Rock Creek
- 8.2 mi
- round trip
- 2,643 ft
- climb
- 7,071 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Rock Creek open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Payson Ranger District. It doesn't name Rock Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.
State Route 260 Lion Springs Construction Site Public Health and Safety Closure Order
Agency closure covering Payson Ranger District · Order 03-12-04-26-25 · USFS · Payson Ranger District
Emergency Closure of Water Wheel Recreation Sites for Public Safety
Agency alert covering Payson Ranger District · Order 03-12-04-26-34 · USFS · Payson Ranger District
Canyon Lake Drawdown Public Safety Closure
Agency alert covering Tonto National Forest · Order 03-12-00-26-22 · USFS · Tonto National Forest
No Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Tonto National Forest · USFS · Tonto National Forest
Roosevelt Lake Seasonal Wildlife Closure
Agency alert covering Tonto National Forest · Order 12-16-5 · USFS · Tonto National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Payson Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Rock Creek is a moderate hike of about 8 miles in the Mazatzal Wilderness, within the Payson Ranger District of Tonto National Forest in Arizona. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is an out-and-back that gains about 2,640 feet, climbing from roughly 3,950 feet to about 7,070 feet. For comfortable conditions, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 76°F, with July the warmest month at about 83°F. The trail is on natural surface, and bikes are not allowed. Several other hikes lie within a few miles, including Willow Springs and North Peak, both about 2 miles away, along with Brody Seep at about 3.4 miles and Half Moon at about 3.5 miles.
Local outfitters
- Arizona Desert Mountain Jeep Tours28 mi away
- Black Canyon Campground38 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Rock Creek
Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
45° / 17°
Feb
49° / 20°
Mar
55° / 25°
Apr
61° / 30°
May
70° / 38°
Jun
80° / 47°
Jul
83° / 55°
Aug
81° / 53°
Sep
76° / 46°
Oct
67° / 34°
Nov
55° / 24°
Dec
45° / 17°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Blue Ridge Rs, AZ, 37.7 mi away at 6,880 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Tanque Verde, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Fig Spring
~28 min drive
7.13-mile out-and-back trail to Fig Spring in Arizona with 336 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Bolder Trail
~24 min drive
2.58-mile loop in Arizona with 325 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Willow Springs
~3 min drive
3.72-mile out-and-back trail to Willow Springs in Arizona with 68 ft of elevation gain.
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Arizona Trail
~13 min drive
A 15.23-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona that connects to Passage 42, ideal for a full-day hiking adventure.
Photo: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Pine
~30 min drive
6.65-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 331 ft elevation gain.
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Lost Trail #279
~7 min drive
0.84-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 710 ft elevation gain
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North Peak
~4 min drive
8.47-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 2,165 ft elevation gain.
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Barnhardt
~7 min drive
11.74-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,864 ft gain.
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Willow Basin
~12 min drive
0.71-mile out-and-back trail to Willow Basin in Arizona with 3 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
Brody Seep
~6 min drive
3.09-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 136 ft of elevation gain.
