Fourmile Canyon Campground

Fourmile Canyon Campground
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Campground Overview:

Fourmile Canyon Campground is a wonderful recreation site situated near Aravaipa Creek, located among large mesquite trees and desert grasses. The campground offers a developed setting for an overnight or week-long camping trip. This campground also provides convenient access to the Aravaipa Canyon and Galiuro Wildernesses.

Fourmile Canyon Campground includes 19 sites with lots of trees, fire pits, picnic tables, and bathrooms. Drinking water is usually available. Be prepared to share the campground with numerous cattle and bring your own firewood.

Travel 13 miles west of Safford on I-70 and exit at Aravaipa/ Klondyke Road. Turn left and go 32 miles to Klondyke. The campground is in Klondyke, .75 mile southwest of Fourmile Canyon Road.

Campground at a Glance

Level:

 Semi-Developed

Season:

 Year-Round

Nearby City:

 Safford

Fishing:

 None

Campground Website:

 Fourmile Canyon Campground

Campground Map:

 Click Here

Reservations:

 First-come, first-served basis

Location:

Nearby Attractions and Activities:

Fourmile Canyon CampgroundAravaipa Canyon Wilderness 

Before highways and railways, before pioneers…..the land we know as the United States was truly a vast wilderness. To protect these last remaining areas, Congress created the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. Aravaipa’s outstanding scenery, desert fish and wildlife, rich history, and opportunities for primitive recreation will remain free from the influence of man and are protected in this condition for future generations. Its 19,410 acres beckon adventurers who yearn for solitude and scenic splendor.

With towering cliffs, flowing water and a rich diversity of flora and fauna, Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness remains as one of Arizona’s truly unique areas. Its 19,410 acres of designated Wilderness beckons adventurers who yearn for solitude and scenic splendor. Located in southeast Arizona, roughly between Tucson and Phoenix, the Wilderness and surrounding public and private land conserve a vital ecosystem for future generations.

Expect the wild! There are no designated trails, campsites, signs, or facilities within the wilderness boundaries. The land is rugged and hikers should be in good condition to pass through dense riparian vegetation (a sign of a healthy ecosystem). All visitors should wear sturdy footwear suitable for hiking in sand, gravel, and cobble with potential for numerous stream crossings in knee-deep water.

Pictures courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona -Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness.

There are multiple side canyons, caves, outcrops, chimneys, and “windows” to explore along your way. Strong or destination hikers can traverse from end to end in 8 to 10 hours, while nature watchers, photographers and those wanting to explore side canyons may take one or two nights.

Aravaipa Creek flows year-round, an unusual phenomenon in the Arizona desert. Nurtured by this abundant water, large sycamore, ash, cottonwood, and willow trees flourish along the stream, flanked by other riparian vegetation. In the fall, a kaleidoscope of brilliant red and golden leaves contrasts dramatically with the surrounding Sonoran Desert landscape.

Things you should know before starting your hike:

  • A permit is required for recreational use of the canyon. All permits are secured through Recreation.gov.
  • Pets are not allowed in the wilderness.
  • Access to each wilderness boundary is courtesy of The Nature Conservancy. Please respect their private property.
  • The maximum length of stay is 3 days (2 nights).
  • Your party size cannot exceed 10 people.
  • Equestrians can have only 5 stock animals per party and stock cannot remain overnight in the canyon bottom.
  • Hunters need a permit. The flood plain of Aravaipa Creek and the first 50 vertical feet above the streambed are closed to shooting but are open to bow and arrow hunting in season.
  • Use of public land for business or financial gain requires a special permit.
  • Wilderness is closed to motor vehicles, mechanical transport, and motorized equipment.
  • Hikers from the east end trailhead should be aware of the parking situation. The wilderness boundary is located 1.5 miles west of the Information Kiosk and restroom (new trailhead). It is recommended that visitors park there and hike through The Nature Conservancy property the remaining distance due to road conditions and possible flooding. Open space at the junction of Turkey Creek and Aravaipa Creek provide additional parking options depending on flood danger

 

Bassett PeakGaliuro Wilderness 

The United States Congress designated the Galiuro Wilderness in 1964 and it now has a total of 77,584 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Arizona and is managed by the Coronado National Forest. The Galiuro Wilderness is bordered by the Redfield Canyon Wilderness to the south.

Rugged terrain, diverse plant and animal communities, old west history and plenty of solitude are available for lovers of wilderness in the Galiuros. These rugged block fault mountains rise over 3,700 feet above the semi-desert savannas of the Sulphur Springs and San Pedro Valleys in southeastern Arizona. Galiuro Wilderness encompasses the mid to upper slopes of the mountains as they rise from golden grasslands, through dense thickets of evergreen oak, to stands of ponderosa pine. Douglas-fir and bigtooth maple inhabit cooler sheltered areas and a stand of aspen cloaks the northern slope of 7,671-foot Bassett Peak, the highest in the range. Near the summit of Bassett Peak you may come across the wreckage of a World War II B-24 bomber. The plane crashed there on a training run in January of 1943, killing all 11 men on board. A plaque mounted on one of the wings commemorates their final resting place.

Two major canyons, Rattlesnake and Redfield, and twin ridges running northeast to southwest form the dominant geologic features of the area. A trail runs along each of these ridges providing access to a variety of connecting trails and spurs. The Galiuros are rich in both natural and cultural history. Wolves roamed these mountains until the mid-1950’s. And black bear and mountain lion are still plentiful today. At Power Cabin, deep within the mountain range, one of the most famous of old west shoot-outs took place in 1918.