[mmatkin]

I am hiking Aravaipa Canyon the end of May and there are many side canyons, but I do not see information about each side canyon. Which side canyons are the best to explore? And why? Thanks!

[ssk44]

This is some helpful info that I found online awhile back for side canyons along Aravaipa Canyon.



There are a number of side canyons along the way though only Deer Creek is really worth exploring.

Virgus Canyon: The canyon enters Aravaipa on stream left (the left side of the stream if facing the down stream) and is steep and boulder strewn for its entire length. You will have to do quite a bit of climbing and route finding to work your way up this canyon. There are several dry falls that are moderately difficult to climb. If you succeed in ascending those obstacles your progress will eventually be stopped by a dry fall that is not possible to ascend. The author spent 2 hours exploring up Virgus Canyon.

Horse Camp Canyon: The canyon enters on stream right. Walking up you'll soon reach a pour over that can be bypassed on canyon left (watch your footing, the rock is quite slick especially if your feet are wet). Above you'll find some slick rock and several more dry falls (which can be bypassed on canyon left on a use trail). Eventually your progress will be blocked by dry fall that you won't be able to climb.

Booger Canyon: The canyon enters Aravaipa on stream right and is very steep with large sections of pock marked rock. You'll have to do some climbing and route finding to ascend several large pour offs created by boulders that have fallen into the canyon.

Deer Creek: The canyon is easily identified by the wide, flat and gravel strewn mouth where it enters Aravaipa on stream right. It's easy walking heading up Deer Creek and soon the canyon walls close in to form picturesque narrows (about 20 feet wide at its narrowest point). After 40 or more minutes of quick walking you'll hear the sound of falling water whose source is a gushing spring in a fern covered grotto on canyon right (the right side when facing down canyon). Another 20 minutes will bring you to another dripping spring on canyon left and shortly above that some short undercut caves. Not long afterwards the path becomes more shallow and strewn with boulders, which is where I turned around.

Parsons Canyon: The canyon is located on stream left, just east of Deer Creek. It is somewhat rocky and not terribly interesting. The author walked up to the junction with Wire Coral Draw at a quick pace and back in about an hour.

[Hoffmaster]

My favorite is Booger. Not because of the name (well... maybe), but because I like climbing and scrambling. Plus, there are some neat pools in that canyon as well. The last time I was there. we snuck up on a little herd of javelinas which provided minutes of entertainment.