Oak Creek, Arizona

Oak Creek flows south from its headwaters on the Mogollon Rim through the famous Oak Creek Canyon — one of the most photographed landscapes in Arizona — before reaching Sedona and eventually the Verde River. The creek flows through a dramatic 16-mile canyon with sheer red sandstone walls rising hundreds of feet above a clear, spring-fed stream that supports wild rainbow and brown trout in the most photographed fishing setting in Arizona.

The creek's designation as an Arizona Wild Trout Water in the canyon section protects the fish from harvest and maintains quality despite the extraordinary tourist traffic that the Sedona area attracts. Oak Creek Canyon (US-89A) is one of the most-visited routes in Arizona, meaning the creek receives substantial day-fishing pressure from tourists who pause their Sedona visit for a few hours of fishing. Early morning and evening visits, or midweek trips, dramatically reduce the competition.

Wild rainbow averaging 10–14 inches are the primary trout, supplemented by some surprisingly large brown trout in the deepest, most-shaded pools where cold spring inputs create thermal refuges. The spring-creek influence of the Mogollon Rim's aquifer systems maintains relatively consistent temperatures year-round — the creek is genuinely fishable even in winter and summer months when the desert heat below makes it seem unlikely.

The scenery alone justifies any fishing trip to Oak Creek Canyon — the combination of red rock monoliths, riparian willows and sycamores, and clear trout water is visually extraordinary in a way that few other Arizona fishing destinations can match.