If you’re looking for an unforgettable Arizona hike with soothing waterfalls, magnificent rock formations and cool shade, I’ve got a place for you to check out.
It’s called Water Wheel Falls, located on the Mogollon Rim near the small town of Payson.
Water Wheel Falls hike overview:
This is an iconic Arizona hike that will wow even the most seasoned of hikers.
- Located 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Payson, AZ
- 1.8 miles (out and back)
- Moderate level of difficulty
- 150 feet (45 m) elevation gain
- 1 to 2 hours to complete the hike
- 4.6 star rating (out of 5) on alltrails.com
- $8 area use prepaid fee (Tonto Pass); waived with national parks pass
- Distance: 1.8 miles, out and back
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Best time of day: Sunrise to sunset
- Best time of year: Warm months (i.e. April through October)
For more detailed info about the hike itself, see the route preview and read others’ tips on All Trails.
In Arizona, waterfall hikes are like unicorns. They’re pretty rare and often times you can’t believe your eyes when you see them.
Many of the waterfalls you can hike to in Arizona only flow for a short time during the year, when there’s runoff from snowmelt or recent rain.
That’s not the case for the Water Wheel Falls hike. Finding water is a piece of cake on this adventure. That’s because the spring-fed Ellison Creek runs year-round.
Just park in the main Water Wheel parking lot and you’ll hear and see the creek flowing just a little way down the bank from the paved lot.
Where is the Water Wheel?
I get the feeling a lot of people walk by the water wheel without ever seeing it. That’s because I see a lot of pics of the falls on social media but very few images of the water wheel. In my opinion, it would be a shame if you do this hike and didn’t see the water wheel after which the falls get their name.
To see it, start looking your left about 75 yards into the hike upstream. It’s slightly uphill and hides in the shade of the large trees overhead. Due to aging and deterioration, the wheel blends into the landscape fairly well.
Quick back story of the water wheel
Although some water wheels are constructed to generate power, this one built by gold prospector James “Dave” Greer in the 1930s.
The wheel itself was built by a college welding class in Phoenix then hauled to its current location. Greer integrated it into a system that used creek water to spin the wheel and crush ore to extract gold.
Like history? Read more about how the wheel was used to process gold in this Payson Roundup article by Stan Brown.
Video: Quick look at the vintage water wheel
Plenty of places to sit and enjoy the vibes
Just a few dozen yards upstream from the starting point you’ll find picnic tables and boulders to sit on to soak up the cool air temps and gurgling sounds of the creek cruising past.
Want to see the falls?
That’s going to require a little more work. The hike isn’t long – less than two miles out and back – but getting to the falls requires some boulder scrambling and graceful footwork to traverse a few creek crossings and uneven terrain.
From the water wheel, continue upstream along the bank for about half of a mile. You’ll wind through stretches of intermittent full-sun exposure and dense shade provided by tall deciduous trees overhead. As the trees thin out, you’ll likely break a sweat as the sun bakes you like cookie when you pause periodically to decide on the best path to scramble up the pristine granite rock formations in front of you.
How long is the hike to Waterwheel Falls?
The total distance of this hike is just under two miles, out and back. Most able-bodied people can complete the hike to Water Wheel Falls in one to two hours. But why rush when you’re surrounded by such spectacular natural beauty? My recommendation is to take your time – and some snacks – and stretch the experience out over a few hours.
How much does it cost to go to Water Wheel Falls?
Access to Water Wheel Falls requires the purchase of a Tonto Daily Pass ($8) or Discovery Pass ($80 per year) that must be purchased in advance. If you have an American the Beautiful pass, you can display that on your dash instead of purchasing a Tonto pass. Find out how and where to purchase a pass.
How to turn your adventure into a “beach” day
If you want to make a “beach” day of your Water Wheel experience, there’s a great place to do so slightly off the beaten path. When you come to the first river crossing, go the opposite direction up to your left and over some large rocky shelves that seem like roadblocks. It will feel like you’ve wandered off into a neverland of granite, as you lose sight (and sound) of the rushing water. Once the terrain flattens out, you’ll see the river again, along with small granite “islands” where you can spread out a beach towel and sunbathe, picnic or whatever.
To fully appreciate this hike, all you have to do is drive to the trailhead parking lot and follow the school of other hikers upstream to the main fall. It’s notorious for a large log that looks like it took a nose dive after cascading over the fall in Ellison Creek.
Getting there
- From the town of Payson, head north on AZ-260 W/AZ-87 1/10th of a mile
- Turn right onto Houston Mesa Rd/Nf-199
- Continue 7.5 miles on Houston Mesa Rd
- Watch for the Water Wheel be on the right
Map to Water Wheel Falls Trail
Here’s the exact location of the Water Wheel parking area on Google Maps.
Pro tips
- Parking spots and places to rest along the creek are hard to come by during the summer.
- This is not a good hike for anyone with known health problems or phobias of water or heights.
The wrap
Next time you want to venture away from the usual sunbaked Arizona trail lined with prickly plants, give the Water Wheel Falls hike some consideration. Prepare to get wet, and to be impressed as you meander through shade, scramble over rocks and hopscotch across shallow water crossings.
Looks like a great hike with a kind of easy to follow trail.
It’s definitely one of my new favorites.