In March of 2025, I took An overnight trip in the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. I was going to be visiting some friends that live in the SW and and discovered Aravaipa Canyon as I researched local places to backpack. Aravaipa Canyon is about an hour and a half NE of Tucson. I ended up hiking to about the midway point and staying the night. Youtube has some good videos of this place. I would recommend looking at Jerry Arizona's video of Aravaipa Canyon for a local's perspective.
Aravaipa Canyon, tucked into southeastern Arizona, is a rugged wilderness known for its striking contrast of desert cliffs and lush riparian habitat. The canyon stretches for 11 or 12 miles and is fed year-round by Aravaipa Creek, creating a rare desert oasis filled with cottonwood, sycamore, and willow trees that provide shade and shelter for wildlife like bighorn sheep, javelina, deer, coatimundi, bear, and countless bird species. With no established trails, hiking here means wading through the creek, navigating sandy washes, and immersing yourself in the solitude of a place where silence and natural beauty dominate. It’s a place of both serenity and adventure, offering hikers a glimpse into an untamed landscape shaped by water and time.
