Near Oak Creek Trail
Cathedral Rock from Oak Creek
Near Oak Creek Trail
Swimming hole on Oak Creek
Near Oak Creek Trail
Oak Creek from the Templeton Trail.
Near Oak Creek Trail
High desert scenery on the Templeton Trail
Near Oak Creek Trail
Oak Creek crowding near the Baldwin Loop Trail

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Driving Directions
Hike Trail

Oak Creek Trail

3.8 (4 Ratings)
This trail leads to several access points along Oak Creek and great places for swimming.
0.6
mi
Distance
25
ft
Gain
easy
Difficulty
Family FriendlyLess CrowdedRiver/CreekSwimmingViews
Access Issues
This is a very popular park with locals and visitors. There is usually a long wait to enter. I waited 45 minutes one late afternoon. The parking is controlled by park staff, and they will not let you drive in unless there is a parking spot available. There is a $10 fee to enter and the best time of day is in the late afternoon if you want to photograph Cathedral Rock.

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
0.59mi
Distance
25ft
Elevation Gain
0ft
Elevation Loss
10%
Max Grade
3,998ft
High Point
3,961ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
From the parking area, follow the Oak Creek Path to a sandy singletrack that marks the beginning of this trail. The first swimming hole is typically very crowded because of its close proximity to the parking area. Continue upstream to the next two swimming holes to find a little more privacy and a nice slickrock bench to hang out and enjoy the scenery. For even more privacy, continue further upstream. The trail becomes shaded with trees and plenty of raspberry bushes. The next two swimming holes are shaded and much quieter than the previous two.

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
Report Conditions

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Contributors
John Maurizi