General Information On the Aravaipa Canyon West Hike

I rate this hike as being of moderate difficulty due to the distances involved and the constant wading in and out of the stream.

This is a spectacular hike along and through a year around free flowing stream that has carved a deep, 10 mile long canyon through the Galiuro Mountains.  The hike is particularly beautiful when the cottonwood trees are turning in fall (late November into December) and again after the spring green up in mid March.  Numerous side canyons such as Hell's Half Acre offer even more opportunities for exploration. 

This hike is in a Wilderness Area and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requires a permit to enter the area and limits the number of hikers that can enter each day.  Thus, hikers need to call (928-348-4400) the Safford Office of the BLM  to request a permit prior to hiking the canyon.  Permits for Friday through Sunday can be difficult to get unless one schedules well in advance.  Weekdays are not as difficult.

The hike that I took on 7 December 2015 was recorded with my cell phone GPS app called View Ranger.  The track I took is visible on a Google Terrain Map and on a USGS Map.  The GPS indicated that my round trip travel was about 6.5 miles.  I hiked up the stream, in and out of the water with only a short excursion up into Hell's Half Acre.  At about 3.25 miles I stopped and ate some lunch at a small waterfall and then returned by the same route.   My trailhead to trailhead hiking time was about 6 hours.  GPS readings can be "iffy" down in canyons and I have less confidence in these readings than I normally do when using this GPS app.  For instance, the GPS readings show me climbing up and down the canyon walls.  This definitely did not happen.  The readings are better in the wider parts of the canyon, but even there they are not perfect.

Due to the remote nature of this hike and to the ever present water there is abundant wildlife in Aravaipa Canyon.  Aravaipa Creek provides some of the premier native fish habitat in Arizona.  The creek boasts seven species of native fish including two species (loach minnow and spikedace) that are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  I was looking for fish on my 7 December 2015 hike but only saw one small minnow that I couldn't identify.  The canyon has abundant wildlife including desert bighorn sheep, whitetailed and mule deer, javelina, coyotes, cougars, coatimundis and a dozen species of bats.  I didn't see any of these animals on my hike but several colleagues saw a small group of javelina.  Several species of rattlesnakes are present in the canyon and hikers should be careful to avoid them.  Garter snakes and leopard frogs are also present.  Aravaipa canyon is famous as a bird watchers paradise.  Virtually every desert songbird (about 150 species) have been documented in the canyon and the surrounding wilderness area.  Lucky hikers might see a peregrine falcon, common blackhawk, bald eagle, cactus ferruginous pygmy owl or a southwestern willow flycatcher.   

During my hike in Aravaipa Canyon I estimate that I waded across the stream at least 40 times.  Several times it was just easier to hike in the water up the stream.  Sometimes the streambed is sandy and sometimes the streambed is rocky and slippery.  Hiking poles can help while crossing the stream.  One should come prepared with footgear that is comfortable but able to withstand thorough soaking.  It is best to bring a second pair of shoes and socks and a towel when doing this hike.  There is no way to avoid thorough shoe soaking.      

There is a rather crude Pit Toilet at the Parking Area for this hike.  The nearest flush toilets would be at gas stations in Mammoth, AZ