Because of the notable views it offers, Arcadia Trail has been designated a National Recreation Trail, placing it among the most outstanding trails in the nation. Most people travel this popular pathway from Shannon Campground to Arcadia because it’s mostly downhill in that direction. The course it follows winds in and out of stands of trees that are made up mostly of Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce and quaking aspen on the upper end, while changing gradually to ponderosa pine and silverleaf oak on more southern facing slopes as the trail nears Arcadia Campground.

Near the upper trailhead there is an area that has been logged and remains relatively open where you may find some tasty wild raspberries if you come in late summer. Beyond a series of switchbacks at about a mile from the trailhead, Heliograph Trail #328A climbs to the top of Heliograph Peak where the rugged landscape of southeastern Arizona forms a sweeping, unbroken panorama. Many who use this trail take this spur and follow the Heliograph Road back to Shannon Camp for a loop of about 4 miles.

As the trail drops toward Arcadia it provides good views of distant peaks and nearby canyons. Just above Arcadia Campground, the trail crosses a small drainage shaded by riparian species such as box elder and bigtooth maple. There are usually some colorful wildflowers here as well. Watch for black bears and white-tailed deer along the trail, and for Aberts squirrels scurrying among the trees.

Length: 5.1 miles Rating: More difficult

Access: To the Shannon Campground Trailhead, drive south from Safford 8 miles on US 191 to AZ 366 (the Swift Trail). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive 22 miles to the campground entrance on the right side of the road. Follow the road through the campground to the trailhead at the turnaround. The lower trailhead is at the Upper Arcadia Campground and Picnic Area 11.5 miles from the AZ 366/US 191 intersection. The trailhead is at the rear of Upper Arcadia Campground.

One of the Pinaleño range’s larger streams has carved the route for this popular trail. As it drops from alpine forest to desert valley, Ash Creek Trail passes through all of the varied life zones that find a home on this unique mountain. Such a diverse set of surroundings makes this an excellent trail for encountering some of the varied wildlife species that inhabit the Pinaleños. Black bear, mountain lion, both mule and white-tailed deer, javelina and coatimundi are just some of the animals you’re likely to encounter if you proceed slowly and quietly and keep a watchful eye.

If you like to fish for trout, you’ll be interested to know that pools in the middle reaches of Ash Creek hold populations of native Apache trout. Ash Creek is not a large stream, so the fish are small, but they’re wild and feisty nevertheless. If you come with that in mind, you’ll enjoy the fact that they are quite a challenge to catch.

Since this prominent drainage has long been used as a major travel route up the mountain, it has also accumulated a number of historic relics. Along the trail are remains of an old sawmill and a logging flume, as well as boilers for steam engines used by loggers. These rusty artifacts serve as evidence that this area was used for timber harvest before modern transportation methods made it cheaper to haul lumber from areas where it could be harvested more economically.

Length: 8.2 miles (#307), 0.9 mile (#307A)

Rating: Most difficult

Access: High elevation trailhead– From Safford drive 8 miles south on US 191 to the Swift Trail (AZ 366). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and continue 29 miles to the Columbine Visitor Information Station. Just past the Info Station and across the road are the Columbine public corrals and Ash Creek trailhead. Low elevation trailhead– From the town of Pima, drive south on Cluff Ranch Road. When you reach the entrance to Cluff Ranch, turn left. Cross the cattle guard, continue until you reach a 3-way intersection and turn left. Follow this road approximately 1 mile to the trailhead.

Bear Canyon Trail provides access to four forest trails that lead down the mountain from Ladybug Saddle. Ladybug Trail #329, Dutch Henry Canyon Trail #297, Turkey Flat Trail #330 and Ladybug Peak Trail #300 all connect to the Bear Canyon Trail. In addition to offering access to a number of other trails, Bear Canyon Trail provides good views to the south. Among the features you can see from the upper reaches of this trail are the Dos Cabezas Mountains east of Willcox, with the Greasewood Mountains in the foreground and Sulphur Springs Valley in the distance. Closer in, you’ll enjoy good views of the lower slopes and southern peaks of the Pinaleños as well.

The trail essentially starts among mixed conifer forest surroundings and drops down to an oak- and juniper-dotted desert grassland. As you might suspect, Bear Canyon is a good place to see black bears which are quite common on this mountain range. (Remember that bears are secretive creatures, and usually you have to be looking for them to see them.) Bear Canyon Trail is also a good place to see a much smaller predator–ladybugs, lots of them. Ladybug Peak Trail #300 branches off the main trail and leads to the summit of Ladybug Peak. Here, during the summer, rocks and trees are sometimes covered with these aphid-eating insects.

Length: 6 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: From Safford drive south 8 miles on US 191 to the Swift Trail (AZ 366). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive about 17 miles to Ladybug Saddle. The trailhead is at the parking area on the left side of the road.

A variety of broad panoramas mark this trail as it climbs out and around Blue Jay Ridge on its way to the summit of West Peak in the Pinaleño Range. Blue Jay Ridge Trail provided a major access to the lookout at the Pinaleños’ westernmost major summit until the 1970’s, when crews fighting a large fire bulldozed a road into the area.

Today, Trail #314 provides an excellent way to enjoy the unobstructed views that stretch from the slopes of Blue Jay Ridge to the north, east and south. The north face offers excellent views of the Gila Mountains and the Gila Valley. As the trail rounds the east end of the ridge, the high peaks, ridges and cliffs of the Pinaleños come into view across the upper reaches of Taylor Canyon. Along Blue Jay Ridge’s south face, the views broaden even more, encompassing the expansive grasslands of Sulphur Springs Valley.

Blue Jay Ridge Trail can be a bit hard to follow in places, as it wanders through thickets of New Mexico locust. About the last mile traverses land bared by the fire mentioned above, where bracken fern and a number of other pioneer plants are naturally revegetating the land. Last but not least, there are no blue jays along Blue Jay Ridge. There are Stellers jays, which are blue in color but are still quite different from the common “blue jay” of the eastern U.S. Also, there are usually a number of hawks and turkey vultures along this trail making a good living in the open area created by the fire.

Length: 3.2 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: Drive northwest from Safford on US Highway 70 through Pima to the road marked Tripp Canyon. Turn left (south) and follow the Tripp Canyon road (FR 286) past the Taylor Canyon turn-off. Continue 16.4 more miles to a bend in the road at Turkey Spring. The trailhead shown on the map is located here. To reach an alternate trailhead, continue up the road for another 1.5 miles. Just before the gate to the tower, on your right is the trailhead to Clark Peak Trail #301. Follow the trail, which uses an old road bed, about 1 mile until the Clark Peak Trail forks to the east. Continue to follow the old road another 0.5 mile to reach the Blue Jay Trail.

Spectacular views come one after the other as this trail winds along the spine of the Pinaleños. Clark Peak Trail follows a roller coaster course along the mountain’s high ridge northwest beyond the end of the Swift Trail (FR 803). From an elevation of 9,000 feet at the trailhead, it drops 2,000 feet to Taylor Pass and then climbs to the summit of 8,600-foot West Peak. Views alternate toward different sides of the mountain as the trail winds back and forth across the ridge. On the north and east sides of the ridge, the Gila Valley, the Santa Teresa mountains and the towns of Safford, Thatcher and Pima spread out at your feet. On south and west facing slopes, the Winchesters, the Galiuros, West Peak and the Sulphur Springs Valley stretch to the horizon.

Vegetation varies from mixed conifer to oak woodland as elevation and aspect change. The trail skirts Clark Peak, and you may want to take a brief detour to the 10,022-foot summit to enjoy the view. Early on you’ll cross Hurricane Pass, so named because there’s always a strong wind blowing out of Babcock Canyon. Here the constant gale has sculpted the trees into bent and twisted shapes that bear testimony to the stress of living in such an inhospitable place. Between Hurricane Pass and the Taylor Trail #306, you will be traveling through an old burn area. The trail may be difficult to follow through the grass and shrubs.

This is a long trail in rough country and, if you choose to travel it out and back, it makes a better overnighter than a day trip. Clark Peak Trail also connects with a number of other trails that lead to various access points around the mountain, but you’ll need to set up your own shuttle or have a friend pick you up if you wish to make a long one-way trip.

Length: 6.7 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: From Safford drive south 8 miles on US 191 to AZ 366 (Swift Trail). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive 29 miles to the Columbine Visitor Information Station. Continue along FR 803 (Swift Trail) about 5 miles to the Riggs Flat turnoff and then another 2 miles to the trailhead at the end of FR 803. The last 12 miles of this road are narrow and winding. This trailhead is not accessible from November 15 to April 15 when the Swift Trail is closed for the winter. Early or late snow may extend the inaccessible season.

Or, take Forest Road 286 south from the town of Pima. Follow this road 12 miles to the Forest boundary, continue 15 miles farther to the West Peak lookout. The last 2 miles of this road may require a high clearance vehicle; a 4-wheel drive is preferable. The trailhead is alongside the road just before it arrives at the lookout. During the winter months, snow conditions may close access to this trailhead.

This is actually a system of trails that were designed specifically with mountain biking in mind, but they provide some excellent hiking as well. They consist of a collection of old logging roads that have been closed to vehicles and new trails that have been constructed to create a network of loops. These loops lead through areas of cool, mixed conifer forests made up mostly of Douglas-fir, white fir, Engelmann spruce and aspen groves. The big trees are interspersed with small meadows. On each trail system, the old logging roads are easier traveling than the more narrow connecting trails.

The Grant Hill Loop Trail is easiest travelled in a clockwise direction. On this route, great views of the Sulphur Springs Valley, Fort Grant and the Galiuro Mountains can be seen from the end of the first (eastern most) logging road. This is a beautiful loop trail during the fall season when the aspen leaves are turning a golden yellow. If you would like the challenge of a more difficult route, travel the outer loop counter clockwise. No matter which way you travel; the outer loop is 4.2 miles.

The Cunningham Loop Trail can be travelled as an independent route or as an addition to the Grant Hill Loop Trail. The main trail is 5.6 miles long, but there are some side trails that may be worth exploring. The trail crosses a few small drainages as well as Grant Creek.

If you’ve brought your mountain bike, you’ll find the ride moderate for the most part, with a few sections of trail that will wake you up if you need more than beautiful scenery to get your attention. If you’ve come here looking for a hike that doesn’t require you to walk back by the same route you walked in, you’ve come to the right place, too. And although this trail is designed for mountain bikes, use levels are usually low enough that you don’t have to worry about dodging bicyclists while you enjoy the view. To sum that all up, these loop trails are an excellent place to be, whether you’ve come to ride or stride.

Length: 5.9 miles (#322), 5.6 miles (#316)

Rating: More difficult

Access: From Safford drive south 8 miles on US 191 to AZ 366 (the Swift Trail). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive 23.5 miles beyond the Hospital Flat Campground to the Grant Hill Loop trailhead on the left side of the road and the Cunningham Loop trailhead on the right side of the road. Cunningham Loop Trail may also be accessed across Swift Trail from Cunningham Camp. Parking is available at Cunningham Camp.

If you look toward Mt. Graham from Safford, you’ll notice that there is a lone mountain that stands between that higher range and the town. Though it’s not as big as the Pinaleños, it may be even more rugged and precipitous than its taller neighbors. This is Deadman Peak. It is actually connected to Mount Graham by a high, sharp ridge that isn’t obvious from the town and the highway. Trail #70 offers access to this rugged offshoot of the Pinaleños by leading up the drainage of Deadman Creek. This small stream tumbles down the north side of the mountain through a precipitous canyon which is home to a couple of waterfalls that are quite picturesque during spring flows.

The trail remains within the confines of Deadman Canyon for its entire length, dropping down to the canyon floor for the last quarter of its journey to the Round the Mountain Trail #302. Vegetation along the trail is characteristic of the Upper Sonoran Desert zone except where the trail follows the floor of Deadman Canyon. Here, riparian species find a home along the stream which holds water for most of the year.

Length: 3.4 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: Drive northwest from Safford on US Hwy 70 and turn south on 20th Ave. Turn right (west) on Golf Course Rd. In about 0.5 mile there is an intersection where you should bear left (45° to the left of Golf Course Rd.). Follow this road to the pipeline road (not marked). To get to the trailhead, you’ll have to weave around and behind the Thatcher golf course. The road is rough and narrow and leads through several gates on its way to the trailhead. A 4-wheel drive vehicle may be needed.

The fabulous views just keep coming along all 22 miles of this ridgetop trail. It snakes its way among the highest peaks in the Galiuros and sidesteps the upper reaches of several of the range’s major canyons. From the trailhead in Deer Creek, the East Divide Trail wanders its way along shallow drainages and grassy flats to the upper reaches of Oak Creek. It then follows this drainage to the top of the easternmost of the two ridges which divide the Galiuros. Once atop the East Divide, the trail follows a ridge line route past Kennedy, Sunset and Bassett Peaks, offering good views of other prominent points in the mountain range including Kielberg, Grassy and Rhodes Peaks, as well as Biscuit, Maverick and Cake Mountains. A quarter-mile side trip takes you to an even more impressive panorama atop Kennedy Peak, where the views stretch toward all points of the compass.

From the high ridge of the Galiuros’ East Divide, the trail drops into the upper reaches of Douglas Canyon where stands of Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine and aspen provide the scenery. Paddys River, Sunset Canyon and Redfield Canyon add more drama to the topography, both to the east and the west, as the trail passes its junction with the High Creek Trail #290 and continues on to the point where Bassett Peak Trail #287B sets off for the 7,663 foot summit of Bassett Peak, highest in the Galiuros. Here, the East Divide Trail drops off the high ridge and switchbacks down into Ash Creek Canyon completing the last leg of its long and notable journey.

Length: 22.2 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.Northern trailhead: From Bonita continue north on the Aravaipa Road about 19 miles to the Deer Creek Ranch Road (FR 253). Turn left here and travel 8.4 miles to the East Divide Trail.Southern trailhead: From Bonita continue west 13 miles to FR 651. Turn left (south) and travel 3.5 miles to FR 660 (4-wheel drive road). Turn right and travel 2 miles to East Divide Trail.

The East Divide Trail is also accessible via a number of other Galiuro Wilderness trails including Tortilla #254, Corral Canyon #291, Paddys River #293, and High Creek #290 trails.

Because there are usually plenty of songbirds to watch along Frye Canyon Trail, and good views of both desert and mountain scenery to enjoy, it is one of the more popular trails on the Safford Ranger District. For much of its length the Frye Canyon Trail follows an old road bed along a gently sloping course through a pleasant riparian setting. Sycamores, cottonwoods, willows and other water-loving trees and shrubs hug the creek, while just beyond the area nourished by the stream’s flow the bristling and brittle plants of the Sonoran desert hold sway. As you wander along you may occasionally lose the trail among the rocks; however, if you remember that the route basically follows the streambed and keep a watchful eye out for traces of a pathway, you can usually find it again rather easily.

As the canyon steepens nearer the mountain, the trail crosses onto the ridge for the last few yards of climbing before it intersects the Round the Mountain Trail #302. A now abandoned ranger station named Inception was once located here and the area still retains that name on Forest recreation maps. The Ash Ridge Trail #327 also intersects the Frye Canyon Trail about two thirds of the way between the trailhead and the Round the Mountain junction. Both of these trails provide alternate access to Frye Canyon and possibilities for extended trips.

Length: 2.8 miles

Rating: Easy

Access: Drive northwest from Safford to Thatcher on US Highway 70. Turn left (south) on Stadium Street and follow it to FR 103. The trailhead is at the end of this road beyond Frye Mesa Reservoir, a distance of roughly 10 miles. The last 2 miles of FR 103 (from the bottom to the top of Frye Mesa) is rough and rocky and not recommended for passenger cars.

When high-elevation Riggs Flat Lake atop the Pinaleños is snowed in and covered with ice, trout anglers who come to the Safford District can still find a place to fish at Frye Mesa Reservoir. Lower winter temperatures and longer winter nights cool the waters of this small body of water surrounded by Sonoran Desert sufficiently, so that the Arizona Game and Fish Department can stock it with rainbow trout.

About a half-mile beyond the reservoir, at the end of FR 103, the Frye Canyon Trail #36 heads out toward the upper slopes of the mountain. If the fish aren’t biting, you can always take a hike.

Access: Drive northwest from Safford to Thatcher on U.S. Hwy 70. Turn left, (south) on Stadium Street and follow it to Forest Road 103. Drive about 10 miles on FR 103 to Frye Mesa Reservoir. This road is very rough in spots and requires a high clearance type 2-wheel drive vehicle.

This west side trail has a bit of a split personality. Upper reaches are steep and rough going while lower portions of the trail follow a moderate canyon-bottom course. From the Cunningham Campground the trail begins to drop almost immediately down a long series of switchbacks into Post Creek Canyon. Climbing down those switchbacks is made a bit easier by the far reaching views you can enjoy each time you stop for a rest. Having reached the bottom of this 2,000-foot grade, the trail then follows the canyon floor, first beside Post Creek and then along Grant Creek, until it breaks free of the mountain in the vicinity of historic Fort Grant.

Trailside vegetation starts out as a mixture of high mountain species, including Douglas-fir and quaking aspen, and changes gradually to ponderosa pine and Gambel oak as it descends. Once in the canyon Douglas-fir reappears, but now it’s part of a community that includes riparian species such as Arizona alder. The surroundings continue to change as the trail proceeds downstream and the forest gives way to desert.

Trail users stand a good chance of seeing a bear along this trail; however, though these shy animals are plentiful in this area, they do a good job of keeping out of sight. More likely you’ll see Aberts squirrels and deer–either white-tailed in higher elevations or mule deer in lower elevations. Grant Creek is one of the few streams in this mountain range containing a population of native Apache trout. The fish are mostly small, but what they lack in size they make up for in wariness and spunk. Fort Grant, at the trail’s lower end, was built in 1872 as an outpost in the wars between the U.S. Army and the Apaches. After those wars ended with the capture of Geronimo in 1886, the fort was closed. Presently, it serves as a Prison Work Camp for the State of Arizona.

Length: 5.5 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: From Safford drive south 8 miles on US 191 to the Swift Trail (AZ 366). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive 26 miles to the Cunningham Camp and corral on the left side of the road. The trailhead is located toward the back of the campground. The trailhead at the lower end begins at the end of Forest Road 157. To drive to the trailhead you no longer need to get a key from the Administrative site.

Grant Goudy Ridge Trail follows an old pack trail from Soldier Creek Campground down the southwest slopes of the Pinaleños to historic Fort Grant. As it snakes down the ridge that separates Grant and Goudy Canyons, the trail leads from the cool forests of the mountain range’s highest slopes, through a transition zone of ponderosa pine forests and oak/juniper woodlands, to a desert landscape on the floor of the Sulphur Springs Valley. Because this trail passes through so many different life zones, it is an excellent place to see a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, Abert squirrels and black bear among the pines, and mountain lions (if you’re very lucky), coatimundi, javelina, skunk and rock squirrels at lower elevations.

Another reason to take this trail is to enjoy the overlooks it offers. The Galiuro Mountains to the west, the Winchesters to the southwest, and the Pinaleños, too, have been described as Sky Islands surrounded by a sea of desert. This is a good perspective from which to see why that description fits so well. Fort Grant, which anchors the desert end of the Grant Goudy Ridge Trail, had its heyday during the last few decades of the nineteenth century as an outpost in the wars between the U.S. Army and the Apaches. It was abandoned in 1905 and eventually reopened as an Arizona State Prison Facility, which it remains today.

Historically, soldiers used the Grant Goudy Trail to move to cool refuges in the mountains and escape from the intense heat of their remote desert outpost.

Length: 6.4 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: From Safford, drive south 8 miles on US 191 to AZ 366 (the Swift Trail). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive 29 miles to the Soldier Creek Campground; entrance is on the left side of the road. The trailhead is at the back of the campground. For the lower trailhead, take FR 157 from Fort Grant (get a key at the Fort Administration Building to drive to the trailhead, through a locked gate). A 4-wheel drive vehicle may be required to get to the trailhead, or you may park near the first creek crossing and walk up the road to the trailhead. This trail begins at its junction with the Grant Creek Trail #305.

During General Nelson Miles’ mid-1880’s campaign against the Apaches led by Geronimo, a U.S. Signal Corps officer named Colonel William A. Glassford established an innovative signal system. Atop mountain peaks throughout southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, soldiers manned stations using mirrors, or heliographs, to flash messages across great distances. Heliograph Peak, as one of the highest mountains in southeast Arizona, served as one of the peaks in that system. Miles cornered Geronimo in 1886 and had him sent into exile in Florida. As a reward for their efforts, the Apache scouts that had helped defeat Geronimo were sent into exile along with him. Shortly thereafter, the heliograph system was abandoned along with a number of forts used in the Apache campaign.

Today, this same high promontory serves as an important link in another communication system– a series of lookouts that are used to spot and help control forest fires. The 100-foot steel tower atop Heliograph Peak is staffed during the critical fire season, which normally lasts from May 1 to July 31. The mountaintop is also a popular place for sightseers to visit as they enjoy one of the most wide ranging views in the Southwest. A number of mountain ranges both inside and outside the boundaries of the Coronado National Forest may be seen from this perspective, including the Galiuros, Dos Cabezas, White Mountains, Gilas, Rincons and Santa Catalinas.

Heliograph Trail branches off the Arcadia Trail #328 about a mile from Shannon Campground and leads to the top of this historic peak. If you would rather not return by that same route, you can put together a loop by following the Arcadia and Heliograph trails to the summit then returning by way of the Heliograph Road, which is closed to public motor vehicles. A short trip along the Swift Trail (AZ 366) back to Shannon Campground completes this four-mile loop.

Length: 1 mile

Rating: More difficult

Access: From Safford drive south 8 miles on US 191 to AZ 366 (the Swift Trail). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive 22 miles to the entrance of Shannon Campground and the road to Heliograph Peak Lookout. At the end of Shannon Campground, take the Arcadia Trail #328 for one mile to access the Heliograph Trail. For additional access information see the write-up on the Arcadia Trail #328.

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

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.

Rattlesnake Trail is so named because it’s located in the upper reaches of Rattlesnake Canyon, not necessarily because it’s home to an unusual abundance of the West’s most famous trail hazard. Then again, there has to be a reason the canyon got that name in the first place, so it’s probably a good idea to watch where you step and where you put your hands while you’re passing through. Many people confuse this trail with the Powers Garden Trail #96, which is also in Rattlesnake Canyon. Trail #96, however, winds its way through the lower reaches of the canyon from the bottom of Powers Hill to the point where it joins the Rattlesnake Trail roughly in mid-canyon.

Rattlesnake Trail branches off the East Divide Trail #287 a short distance north of the point where the High Creek Trail #290 provides access to the East Divide from Forest Road 159. Because the High Creek Trail is only 1.7 miles long, this route (High Creek, East Divide, Rattlesnake) provides the shortest access into the history-rich area once homesteaded by the Power family (see the Power Cabin page of the History section of this guide). As the trail drops from conifer-clad high country to canyon bottom, it passes through vegetation that varies with aspect and exposure from pine forest to oak juniper woodland to riparian zone. A short spur trail, #285A, leads to Holdout Spring.

Length: 4.9 miles (#285), 0.2 mile (#285A)

Rating: Most difficult

Access: The Rattlesnake Trail is accessible only via other trails including the East Divide Trail #287 and the Powers Garden Trail #96.

This trail gets its unique name from the fact that it starts near Ladybug Peak, a place where large numbers of these small, orange-colored, black-spotted beetles congregate at various times of the year. In addition to this interesting feature, Ladybug Trail has a number of other notable aspects which make it well worth a visit. For one thing, it’s a good place to see black bear sign or even to catch a glimpse of one of these impressive animals. Virtually all of the upper slopes of the Pinaleños are excellent bear country, serving as home to one of the most dense concentrations of black bears to be found in North America. The area this particular trail traverses, however, seems to be especially attractive to them. If that makes you a little uneasy, remember that black bears are shy and not at all as aggressive as their larger grizzly cousins. Still, they deserve your respect.

The upper trailhead is located in stands of mixed conifers from which the setting changes gradually to oak woodland and eventually to manzanita and desert scrub as the trail drops into Jacobson Canyon at its lower end. Most people choose to travel the trail in this downhill direction because it is quite steep. A good reason to choose to go the other way, however, is if the upper trailhead is snowed in after a winter storm. Scenery along Ladybug Trail includes good overlooks of Jacobson Canyon and views of the Swift Trail (AZ 366) as it snakes its way up the mountain. In the distance, the Gila Mountains and Gila Valley provide a broad and scenic backdrop.

Length: 5.9 miles

Rating: Most difficult

Access: From Safford drive south 8 miles on US 191 to the Swift Trail (AZ 366). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive about 17 miles to Ladybug Saddle. From the trailhead at the parking area on the left side of the road follow the Bear Canyon Trail #299 to the Ladybug Trail.

The Powers Garden Trail follows an old road built by a pioneer family that farmed, ranched and mined in Rattlesnake Canyon shortly after the turn of the century. The Power family eked out a frontier-style livelihood in this remote land until 1918. Then, three members of the family were involved in a gunfight with law officers on a gold claim they were working 5 miles up Rattlesnake Canyon from Powers Garden. Although John Power was killed, his two sons, Tom and John, along with family friend Tom Sison, escaped into the mountains and became the object of one of the largest manhunts Arizona had seen to that date (See the page on Powers Garden in the History section of this Guide). The cabin where it all happened is not along the Powers Garden Trail, but on the West Divide Trail #289 about a half mile south of where the Powers Garden Trail joins it.

The original boundaries of the Galiuro Wilderness were drawn to exclude the road the Power family built to their ranch and mine. In 1984, when a new Wilderness bill was passed by Congress, those boundaries were redrawn so that the area the road passed through became part of the Wilderness. Today, Powers Garden Trail exerts a strong attraction on those interested in experiencing the remoteness and solitude of deep wilderness. Except for a small house the family built at Powers Garden, a few grazing developments, and an occasional airplane flying overhead, there is little here to come between you and nature.

After dropping down Powers Hill, Trail #96 stays within Rattlesnake Canyon for the rest of its length. Rattlesnake Creek itself is dry much of the year, but the vegetation along it is still typically riparian. You’ll find Arizona sycamores, cypress and walnut here, in addition to several desert dwelling species of oak. Mountain lion and black bear are plentiful in this out of the way place too, as are other desert species including the raccoon-like coatimundi.

Length: 8.9 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: From Safford drive west 13.5 miles on US 70. Turn left (west) on the Klondyke Road and continue 32 miles to its junction with the Aravaipa Road. Turn northwest here and drive 3.5 miles to the old Powers Garden Road (FR 96). Turn south on this 4-wheel drive road and drive 11 miles to the trailhead. Additional access is available from Deer Creek and High Creek.

Rattlesnake Trail is so named because it’s located in the upper reaches of Rattlesnake Canyon, not necessarily because it’s home to an unusual abundance of the West’s most famous trail hazard. Then again, there has to be a reason the canyon got that name in the first place, so it’s probably a good idea to watch where you step and where you put your hands while you’re passing through. Many people confuse this trail with the Powers Garden Trail #96, which is also in Rattlesnake Canyon. Trail #96, however, winds its way through the lower reaches of the canyon from the bottom of Powers Hill to the point where it joins the Rattlesnake Trail roughly in mid-canyon.

Rattlesnake Trail branches off the East Divide Trail #287 a short distance north of the point where the High Creek Trail #290 provides access to the East Divide from Forest Road 159. Because the High Creek Trail is only 1.7 miles long, this route (High Creek, East Divide, Rattlesnake) provides the shortest access into the history-rich area once homesteaded by the Power family (see the Power Cabin page of the History section of this guide). As the trail drops from conifer-clad high country to canyon bottom, it passes through vegetation that varies with aspect and exposure from pine forest to oak juniper woodland to riparian zone. A short spur trail, #285A, leads to Holdout Spring.

Length: 4.9 miles (#285), 0.2 mile (#285A)

Rating: Most difficult

Access: The Rattlesnake Trail is accessible only via other trails including the East Divide Trail #287 and the Powers Garden Trail #96.

This trail doesn’t go all the way ’round the mountain, but it goes far enough to provide some really spectacular views and to give you a good idea of the size of this “Sky Island." Round the Mountain Trail travels a gradually ascending course through oak woodlands and stands of mixed conifers. Along the way, it presents a steadily changing panorama of the Gila River Valley and Gila Mountains along with good views of Deadman Peak, Heliograph Peak and Mount Graham of the Pinaleños. You can start just as easily at either end of the trail – at the Round the Mountain Trailhead and Picnic Area about a mile above Noon Creek Picnic Area on the Swift Trail, or at the trailhead just below the Bible Camp at the end of the Columbine Road. Water can be found in a number of small streams along the trail, including Marijilda, Deadman and Frye Creeks, as well as in Gibson Creek and Round the Mountain Spring (except in a severe drought). This is a good trail for wildlife watching, too. White-tailed deer and black bear are frequently sighted here, and if you don’t see a bear you should still see plenty of evidence of them.

Round the Mountain Trail is well suited to both hiking and horseback riding and it serves as a convenient connector to a number of other trails. Among these are Noon Creek Ridge Trail #318, Gibson Canyon Trail #308, Deadman Trail #70, Frye Canyon Trail #36 and Ash Ridge Trail #327.

Length: 15 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: From Safford, drive south 8 miles on US 191 to the Swift Trail (AZ 366). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive 8 miles to the Round the Mountain Trailhead and Picnic Area on the right side of the road. To get to the other end of the trail, continue 21 miles past the first Round the Mountain trailhead to the Columbine Visitor Information Station and turn right toward the summer home area on FR 508. Park to the side of the road, without blocking the gate, and walk down the road 1 mile to the trailhead.

Shake Trail leads from the oak and juniper grasslands of Stockton Pass to the pine and juniper forests of the Pinaleño’s upper slopes. Along its winding, sloped course it provides views of the Greasewood Mountains and Sulphur Springs Valley to the south and west, as well as close-up views of the various habitats that make up the complex environment of this desert mountain range. Along your way, you’ll pass through life zones that range from upper Sonoran Desert to mixed conifer forest and see plants that vary from cholla cactus to Douglas-fir.

Wildlife varies as much as the plant life along this mountain trail. Watch for tracks and other sign of javelina, mountain lion, mule deer and black bear. If you’re lucky, you may see more than tracks. While deer are by far the most frequently encountered of these large forest mammals, black bear sightings are quite common as well. The Pinaleños have one of the densest populations of these shy omnivores in all of North America.

During the summer, you may want to travel this trail from the top down to take advantage of the gradient. In the winter, you may choose to start at the lower trailhead for an out and back trip. The upper trailhead on Swift Trail is frequently snowed in during the winter.

Length: 5.1 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: Shake Trail has two road access points. One trailhead is located on the Swift Trail (AZ 366), the main road along the top of the Pinaleños. Drive 8 miles south of Safford on US 191 then turn southwest on AZ 366 and continue about 17.5 miles to the trailhead on the left, approximately 1 mile past Ladybug Saddle.

The lower trailhead is located near Stockton Pass Campground. From Safford, drive south 17 miles on US 191 to AZ 266. Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 266 and continue 12 miles to the Stockton Pass Campground. Walk through the fenced area north of the picnic area; the trail starts at a gate located in the northwest corner.

This trail provides a pleasant but strenuous route into the inner reaches of the Galiuros, dipping in and out of sycamore- and oak-shaded riparian areas. The trail is accessible via the East Divide Trail #287 or Powers Garden Trail #96. Views along the trail include picturesque vistas of the Galiuros’ steep eastern face and views of rocky bluffs and rugged escarpments. The trail skirts its way along the sideslopes of Sycamore Canyon.

Within the canyon, riparian vegetation shades the route and provides a productive habitat for a variety of wildlife species including a diverse population of songbirds. Bear, lion and white-tailed deer roam these haunts too; however, all but the deer are too shy to be encountered with any regularity. At various places along the trail the canopy opens sufficiently to add good views of the grassy canyon walls and distant peaks of the Galiuros to an already full menu.

At Rattlesnake Canyon, the Sycamore Trail intersects with the Powers Garden Trail #96 making possible a loop route back to the Deer Creek trailhead via Trail #96 and Tortilla Trail #254 or Corral Canyon Trail #291.

Length: 5.5 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 travel 8.4 miles to the trailhead for the East Divide Trail #287. Follow this trail about 1 mile to the Mud Spring turnoff. Take this trail 1 mile to Mud Spring and the beginning of the Sycamore Trail.

You can go all the way up and over the Pinaleño Mountains on this trail, although most people use it as an access route to the range’s high ridge from either the north or the south side. Both ends of the trail start in riparian areas that are quite similar. The southern trailhead is located at the north end of FR 509 near a small spring, named Colter Spring. This 4-wheel drive road is in bad condition north of the National Forest boundary. It is a good idea to park your vehicle at the boundary and start your trip there. Colter Spring usually has water. Both North and South Taylor Canyons have intermittent water and are usually dry during the hottest time of the year.

From these canyons the trail climbs through oak and juniper stands to the saddle at the top of Taylor Pass. This is the lowest point on top of the Pinaleño Range but it still provides good views both to the north and south. At Taylor Pass, the trail crosses the Clark Peak Trail #301 which traverses from east to west. To the east, it leads to the summit of Clark Peak and on to the end of the Swift Trail (Highway 366). To the west, the Clark Peak Trail leads to the summit of West Peak.

Length: 5.7 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: North trailhead– Drive west from Safford on US 70 through Pima to the road marked Tripp Canyon (FR 286). Turn left (west) and follow it to the Taylor Canyon sign. Turn left (south) and follow FR 156 for 6 miles to the north Taylor Canyon trailhead. South trailhead– 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 2.5 miles to Forest Road 509 and turn north on this 4-wheel drive road. Pass the Seventy Six ranch house on the east side and continue on to the National Forest boundary (about 5 miles). The trailhead is located further north, but due to the bad condition of this last stretch of road, it is advisable to park here and hike/ride to the marked trailhead.

Tortilla Trail leads from the grasslands that spread along the eastern slopes of the Galiuros to the heart of that remote mountain range in deep, wide Rattlesnake Canyon. From the trailhead at Deer Creek, it meanders among shallow canyons and rocky flats in the shadow of the bluffy slopes that characterize the Galiuros. Most of this trail is in open country, where isolated oaks and grassy flats do little to restrict the far-reaching views of rugged canyons, rocky escarpments and distant mountains.

You may see evidence of mountain lion along this trail. These reclusive animals are about as plentiful here as they get in the southwest. There are mule deer and black bear in the area too, and smaller animals including shrill-voiced rock squirrels and colorful scarlet king snakes. Typical vegetation in the open areas includes bear grass, sotol, cane cholla and manzanita. Down in the canyons you’ll find Arizona walnut, netleaf oak and silverleaf oak, among others.

At Mud Spring, Sycamore Canyon Trail #278 branches off to the north. The Tortilla Trail then drops into the upper reaches of Sycamore Canyon before climbing to a saddle at the top of a steep descent that leads into Horse Canyon and eventually into Rattlesnake Canyon. Rattlesnake is one of two main drainages that split the Galiuros, the other is Redfield Canyon. At the bottom of Rattlesnake Canyon, you’ll find Powers Garden and the Powers Garden Trail #96, both named after a family whose members once mined gold in this area and were principals in a famous shootout that occurred at Power Cabin.

This trail can be a bit difficult to locate in a few places, and it is crisscrossed by a number of ranch and cattle trails that can confuse the issue even more. If you look around a bit, however, you can generally relocate the trail without much trouble. While it is always advisable to take a topographic map and a compass on a trip into the backcountry, in the Galiuros it is essential.

Length: 8.2 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 Aravaipa Road about 19 miles to the Deer Creek Ranch Road (FR 253). Turn left here and drive 8.4 miles to the trailhead.

If you’re looking for a reasonably short trip that offers good views and takes you through some of the Safford District’s most beautiful forests, this trail provides all of the above. It starts at the Columbine public corrals across from the Columbine Visitor Information Station along the Swift Trail (AZ 366). Follow the Webb Peak Trail 1 mile to the Webb Peak Lookout. The tower is used only when fire danger warrants it, but the broad, far-reaching views are always on hand for you to enjoy.

Just before you reach the tower you’ll find a trail that leads to the right. This is the part of Webb Peak Trail that leads 1.7 miles to the Ash Creek Trail #307. It is 0.5 mile from this junction on the Ash Creek Trail to the Columbine public corrals.

Length: 2.8 miles

Rating: More difficult

Access: From Safford, drive south 8 miles on US 191 to AZ 366 (the Swift Trail). Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and drive 29 miles to the Columbine Visitor Information Station. Just past the Station, on your right, parking is available at the public horse corrals. Or, you may continue along the Swift Trail to the Webb Peak Road turnoff where parking is also available.

The Galiuro Mountains grace the southeast Arizona landscape as a pair of ridges split by a north/south canyon complex. Two main ridges enclose this canyon duet made up of Rattlesnake Canyon flowing north and Redfield Canyon flowing south. Though the West Divide Trail is named for the westernmost of these two ridges, the trail actually starts in one of the canyons. The only point on the West Divide Trail accessible by vehicle is at Jackson Cabin at the southern Forest boundary of the Galiuros in a side drainage off Redfield Canyon. The trail follows this drainage to the main canyon and then winds upstream for several miles through the stacked block pinnacles and steep rocky bluffs that make this gorge one of the most spectacular in the Southwest.

West Divide Trail eventually leaves Redfield Canyon and winds across the high rolling country that separates it from Rattlesnake Canyon. Along the way, it passes the old mine and cabin where the pioneer Power family was involved in a shootout that became part of the mythos of the wild west (see the Power Cabin page of the History section of this guide). The trail then ascends Grassy Ridge where the views are big, bold and unobstructed. To the east, north and south, the major peaks of the Galiuro Range are visible, including Kennedy, Kielberg, Bassett and Biscuit. To the west, the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson stand massive and tall, rising abruptly from the broad, flat San Pedro Valley. Within that valley lies the copper mining town of San Manuel, home of one of the largest open pit copper mines in the world. The trail ends at Maverick Peak, one of the higher points in the Galiuros and one of the major features in the visual smorgasbord you’ll be enjoying as you trek across the ridgetops.

Length: 23.7 miles

Rating: Most difficult

Access: From the Muleshoe Ranch (Hookers Hot Springs on the Forest Service map), take Forest Road 691 north 13.5 miles to just before Jackson cabin. This is a rough, 4-wheel drive road. From the north, access may be gained by the Powers Garden Trail #96.