Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness

Narrow and twisting Aravaipa Canyon is a picturesque example of the Southwest's desert country. Aravaipa Creek, shaded by cottonwoods, has cut a trough up to 1,000 feet deep in the Galiuro Mountains, and the canyon walls are wondrously carved and painted in subtle sandy colors. The creek runs year-round from springs, seeps, and tributary streams, and along the water grows one of the lushest riparian habitats in southern Arizona. The main canyon is about 11 miles long, and the Wilderness extends well beyond it to include surrounding tablelands and nine side-canyons. Elevation ranges from approximately 2,600 to 4,900 feet. Six species of native desert fish may be found here, along with desert bighorn sheep, an extensive variety of large and small mammals and reptiles, and at least 238 species of birds. Caves and ledges provide habitat for 12 known species of bats. This stretch of scenic wonder has attracted enough human traffic to make overuse a problem since the 1960s, so advance reservation is what secures a trip and solitude can be difficult to find. The attention is well deserved. Although there are no marked trails in the Wilderness, a route follows a well-used path along the canyon, crossing through the creek several times, and most people rate the hiking as easy. The canyon grows so narrow in places that wading in the creek is the only option. Be prepared to encounter lightning storms and flash floods, as well as poisonous snakes, insects, and plants. Even though the high walls and water keep the canyon floor more humid than the surrounding desert, the summer heat can be extreme. The area receives 10 inches of precipitation annually, and temperatures range from 67 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit in July and 34 to 64 degrees in December.