Updated July 2026
Horton Creek Falls (Horton Spring)
Horton Spring gushes out of the Mogollon Rim about 30 feet above the streambed, forming the headwaters of Horton Creek and a series of small cascades along the trail near Payson. The spring-fed flow is reliable year-round.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Tonto National Forest for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Horton Creek Falls (Horton Spring) drops about 30 feet. That makes it the 549th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 23% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Horton Creek Trail #285 reaches it about 6.4 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 1,090 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Payson. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Tonto National Forest for closures and current conditions.
spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Arizona waterfalls
- Beaver Falls · 40 ft
- Bog Springs Waterfall
- Cibecue Falls · 30 ft
- Deer Creek Falls · 100 ft
- Ellison Creek Cascades
- Fossil Creek Falls · 25 ft
- Grand Falls (Chocolate Falls) · 185 ft
- Havasu Falls · 100 ft
Sources
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