![]() ![]() The right footwear is imperative, so based on the accounts of others, I went and bought a pair of gym shoes that I didn’t mind getting ruined, and brought along a pair of gaiters to wear over my shoes to keep most of he gravel out. Since there are no official trails in the wilderness, this hike requires crossing in and out of the creek, and sometimes walking straight up the flowing creek. After only a quarter of a mile, the trail hits perennial Aravaipa Creek, which in this area is wide and lined with cottonwoods. On my first trip to Aravaipa in April, the trail was covered in blooming bright yellow brittlebush and other wildflowers. There are only 50 people allowed in the 11 miles of creekbed and nine side canyons in the Aravaipa Wilderness per day- even dayhikers require a $5/day permit and the maximum stay is three days. I liked it so much that after my first trip, I was back six weeks later to confirm my hunch that it would be a great summer backpacking destination. ![]() I had heard a lot about this area, and I was glad that the Grand Enchantment Trail (GET) gave me the excuse to finally get there. ![]() I secured a permit for three days in the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness for late April coming in from the west trailhead, and as the date neared, I became ever more excited. Desert Honeysuckle in bloom in Aravaipa Canyon ![]()
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