Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Graham / Pinal counties, Arizona, U.S.
Nearest city	Globe, Arizona
Area	19,700 acres (7,970 ha)
Designated	1984 (1984)
Governing body	Bureau of Land Management

Fall colors near the western end of Aravaipa Canyon

Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness is a 19,410 acres (7,850 ha) wilderness area located in the U.S. State of Arizona.

Access

The wilderness is administered by the BLM and is located northeast of Mammoth, Arizona in Graham and Pinal counties, about 120 miles (190 km) southeast of Phoenix. Pedestrian access to the preserve is allowed only with prior authorization from preserve staff. The area is popular for its recreation, especially its hiking trails and off-roading. Visitors can hike to the abandoned cabin at the Parsons Grove site in the Aravaipa Canyon Preserve as of 2013. Travel in the canyon requires wading in Aravaipa Creek.

Geography

The Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness forms the northwest border of the Galiuro Mountain range. The wilderness includes the 11-mile (18 km) long Aravaipa Canyon, the surrounding tablelands and nine side canyons. The Nature Conservancy's Aravaipa Canyon Preserve protects 7,000 acres (28 km²) of private land and is contiguous with the BLM wilderness area.

Permits and fees

A permit and fee are required to enter Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. Use is limited to 50 people per day. Permits can be obtained from the BLM.