G.E.T. Guidebook

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Segment 6: Aravaipa Creek   11.8 miles

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Segment Length	from PHX	to ABQ	Segment Status	Season
11.8 mi.	112		finalized & accessible	fall, winter, spring
Resources
OVERVIEW MAP ELEVATION PROFILE 4 G.E.T. Topo Maps 14-20 4 Town Guide: Mammoth 4 Water Chart 4 Image Gallery: Album 3				Additional maps: Mammoth 1:100K (BLM) visit PLIC website Land management agency: (Aravaipa Canyon permits) BLM Safford Field Office (928) 348-4400 Brandenburg Ranger Station (520) 357-6185

SEGMENT OVERVIEW

The main purpose of this segment is to connect the San Pedro River valley with Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, which eastbound thru-hikers have no doubt been anticipating. Section hikers arriving by vehicle will be tempted to drive right to the Wilderness trailhead at the east end of this segment. And why not? Aravaipa Road heads directly there, and with only a few bumps in the track. But while Segment 6 may not be a day-hiker's premier destination, it is an efficient, fairly interesting and enjoyable walk en route "from here to there." Thru-hikers may even find the layout rather nifty. It's surprisingly good given the conspicuous lack of foot trail - untrammeled and remote-feeling in its initial miles up Aravaipa Creek's wide flood plain, scenic and charming as it continues along an unpaved portion of Aravaipa Road. Hikers who commit to this segment will also have another reason to smile - they'll become among the informed few who know the lower Aravaipa watershed, who have been where the perennial waters of the creek slowly sink beneath the surface, and who've seen how the land responds. Here they'll read the little-known afterword to Aravaipa's miraculous tale.

TRAVEL ALERT: Because this segment (6) ends at the west entrance of Aravaipa Canyon, hikers intending to continue eastbound beyond Aravaipa Canyon, and who are unable to obtain the requisite permit to enter the Wilderness should detour around GET Segments 6 and 7 via the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness bypass route, as described at the end of this segment.

ROUTE DETAILS

The main GET route begins at the AZ Hwy 77 bridge over Aravaipa Creek's wash, a half mile south of Aravaipa Road. Walking in the wash, which is actually a wide, braided flood plain, is somewhat rugged but not to be avoided, except in times of high runoff from Aravaipa Canyon. Nevertheless, hikers wishing to avoid the wash walk can instead use Aravaipa Road, following it all the way to Aravaipa Canyon's west trailhead, and rejoining the main GET route along the way. Total distance between Hwy 77 and the Aravaipa trailhead is comparable along either route.

From Aravaipa Creek wash at the AZ Hwy 77 overpass (mapset waypoint 06010) (from the highway, climb down to the wash from the NE corner of the bridge via an access road and gate) proceed east, immediately negotiating a wire fence across the wash. (A private property sign on the fence should be of no concern to someone on foot, according to locals.) The wide, rocky wash is typically dry here, but the likelihood of encountering some flowing water improves as you continue up-canyon. Increased sedimentation from the July 2006 flood has caused the lower creek to flow sub-surface for a greater distance than was previously common.

The drainage widens considerably by milepoint 0.5, where several residences are visible just off to the north. There is no set route ahead in the flood plain, and the description here (and on the maps) may vary somewhat from your experience. Just follow the path of least resistance while avoiding any parcels of private land along the banks.

Cross a powerline and its service road in the wash at 1.3, then another 4WD road at 2.1. Desert broom and other hardy alluvium-colonizers add a splash of greenery to the drainage, but do not really impede progress. In fact, most of the lowest-lying vegetation here was carried off during the flood of 2006, which deposited a lot of loose sand in its place. Occasional tangles of dead cottonwood trees that you pass hint at the large-scale deforestation that the floods wrought within Aravaipa Canyon.

On the horizon behind you, Antelope Peak is visible across the San Pedro valley, while ahead lies prominent Brandenburg Mountain near the mouth of Aravaipa Canyon. Reach a wire fence running perpendicular to the drainage at 4.2 and climb over or crawl under it, remaining in the drainage.

You may well find Aravaipa Creek flowing in the vicinity of two fish barriers installed across the drainage ahead. These low, cement dams are designed to keep non-native fish from continuing upstream to Aravaipa Canyon proper, where they would otherwise compete with native fish such as the spikedace, a threatened species in Arizona. Prior to the flood, the dams were about 4 feet high and were easily negotiated at the north side of the drainage. Now the dams are effectively higher, due to erosion of impounded sediment. Because of this, and since the creek not far beyond flows through private land, the recommended GET route therefore bails out to Aravaipa Road at 4.8 (waypoint 06080) prior to reaching the dams, following a brush-free corridor along the north bank of the drainage toward the (visible) dirt road. (Westbounders turn left off Aravaipa Road into the drainage just before the road curves right.)

Dirt 2WD Aravaipa Road soon climbs away from the creek, passing several residences. Ahead the canyon of Aravaipa Creek begins to deepen, and sweeping views include a vantage of quaint Aravaipa Farms below, at 6.3, where organic produce is sometimes for sale.

The road briefly returns to the canyon bottom before climbing to Brandenburg Ranger Station at 8.9. The small station, which is only sporadically staffed, can issue last-minute permits for Aravaipa Canyon when vacancies are available. A single, free campsite is nearby (first-come, first-served), the only legal place to camp until entering BLM Wilderness about 4 miles ahead. The campsite might squeeze 2 or 3 small parties in a pinch.

At 9.2 cross a steel car bridge in the shadow of dramatic redrock Brandenburg Mountain. The cactus-strewn cliffs contrast intriguingly with the cottonwoods and exotic palm trees at quaint little ranches beside the road. The creek is close by, though it generally remains inaccessible on private land.

Finally the dusty road climbs to reach the trailhead parking lot for Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, at 11.8, the end of this segment. A sign-in register, restroom, and self-service pay station are located here. Refer to Segment 7 of the guidebook for more information about Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness permits and fees. Camping at the trailhead is not permitted.

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ELEVATION PROFILE

ALTERNATE ROUTE: ARAVAIPA CANYON WILDERNESS BYPASS

Hikers who find it necessary to bypass Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness - for instance, to avoid dealing with the permit system, or when permits happen to be unavailable - can instead follow this bypass route. But please note: Because Aravaipa Canyon cuts deeply into a rugged mountain range - the Galiuros - which otherwise presents a barrier to east-west progress, few roads or trails cross the range nearby. So this detour is fairly out-of-the-way, and is therefore lengthier than the main route by about 12 miles. This detour is mostly on primitive roads, generally little-travelled graded dirt or rough 4WD tracks, and is by and large a scenic and attractive alternative, even if it lacks the erstwhile charm of Aravaipa Canyon. The route also passes through the town of Mammoth along the way, so is fairly convenient for hikers already planning a layover there.

This alternate route bypasses all of the main route in Segment 6, as well as the first 10 miles of Segment 7 in Aravaipa Canyon. It begins on the west near AZ Highway 77 and ends near the east entrance of Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness at Turkey Creek.

From the offset 4-way road junction at mile 13.8 in Segment 5, (waypoint 05160) eastbound hikers follow the southbound dirt road, paralleling the railroad grade. This road continues all the way to the outskirts of Mammoth, generally near the old railroad and outside the San Pedro River's riparian zone. Approaching the outskirts of Mammoth, the graded dirt road reaches a t-junction by a cattle guard; turn left here (east) onto paved Camino Rio, then right onto AZ 77 at 8.1 (waypoint 06300). (One could also hitchhike down AZ 77 from the main GET crossing into Mammoth, but would not be advised to hike along this winding 2-lane highway.)

Follow AZ 77 into town. Corker's One Stop convenience store is on the right, with Foster's Lodge a short ways beyond. Here, at 8.6, our detour turns left at the fork onto Main Street. Pass Main Market and then the laundromat on the left. At 9.5 (elev. 2300') turn left (east) onto Copper Creek Rd, crossing the wide wash of the San Pedro River at the edge of town. (Be sure to pick up water before proceeding.) Stealth camping may be possible in the mequite thickets beyond the wash. At 10.3, turn left (north) onto paved River Road. Continue to signed 2WD unpaved Cowboy Miller Rd at 11.6 and turn right, east.

Cowboy Miller Rd proceeds 8.1 straightforward miles into the foothills of the Galiuros. It becomes a 4WD track as it approaches Dry Camp Canyon. Keep right at 19.7, (waypoint 06340) bypassing the road to Dry Camp itself, as shown on maps. Where the track crosses the canyon's wash at 20.1 (waypoint 06350), leave it and head east up the wash itself. In less than 0.1 mile, a lesser drainage enters from the left. Take this drainage. Despite a few scrambles over the bedrock bottom, you may well find some pools of water, including an improved spring in a shady setting at 21.3 (waypoint 06360). Secluded camping is possible in the vicinity.

Three ATV tracks converge upon the spring. Take the right-most track, immediately leaving the drainage on its south bank. The 2-track climbs sharply among the final saguaro-cloaked hillsides of an eastbound hiker's journey, ending at a t-junction with a wider, rockier 4WD road at 22.1 (06370). This is informally known as the Rug Road, and is a cult favorite of off-highway vehicle enthusiasts, due to its rough, steep, and scenic qualities. The Rug Road takes it name from pieces of carpet that motorists have used to fill washed out sections of the road. Yep - it's that rough. Outside of weekends, though, the Rug Road is fairly quiet, and the high-desert scenery it traverses is outstanding. You'll follow it the rest of the way to Turkey Creek at the east end of the detour.

Turn left (north), climbing to reach a saddle at 23.0 (elev. 5400'). The Rug Road becomes a roller-coaster ride as it now descends and climbs steeply through several prominent canyons that drain north into Aravaipa Canyon. You'll wonder how any vehicle could manage this road, with its perpetual fare of loose, softball-and-basketball-size volcanic rocks, wash-outs, and long, steep grades. The Rug Road crosses lateral tracks in Virgus and Parsons canyons, and in Parsons, possible water in the creekbed near a former homestead - a good shady camping spot.

Views eastward open dramatically after passing an old corral at 29.2, with the rugged Santa Teresa Mountains prominent on the horizon. Now begin a long descent into Turkey Creek, as the road bravely cuts through a "slickrock" sedimentary layer in the company of colorful cliffs. Breathe a hearty sigh of relief as the road finally bottoms out in the riparian zone of Turkey Creek at 32.2 (waypoint 07510, elev. 3300'). (Westbounders looks carefully for the Rug Road as it switchbacks away through a cliff cut on the west bank of Turkey Creek.) The creek is normally dry here.

Eastbounders now have two options for travel. One is to turn left and walk north down Turkey Creek to its confluence with perennial Aravaipa Creek and a resumption of the main route in 2.6 miles. This point is at mile 10.4 of Segment 7, just east of the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness boundary. .

The other travel option from the Rug Road is to turn right in Turkey Creek, heading south. Walking south up Turkey Creek and beyond via the Turkey Creek alternate, described in Segment 8, leads to the community of Klondyke in 10 miles. This alternate can be a good option for hikers planning to resupply or layover in the Klondyke area. Turkey Creek sometimes has water up-canyon. See Segment 8 for more information.

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