Harding Spring, Sedona, AZ  5/5 (4)

33 people follow this spring.
Directions:

Description

This is a tapped spring. It is near Sedona and if you go to Raw Spirit Fest this is the spring nearest the event!

Nearest Address

Sedona, AZ

Directions from Nearest Address

This spring is super easy to find, it is right on Highway 89a between Flagstaff & Sedona.. you can pull right up to it in your vehicle! I will post the actual coordinates soon! It is a well frequented spot that locals have been going to for over 15 years and the spring is quite popular, even at night people were stopping to fill up bottles!

Vital Information

  • Fee: No Fee
  • Access: Public
  • Flow: Continuous
  • TDS: 90
  • Temp: 40° F
  • pH: N/A

Hours Spring is Open:

Unknown

GPS:

N/A

Map Link: Harding Spring Map

Submitted by: Kyle Nordwall & Ginger Robinson

Responses

  1. This spring is a flowing – and by god is it divinely delicious.
    When you go to collect the water though, don’t just collect.

    Take a moment to take a deep breath, and give gratitude to the spring, to the earth to the abundance that supports our livelihood in the form of flowing, crystal clear liquid of the gods known as water.

  2. I drive from Tempe every month. I did a water test and …IT IS THE BEST!!! it wont let me paste the test results. But a lil bit of minerals, nothing else!!! test completed 2-23

  3. I heard about this spring for the first time when I was traveling 7/27/2021 I’m from Southern California. I was in Flagstaff heading south into Phoenix. Anyways I passed it without even realizing it… I was bummed out. I Had another opportunity when I was in Northern Arizona on 9/23/2021 and I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity again. This water is some of the best tasting water I’ve ever tasted. The flow was amazingly fast and just was a beautiful experience that I was actually able to share with my dad. And since then he’s made a few of his own trips as he lives in Northern Arizona (Ash Fork). I highly recommend this spring and everyone I met while at this spring we super nice. It’s very easy to find and parking wasn’t an issue, but that could also depend on times of the year.

  4. Bring all the empty bottles you can find! This water is incredible and I fill up every time I’m in the area. From Sedona it is exactly 8 miles from DQ (Dairy Queen) on the left. When you get to 7.99 miles get ready to pull over!!

  5. We had the great honor and pleasure to stop by this beautiful spring mid December 2022. We gave thanks and filled up about 5 gallons. There was two other people there when we arrived. The water was crystal clear & so delicious!

  6. The last 7/8 years we’ve been drinking Natural Sedona Spring Water… from Sterling Spring in Oak Creek Canyon – every time we fill up 20 gallons we save $20+ !! And we drink naturally mineralized water the way God and Nature intended.
    FIND A SPRING around you and start wanting, enjoying what Nature wants to give you for free! If we start looking for them and using them…more will appear!

  7. The spring was shutoff last time I went due to the fires or something, I’ll go again in a week to see if its on again.

    I should have checked online to see if it was open before I went 😐

    ‘Additionally, the public water Sterling Springs standpipe in Oak Creek Canyon has been shut off to protect the water system from potential contamination, silt and debris during flooding.’
    http://www.azfamily.com/news/Sedona-firefighters-train-for-swift-water-rescues-265471231.html

    I heard Living Springs Camp (only a few miles from Arizona) has spring/artesian well water too, although I’m not sure if it’s open to the public. Chocolatree (in Sedona) claims it’s sat upon an artesian well, and allows people to fill up via a hose valve in their backyard garden.

  8. I used to go to this spring to get my water when I lived in Sedona back in ’08. The water tasted great, and of course psychologically it’s a nice feeling to think that you are getting pure water directly from a mountain’s interior. But I always thought it was ridiculous that people do not put some large flat stones into the puddle at the base of the spigot. Helloooo…Are people just supposed to stand in the water. It would make it *much* more convenient to locate or purchase a few large stones or bricks and set them in the puddle so people could stand comfortably in front of the spigot while filling their jugs, rather than constantly trying to maneuver around the puddle.

  9. We live in Sedona and go to Harding Spring at least once or twice a month to fill our water jugs since the water in Sedona is so bad for drinking. Amazing how much better coffee tastes when made with this spring’s water. We’ve been getting our water here for the last four years and have never noticed a change in the flavor or purity. Directions: head up 89A from Sedona to Flagstaff, its about 8 miles from Sedona just before Pumphouse Wash.

  10. I have been drinking from this spring since 1974 when I first went to AZ. It is some of the best tasting water I’ve ever had. It is at the north end of the Pine Flat Campgrounds (west side of the road). We locals know it as the Pine Flat Spring. I’ve seen it run at a trickle during times of drought – especially since they split the outlet pipe into two down spouts some years back. The only time I’ve ever seen it shut off was when someone had slammed into that rock cairn and skewed the whole thing sideways and twisted. That severed the pipes and so it had to be re-done. The spring itself is actually upstream a bit, across on the west side of Oak Creek up in the cliffside. Only downside for me is that water comes down through PVC (outlawed in parts of Europe, I’m told) which contains BPAs, and the pipe is galvanized and I’m not real keen on drinking Cadmium either! Hope this helps.

  11. WARNING : This spring water is unfit for consumption.

    This water is too high in minerals.

    Now we will explain the question you’re all waiting for and that of course is how we know this information.

    We perspire never. We get headaches never.

    If we do it is because we have deviated from drinking Evian and or creek water.

    We listen to our bodies and know if we perspire or have a headache we’re drinking water of which is not best for us.

    I run all the time and am very active but do not perspire, after drinking this water for several days and being thrilled to find the water I’ve been having trouble with circulation and perspiration.

    Either drink from the creek where the buildings are on the same road that say you’re not allowed to be here because we like to post a billion signs all over the place because we’re a bunch of pricks or buy Evian.

    The choice is yours, you’ve been warned.

    Have a nice day.

  12. This spring has been here for a very long time as I started getting water there 40 years ago when I lived in Flag. As some of the posts have said it is very easy to get to at the Pine Flats Campground on your right headed into Sedona. There are almost always cars there getting the healthy, refreshing water.

  13. I’m looking for somebody who travels down to the valley from up north or goes up north from the valley to fetch water regularly and wouldn’t mind filling up an extra 5 gallon for me.  I would be more than willing to pay you for your time and gas.  I would love to be able to drink this water everyday, only I don’t have reliable transportation to get up there from the valley!  You can reach me at HeartSayer@gmail.com Thanks!  ~ Andrew

    1. buddey of mine and i go to three different springs in Sedona area and bottle it up, including this pine flat spring! We’d be glad to work something out so you can drink spring water everyday! i work with Sedona Sweet Cider down here in the valley, so usually it’s a weekly trip we take to bottle up!
      contact @970ecd8dd4b9600a476974cacb5eeb48:disqus
      organicjoeymotta@yahoo.com
      We’d love to help!

  14. I would LOVE to be able to drink this water everyday.  I was drinking high quality water for a good month including from this spring and I felt GREAT.  Now I haven’t had access to good water for a few weeks and I’m starting feel groggy and tired. 

    I would definitely be making the trip up to the spring to fetch some of this delicious living water but unfortunately my little run down vehicle is too old for the journey.

    I’m looking for a wonderful person who would be so kind to regularly fill up a 5 gallon container for me on their way down to the valley from Flagstaff/Sedona or somebody who goes up north and back.  I’m more than willing to contribute to the cost of gas.  I live in the Phoenix area.  Please email at HeartSayer@gmail.com

    Blessings!
    Andrew

  15. We go up once a month from Phoenix to fill up our eight 5-gallon water bottles.  This is the best water ever.  Almost bought a Kangen machine until we found this spring.  The taste and quality is much better than Kangen water. We’ve been getting our water here for about a year and hope that it never goes away!

  16. We get our water here all the time and it is delicious.  However some folks we have met at the spring have told us that sometimes the water gets bacteria. So we put some drops of food grade h2o2 (35% hydrogen peroxide) in our filled containers and it purifies the water. About 20 drops per 5 gallons works without changing the taste. 

  17. I know that they do a flush once a month with chlorine to treat it, I hope someone can find out and post exactly what day so I can best avoid it soon after! I have run into people who have been going to this spring for decades!

  18. Hi… we are in Sedona… and came in from the 89a from Flagstaff however did not see it… can you give some more directions that we could find it… Much love and gratitude, DL

    1. If you are coming from Flagstaff it is about 1 to 1.5 miles BEFORE cave springs campground. It will be on your right. From Sedona, pass cave springs, go about a mile and look on your left for the stone enclosure. It’s right next to the road. Loving the living water!

  19. Anyone heard if this water has the same arsenic problems that the municipal water and ground wells in the area have? If not, that would make this a FANTASTIC find, since it’s delicious.

  20. I just wanted to comment on the quality of this water. I stop to get it all the time whenever I'm heading through the canyon to Sedona, Cottonwood, or Cornville, and back. I'm lucky to live in Flagstaff, which is so close to this spring. Anyway, the water is the cleanest, freshest water, and feels like “live” water to me. In all the times I've stopped(at any hour of day or night, it was running. I know they do test the water, but if they've ever shut it off because of bacteria–it would be a very rare occasion. Keep an eye out for the rock encasement that the pipe comes out of, because it blends into the envirionment, and would be easy to pass if you weren't paying attention.

  21. I submitted a far more detailed post about this spring, but I'm glad this info is up. It is located at the Pine Flats Campground about 12 miles north of Sedona and flows freely 24-7 unless the forest service shuts it off (apparently this happens if the levels of bacteria get too high when they periodically test the water.) This water is potent!

  22. Looked for this spring but couldn’t find it based off the pin placement on maps. Seemed like I was right on top of it based off my map but no luck. I looked for about 15 minutes. My phone did not have very good service here which may have contributed to missing it. I most likely won’t be back in the area soon but maybe clarification could help others? Which side of the road is it on, River side or mountain side? Closest mile marker? Thanks for any info.

  23. Incredible water. I stopped at this spring twice in February of this year, once with my sister on our way down to Phoenix & on the return trip during the freak snowstorm that happened from Vegas to Phoenix! The sound of the surging, gurgling water is so refreshing from the moment you get out of your car.

  24. Hello! This is a wonderful easy to reach spring. You can park your car right in front. I live in Sedona and collect water here regularly.

    For some reason the pipe that the water flows out of has been replaced and now the water flow is a spread out trickle instead of a solid fast flow.
    Instead of it taking 10 seconds to fill a gallon bottle, it took 2 minutes per gallon! There was a line of people and many dissapointed regulars who come to fill 5 gallon jugs. I will post and update if the water flow returns to it’s fast flow. In the meantime, allow some time to collect water and bring a funnel!

  25. I was delighted to find this spring on December 16, 2016 as I was heading south on 89A from Flagstaff (which is an amazingly scenic drive through Oak Creek Canyon). The spring is visible from the road (but if you are going fast and there is no one filling up at the spring, you might miss it as there is a stone encasement around the spring so it blends into the landscape) and there is an area for 3 or so cars to park immediately next to the road. Coming from Flagstaff the spring is located on your right. Coming from Sedona/Tucson, the spring would be on your left. From what I learned the spring goes by many names. I met a woman who has been filling up with water from this spring for over 25 years. She says it has only been turned off to put on new pipes and because of wild fires. The spring is artisan/ancient spring water that is recently bubbling its way to the surface. The woman I spoke to told me this water has been recently voted in a magazine as the third most healing water in the world. Again, this is just what I was told by a local. There were 7 other people filling up at the spring in the short time that I was there. Several were locals and several were tourists passing through. I was told that the water is tested regularly. While I was there several men from the watershed department came in their truck and filled up water for themselves. I didn’t have a change to speak with them, but I’ll take that as a good sign. There is a campground within Oak Creek Canyon called Pine Flat Campground. There is a half circle one-way drive way through the campground that has an obvious entrance and exit. The spring is located at the exit point of the driveway. You can’t miss it. Also, many of the homes and restaurants all the way into Sedona are fed by this spring. There is a delicious restaurant in Sedona called Chocola Tree. They have spigots throughout the restaurant and they encourage customers and non-customers to fill up for free at their restaurant. They are happy to share this gift. We topped off our bottles at the restaurant as we headed south to Tucson. For those coming from the south that wish not to take the full drive into the canyon, this might be a wonderful stop for lunch and water.

    My name is Liz. I am living in Tucson at the moment. I would love to connect with others in this area who would like to get water from this spring. Please email me at elizradl@gmail.com!

    I hope this submission is helpful!

    1. I have never been to this spring and water from springs can be very exhilarating to the taste buds. I just love drinking from natural springs and mountain tributaries high up mountains. older crowd know, s I drive to springs in experiencing that unforgettable favor of pristine H2O!!

  26. I went to the spring on September 27th and it was off with a sign on it (text below). I called the number and the ranger told me that they would be testing the water frequently and she didn’t know when they would turn it back on. I guess that we can call the number for updates (928) 203-2900.

    Here is what the signs said:
    Attention Water Users
    This water source has been shut off due to effects of the Slide Fire.
    This water source flows from Sterling Springs via a pipe that is located within the flood zone of Oak Creek. Due to the Side Fire, there may be higher than normal flows in Oak Creek. Floods may contaminate the spring, or damage or obliterate the pipe. As a preventative measure this water spigot has been shut off and will remain off until monsoon rains cease and the water system can be evaluated.
    For more information call 928-203-2900

    1. I called the Pine Flats Campground ((928) 203-2900) and they stated the spring is still closed and may be open in a few more weeks, but the best way to find out is to just give them a call back periodically.

    2. Yes spring is out. I was just there in aug of 2017. I stop got water. There were about 5 other there getting water. I m starting to go every six months if anybody wants up dates on the spring water.

  27. This spring was closed as of a few days ago, when I drove up the lid was taken off and the pipes weren’t flowing. Apparently the city is waiting for the flood contamination to die down, although there’s nothing posted on the spring and no website I know of to notify when they turn it back on again. Good luck to all the people who look to use this spring in the future.

  28. 89a opened up a few days ago after the slide and junipine fires. I came up north from Sedona – its past both the cave springs and pine flats campgrounds – 200-300 feet past pine flats coming up from sedona on the left, with a pullout for about 5 cars. I missed it the first time up and had to turn around on the switchbacks and come back. Coming south its maybe a mile past the last switchback (a bridge called pumphouse wash) on the right, just go slow and keep your eyes open.

  29. ok got gps way back in 2012 for all of you who couldn’t find it before went to this spring on Friday may 2 2014 and there was a warning about traces Coliform Bacteria being in the water due to a pipe break although so minute that unless you are pregnant or sick you should be fine that didn’t stop us or tons of others from getting water we got 30 gallons =D and shall be set for a while whole suv full lol so just know everyone is fine and ok don’t worry its the best water around

  30. I live in Kingman and my little p.o.s. car won’t make it that far, especially once a month or something.. however, if someone is coming or going through this area from Kingman, or to kingman, I’d love you to get in contact with me and we’ll partner up or something. mohaveuu (at) g mail

  31. I love this water! I was in Sedona for a few days and drank this water exclusively! It was snowy at the time and was a little tricky filling big jugs with all of the ice. Other than that, it’s awesome. It was very busy. A lot of people get this water and it’s has gorgeous surroundings!

  32. I just wanted to comment on the quality of this water. I stop to get it all the time whenever I'm heading through the canyon to Sedona, Cottonwood, or Cornville, and back. I'm lucky to live in Flagstaff, which is so close to this spring. Anyway, the water is the cleanest, freshest water, and feels like “live” water to me. In all the times I've stopped(at any hour of day or night, it was running. I know they do test the water, but if they've ever shut it off because of bacteria–it would be a very rare occasion. Keep an eye out for the rock encasement that the pipe comes out of, because it blends into the envirionment, and would be easy to pass if you weren't paying attention.

How to Collect Spring Water

Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.

The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.

FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.

Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.

Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug

When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.

When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.

How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.

How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.

I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.

Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.

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