Corral Canyon Trail branches off the East Divide Trail #287 at a high saddle on the shoulder of 7,549 foot Kennedy Peak. From that high perspective it offers good views to the east – of the abrupt fault block cliffs that form the eastern face of the Galiuros, of the Pinaleño Range and of the Santa Teresas. To the west, it provides good views of the interior canyons of the Galiuros. From such a scenic send-off, the trail switchbacks down into Corral Canyon for the rest of its journey to Rattlesnake Canyon. This steep-sided canyon gets its name from an old cow trap located at Corral Spring, which cowboys once used to round up the half-wild range cattle that grazed the area. Corral Canyon cuts through rugged country where the rocks have weathered into colorful, sculpted buttes, needles and pinnacles. Vegetation in this remote canyon varies from Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine at the head of the canyon, to oak and sycamore nearer to Rattlesnake Canyon.

Corral Canyon Trail ends at its junction with Powers Garden Trail #96 in Rattlesnake Canyon. It thus serves as a main connector route between the eastern portion of the Galiuros and the mountain range’s interior and west side as well. Trail #291 can serve as one leg of a number of loop trips, just one of which combines it with the East Divide #287, Powers Garden #96 and Tortilla #254 trails.

Length: 4.2 miles

Rating: Most difficult

Access: From Safford drive south 17 miles on US 191 to AZ 266. Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 266 and drive 19 miles to Bonita. From Bonita continue north on the Aravaipa Road about 19 miles to the Deer Creek Ranch Road (FR 253). Turn left here and drive 8.4 miles to the trailhead for the Tortilla Trail #254 and the East Divide Trail #287. The East Divide Trail #287 leads 5 miles to the Corral Canyon Trail #291. The Corral Canyon Trail is also accessible via the Powers Garden Trail #96.

High Creek Trail is one of the major access routes to the East Divide Trail #287 which runs along the east ridge of the Galiuro Range. Via that longer trail it offers access to some of the most notable destinations in the Galiuros, including Sunset Peak, Kennedy Peak, and Rattlesnake Canyon. Combined with the Rattlesnake Trail #285, High Creek offers the shortest access route to the historic Power mine and cabin area, the site of one of the most famous shootouts in the old Southwest. High Creek Trail intersects the East Divide Trail about a mile and a half south of the junction with the Rattlesnake Trail, which leads directly to Power mine.

From the trailhead at the end of Forest Road 159, the trail follows the High Creek drainage through an area of grassy, oak dotted foothills. Trailside vegetation changes from oak and juniper woodlands to riparian species as the gradient steepens, and views of Sulphur Springs Valley and the Pinaleños broaden to the east. The last of the climb is the steepest as the trail switchbacks its way to the ponderosa pine forests of the Galiuros’ east ridge.

Length: 1.7 miles

Rating: Most difficult

Access:From Safford drive south 17 miles on US 191 to AZ 266. Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 266 and drive 19 miles to Bonita. From Bonita turn west on the Sunset Road (which becomes Forest Road 651) 13 miles to FR 159, then continue west 4 miles to the trailhead.