Aravaipa Creek

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Features Commonly Backpacked · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Aravaipa Creek is home to gorgeous terrain that awaits only 50 runners each day. Get your permit, get out there, and explore!

As a one-way, shuttled run, you'll want to leave a car at the far trailhead at the beginning of the day. Get up and out there early, as the sun can be brutal in this area.

Aravaipa Creek flows year-round, which makes this run a treat. There are well-developed, signed trailheads at either end, and short maintained trails to access the canyon bottom. There is no official trail once you reach the canyon bottom, but often you'll find one or more social trails on the banks. Overall, the general route is obvious, so you shouldn't have any problems.

Expect to get your feet wet, as the easiest progress is frequently by wading in the creek or by crossing from one bank to the other. Don't bother with waterproof boots because the water level will typically be over your boot tops. From the west end, the canyon starts relatively open but narrows down at about the 2 mile point, which is near the confluence with Hell's Half Acre Canyon.