HikeArizona.COM

Hi. I just came back from Redfield Canyon. I drove in on the usual road off of Cascabel road and that runs along the south side of Redfield Canyon. Even with a Taco, it was a bit much. When I came to "THE POINT," I parked it and avoided going down that beast because the road is too jacked: i.e. large boulders that would bottom out my truck along with big ruts. The whole road is a mess now: lots of sharp jutting rocks. It requires more clearance than I have.

Does anyone know anything about the road that runs along the north side of the canyon? (please see my attached picture.) Is that private? If not, is it in decent and/or better condition than that south road?

I'm trying to spend more time in Redfield Canyon, but it's hard to get in there. The last time I tried going through Muleshoe Ranch, that road was a beast, too. Has it miraculously improved over the years?

Thanks.

@SJFL
What's the distance? Can you do it as a backpacking trip instead?

@azbackpackr
Hey. I actually want to backpack in the Canyon. But it's roughly 7-8 miles from road to TH. And it's an easy road to walk, but I would like to avoid that.

Also trying to figure out what the other points are where one can drop into the Canyon. I went up a side canyon near the stone house in the Canyon that looked like it was go all the way to the north--where that other road is. But I turned around just shy of there. Still wondering if there are more entry points further west.

Recent/reliable access information for many areas in the state can sometimes be found via AZGFD. This area is unit 32. [ Arizona Game Units ]

The most recent (2/2024) information published for GMU32 states:

SPECIAL NOTICE: Access to the north side of Redfield Canyon through private land on the Carlink Ranch is no longer available.

A general comment in the literature states:

NOTICE: Due to land ownership patterns, many access routes leading to public and State Trust Lands in Southeastern Arizona cross privately owned lands. Through the sportsman/Landowner Access Program, the AGFD is actively working to minimize conflicts between private landowners and outdoor recreationalists in an attempt to keep many areas open to recreation. Access to private, state and public lands can only be maintained through the cooperation of landowners/lessees and outdoor recreationalists. Please do your part by obeying all laws and signs and utilize sign/in out posts. To aid in identifying land status and land marks, I recommend obtaining a Forest Service Map of the Coronado National Forest’s Safford Ranger District or a BLM map from the Bureau of Land Management.

My math says that recreationist is a word while recreationalist is not. But that's an irrelevant tangent to this discussion! I'll let GFD print whatever they want.

@Chumley
When we have to resort to guerilla warfare to access public lands, we shall be called "Recreationistas!"
¡Viva zapatos!

@SJFL well my first thought would be whether or not there is any water during that 8 mile walk along the road. Anyway it was a thought.

@chumley
Thanks. I didn't see that in my research.

To be honest, I don't understand all the ownership issues. But I do think I'll make a BLM/Land Trust call at some point to figure out what's going on.

@azbackpackr

There are cattle troughs/bathtubs that have water. But it doesn't look particularly potable--filtered or not.

That road is closed. Used to be hunter access but Carlink ranch ( I think it's Bayless now) closed it off due to their gates being left open and water tanks shot up. Backpacking thru Redfield is possible there are some boulder chokes up from the southside road use trail in. Plan on getting wet if pools are there, maybe ankle to knee deep depending on if water is still even standing since it's been so dry.
Carlink owners do work with Big Horn sheep counters to allow them access. Probably thru a BLM program. I treated a relative of the Carlink ranch owners and was treated to an ATV access trip some years ago.
If you are in the canyon bottom past Swamp Springs could be a water problem until Jackson cabin side canyon access. A little known factoid is an unnamed sidecanyon past swamp springs contains in a nice waterfall in rainy weather.
Favorite hikes for me. In at Jackson Cabin ( the road in from Muleshoe is a beast but a very scenic 4x4 route) down then up and over an old rancher trail, cross the private land then drop into Redfield on another old trail, then back to the car. Better done with a light overnight pack but can be a dayhike with longer daylight. In at Swamp Springs from the Jackson cabin road, then into Redfield ( massive boulder choke at the canyon confluence to again dayhike or light overnight pack, recommend handline for pack). From Jackson cabin up Redfield past Hooker sidecanyon explore is pretty good.