Summary

Second among Arizona’s natural wonders perhaps only to the Grand Canyon, Aravaipa Canyon is a marvel: a perennial river winding through the desert. Its crystal clear waters harbor the greatest variety of native fish in the state, while musical songbirds cavort in the canopy of towering cottonwoods. White-tailed and mule deer, javelina, coyotes, and coatis drink from the creek, while desert bighorn sheep explore the canyon walls and mountain lions prowl the craggy peaks. Aravaipa Canyon remains a critical habitat for the rarely-seen and endangered Mexican gray wolf.

On this 2-day, 1-night out-and-back backpacking trip, we’ll sample Aravaipa Canyon’s many wonders. We’ll ramble mostly off-trail up the middle of the creek, enjoying its ubiquitous birdsong and wildlife, before settling down to a leisurely camp and campfire for the evening.

Though our trail mileage will be modest and we will travel at a slow pace, this will still be a strenuous backpack over very rugged terrain, so this trip is suitable only for experienced, well-prepared backpackers in very good condition. We’ll cheerfully face the possibility of bushwhacking, ticks, rattlesnakes fresh from hibernation, and poison ivy. 

Plan to wear amphibious boots, or even an old pair of hiking boots or athletic shoes that you don’t mind sacrificing to walking in the creek. Flip flops are not suitable for the hike; save them for the campsite so you can dry off your boots and feet. Because walking upstream against the current can be very tiring and because the rocks in the creek are slick, consider bringing trekking poles for extra support.

Canyon campsites are frequently visited by black bears, so though bear canisters for food storage are not required, campers will need to carefully manage their food and scented items. Because of the strenuous nature of this trip, the leader reserves the right to qualify participants. This is a carefully permit-restricted wilderness, so please only sign up if you are serious about attending. 

This trip is strictly dependent upon a favorable weather forecast. A National Weather Service forecast of rain within 72 hours of our start will cancel or re-route this trip at the discretion of the leader, as will fewer than three confirmed signups as of 8:00pm, Monday, March 30. This trip will be by individual commissary, and we’re not planning any shared meals, so please plan to provide your own supply of food.

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

We’ll meet up at 7:00am (SHARP!) on Saturday, April 4 at the Dreamy Draw Park & Ride at 10203 N 32nd St to consolidate our carpool to the trailhead, which is about a three hour drive from Phoenix. Please be prepared to contribute to your carpool driver’s mileage costs (about a 250-mile roundtrip.)