of Land Management lands near Bylas in Graham County, running 15.3 degrees warmer ...
Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Ash Creek Falls, Arizona on SoakingSprings.
Explore Arizona springsAdditional Information
Nearby Attractions
Webb Peak Trail #347 joins about 0.6 mile from Columbine Corrals for a loop option. Riggs Flat Lake and the Columbine-area campgrounds are a short drive along the Swift Trail.
Wildlife
The area is home to diverse wildlife, including deer, birds, and small mammals. Be cautious of snakes, especially during warmer months.
Other waterfalls named Ash Creek Falls
1 other waterfall shares this name across the U.S.
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