Massacre Falls
Pinal County, Arizona
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Pinal County, Arizona
- Access status
- Partial guide: current trailhead and fee conflict between sources
- The walk
- About 5.4 miles return (listed as out-and-back)
- Ground & access
- Desert trail with washes, a saddle and gradual climbing. Little shade. The trails can be confusing; the modern route differs from the USGS map near the end.
Walk from the trailhead through the fence gap, follow the ridge between washes toward the mountains, turn left into a large wash at a confusing fork, and continue past the original trailhead. After the saddle, a drainage and flat high ground lead to the base of the cliff, where the trail turns right to the falls. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Massacre Grounds / Jacob’s Crosscut trailhead off First Water Road, east on the old trail past the original trailhead fence, then toward the cliffs and the falls
WildPathsAZ lists 5.4 miles and 10Adventures lists 8.7 km (5.4 miles) as the out-and-back distance. Hiking Project lists a shorter point-to-point of 2.7 miles. Return is the stated basis here.
Desert trail with washes, a saddle and gradual climbing. Little shade. The trails can be confusing; the modern route differs from the USGS map near the end.
Where to start
The two sources disagree on the start. WildPathsAZ describes a small lot a short distance up First Water Road on the right, signed Massacre Grounds. 10Adventures says the original trailhead is closed and the access point is now the Jacob’s Crosscut trailhead, about 1.3 km before the old parking area. The road is rough dirt.
Timing & water
The falls are seasonal and run mainly after rain or snowmelt, so go within days after a storm. Autumn through spring is the usual season.
Before you go
WildPathsAZ lists no fee; 10Adventures mentions a modest day-use fee at the trailhead. These conflict, so the current fee is unconfirmed.
Visitor informationMore waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.