Distance: 4 miles round-trip
Duration: 2–3 hours
Elevation gain: 900 feet
Effort: Difficult
Trailhead: River left, mile 229

Depending on how much time you have (and how hot it is), you can make the short, mildly challenging scramble to Travertine Falls, a lovely 35-foot plunge, or attempt the difficult scramble to the source of the canyon’s water, a spring surrounded by dense vegetation.

To get to Travertine Falls, follow the creek bed up a steep and slippery slope of Vishnu schist. The waterfall is at the back of a narrows of travertine-covered cliffs. Hiking to the falls and back takes less than an hour.

If you want a longer, more challenging hike, and your climbing skills are sharp, return to the river and walk past the creek (upriver), heading up the ridge to go up and around the falls. Look for cairns to guide you back into the cree kbed.

You’ll encounter three smaller waterfalls on your way up the creek, requiring some hand-and-foot climbing to get around. The springs are marked by thick vegetation, and you can turn back or go a bit farther to the top of the Tonto Platform for good views.