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Pool • Outdoor • $$

Oak Creek Canyon — about 30 miles / 30 minutes from Flagstaff A natural water slide carved into smooth red rocks in Oak Creek Canyon — and it's every bit as fun as it sounds. The slide itself is 80 feet long, worn into sandstone and made slick by algae, dropping into a cold pool at the bottom. The whole swim area stretches about half a mile along Oak Creek, so there's plenty of room to spread out. Beyond the slide, there's a historic apple orchard (over 300 trees), 15 picnic areas, short hiking trails, and gorgeous red rock scenery all around. A few things to know before you go: water shoes are a must (the rocks are very slippery), there's no lifeguard on duty, and the water is cold — especially in spring. Admission is $20 per vehicle Mon–Thu, $30 Fri–Sun. Kids under 6 are free. No walk-ins allowed, so you have to drive in. It gets packed in summer, so arrive early. A classic Arizona family adventure.