Aravaipa Creek
Aravaipa is a perennially running spring fed creek northeast of Tucson in the Galiuro mountains. Cottonwoods line the creek and rhyolite cliffs line the top of the canyon. A permit from the BLM is required to hike or backpack the canyon and can be obtained up to 17 weeks in advance. There are two entrances, the west and the east. We entered the east and set up camp approximately 5.5 miles into the canyon. Isn’t it pretty? Who would think there are saguaros just up the slope?
You are reading a blog posting from the photographer Laurent Baig. Feel the wilderness experience.
Laurent Baig - The Wild Light 
That’s a great image of Aravaipa…the majority of the hike has the great contrast of water, greenery from the cotton woods, and tan canyon walls towering over everything.
Excellent job capturing the “normal” view.
Comment by Eric — May 7, 2009 @ 12:18 pm
Thanks, Eric. As you know, you spend at least half the hike walking in that creek, too. About a mile or so back west from here is where the “narrows” of Aravaipa are. I’d love to make it back there for some cool like and get some photographs of that area. But I was happy to make this, considering it was my first time this far in.
Comment by Laurent — May 8, 2009 @ 9:51 am
Beautiful place, Laurent! Let’s backpack it!
Comment by Michael Gordon — May 7, 2009 @ 2:18 pm
Let’s do, Michael! Early to mid October should be nice again. It was pretty warm when I went last week. Max of three days in, but the “trail” end to end is only 10 miles long. Lots of really cool side canyons though. I went up one and it was a hoot!
Comment by Laurent — May 8, 2009 @ 9:49 am