Aravaipa Creek

For the wilderness area, see Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness.

Aravaipa Creek is a drainage between three mountain ranges in southwest Graham County, Arizona – the Galiuro Mountains, the Santa Teresa Mountains and the Pinaleno Mountains. These mountains are part of the high altitude Madrean Sky Islands located in southern Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, and northern Sonora and Chihuahua states in Mexico.

Aravaipa Creek
Aravaipa Creek in Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness
Central Aravaipa Valley and Creek
Location
Country	United States
Cities	Mammoth–Winkelman
Location	Graham County, Aravaipa Valley (northeast Sonoran Desert), Arizona
Physical characteristics
Source
• elevation	8,889 ft (2,709 m) above sea level
Mouth
• location	San Pedro River south of Winkelman
• coordinates	32°50′17″N 110°42′56″W
Length	55 mi (89 km)
Basin features
River system	Gila River
Borders	Galiuro Mountains-NW & SW Santa Teresa Mountains-NE Pinaleno Mountains-SE (The Tablelands & Mescal Mountains-NW)

Aravaipa Creek originates on the southeast flank of the Galiuro Mountains at Durkee Canyon and Blue Peak at 8,889 feet (2,709 m).^[1] It then flows northwest through the narrow, fault-blocked Aravaipa Valley with the Pinaleno Mountains bordering the valley on the east and the Santa Teresa Mountains bordering on the northeast. On the west side of the valley, the creek follows the northeast and north perimeter of the Galiuro Mountains massif flowing northwest, west, and then southwest through and around the range's north end to meet the San Pedro River a few miles south of Dudleyville.

The town of Klondyke is located in the heart of the Aravaipa Valley about 35 miles west from Eden which is located on U.S. Route 70. There is also access to Klondyke via Arizona State Route 266 to Bonita (passing near Fort Grant) and thence on a gravel road north through the valley. Bonita may also be accessed by gravel road north from Willcox.

West of Klondyke in the Galiuro Mountains is the location of the well known Power's Cabin shootout. The former populated area of Aravaipa is located at the end of the Klondyke Road on the slopes of the Santa Teresa Mountains, north of Klondyke.

Aravaipa Canyon at the north end of the Galiuro Mountains contains the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. The creek goes northwest then southwest through the canyon and downstream about 9 miles (14 km) to meet the San Pedro River and Arizona State Route 77 between Dudleyville and Mammoth. Access to the eastern end of the wilderness is located north of Klondyke on the Klondyke Road.

See also

• List of rivers of Arizona

References

1. Arizona Road and Recreation Atlas, pp. 82–83.

External links

• Map of Aravaipa Creek from Northern Arizona University.
• Klondyke, Arizona (coordinates)
• Aravaipa Creek confluence with the San Pedro River
• Backpacking Aravaipa Canyon
• Geohydrology Assessment of Aravaipa Canyon from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
• YouTube video of driving the Klondyke Road from Pima, Arizona (from the east) to the east end of Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness.
• Photos of driving to Klondyke from Wilcox (from the south), then to the east end of the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, and then hiking the eastern part of the canyon.