From Gemini pro:

You should definitely ride the elephant (or at least lead it there)!

Here is the logic:

If you walk there by yourself, you will arrive at the creek, but the dirty elephant will still be 300 feet back where you started. You can't wash the elephant if it isn't with you!

Plus, it is much easier to take the elephant to the water than it is to carry enough buckets of water 300 feet back to the elephant.

Would you like another riddle, or perhaps some actual tips on how to keep cool in the Arizona heat?