KEY INFO
LOCATION Gila River to Tonto National Forest boundary
DISTANCE 25.2 miles one-way
DAY-TRIP OPTION See turnaround note in the trail description.
SHUTTLE RECOMMENDATION Drive north on Cochran Road from Florence–Kelvin Highway until it meets the Gila River. (Warning: Depending on the amount of water being released upstream, the Gila may be dry, knee-deep, or navigable only by kayak.) Park, cross the river, and walk 0.25 mile east to the AZT.
DIFFICULTY Moderate
LAND MANAGERS U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), blm.gov/wo/st/en.html (Arizona State Office, 602-417-9200); Arizona State Land Department, azland.gov, 602-542-4631
RECOMMENDED MONTHS October–April
GATEWAY COMMUNITIES See Central Copper Corridor and Florence.
GEOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS See “Supervolcanoes of the Superstition Mountains”.
This passage was the last segment of the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) to be completed, with the final singletrack constructed in spring 2012. The first 16 miles follow the Gila River, offering views unlike anywhere else along the AZT. The final 9 miles penetrate some of the most spectacular gorge scenery outside the Grand Canyon.
The Gila River Canyons boast some of the best wildflower displays in Arizona, including dramatic displays of Mexican gold poppies, bluedicks, and purple lupines.
This passage consists of two distinct corridors. The first is the Gila River section (almost 16 miles long), and the second is the Canyons (9-plus miles). The trail starts on the south side of the Kelvin–Riverside Bridge, heads north across the bridge, and quickly turns left (west) on Centurion Road. This dirt road crosses Mineral Creek, passes some private homes, and follows newly constructed trail for the next 2 miles. After gaining a few hundred feet in elevation, the trail arrives at a scenic viewpoint. Nearby is the “golden spike” of the AZT, marking the historic location where the last mile of trail was officially completed in 2012. The initials DS are inscribed in the concrete to honor Dale Shewalter, the “father of the Arizona Trail.” It continues west, winding downhill toward a railroad bridge as it passes through numerous boulder formations.
Once the trail is near a railroad bridge, it passes through a mesquite forest until it arrives at a gate. For the next 8 miles it consistently gains and loses elevation as it parallels the Gila River. Expect some great views to the north, south, and along the river.
TURNAROUND NOTE: If you’re day-hiking, it’s challenging to turn around while along this portion of the trail for fear of missing what beauty lies ahead, but the farther along the river you walk, the longer your day will be. Another option for out-and-back hiking is arranging a car shuttle at the historic townsite of Cochran, on the southern bank of the Gila River, 0.25 mile downstream of where the Arizona Trail heads north up Rincon Road. Cochran Road is accessible from Florence–Kelvin Highway. It’s a 16-mile hike from the Kelvin–Riverside Bridge to Cochran and requires you to cross the Gila River from north to south near Cochran. Note: Depending on the flow of the Gila, this crossing may or may not be possible. Exercise extreme caution when attempting to cross the river.
Continuing west, you’ll pass several arroyos from the mountainous terrain to the north and eventually arrive at Walnut Canyon at mile 11.3. To the north, but mostly out of view from the trail, are formations that define the Gila River Canyons, including The Spine and The Rincon. Much farther north are Copper Butte and the White Canyon Wilderness, both of which drain down through the narrows of Walnut Canyon. If you’re looking for a side trip in this area, head north up Walnut Canyon for 3.5 miles to an artesian well.
After crossing Walnut Canyon and passing through a gate, the trail hugs the river closely for the next 4.5 miles. Depending upon recent rains, this section could have a few short muddy sections, but having close proximity to the river, it offers several nice camping areas. The river section ends at the junction of Rincon–Battle Axe Road.
Heading north, the trail uses the rocky Rincon Road for 0.3 mile to the point where the road turns east and new singletrack begins its climb through the canyons to the north. The grade through the canyons will vary between 6 and 18 percent, but the epic scenery distracts you from the steepness of the climb.
After 2 miles, a prominent rhyolite pinnacle, among the defining features of this passage, rises to the west. As you continue north, the shape of the pinnacle changes dramatically. Although currently an unnamed feature, some AZT users have referred to it as Dale’s Butte, in honor of Dale Shewalter, the “Father of the Arizona Trail.”
Climbing to the northwest, the trail presents remarkable views of deeply cut canyons. This area is prime habitat for bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and Gila monsters. At the westernmost point of the trail, Martinez Canyon comes into view. Because of its remote location, few could have gazed into this natural wonder before this part of the trail was constructed.
Continuing north and east, the trail contours along some severe slopes with switch-backs and passes several deep chasms with natural water catchments that hold water for a short time after recent rains. On the final stretch, the trail crosses an undefined border between Tonto National Forest and BLM lands, and then it crosses the abandoned Ajax Mine Road as it arrives at a ranch gate and the northern end of Passage 16.
For the experienced rider, this entire passage is mountain-bike-friendly and may be some of the best singletrack along the AZT. For more information about mountain biking along the Arizona National Scenic Trail, visit aztrail.org.
From the town of Superior, take AZ 177 south for 15.2 miles (milepost 152.1). Turn right (south) onto Florence–Kelvin Highway (next to the railroad crossing), continue 1.2 miles through the community of Kelvin, and cross the Kelvin–Riverside Bridge, which spans the Gila River. The passage begins on the south side of the bridge, along Centurion Road. There is a large parking area at the junction of Riverside Road and Florence–Kelvin Highway, just across the road from the trailhead. The best parking and access, however, are at the Florence–Kelvin Trailhead, 2 miles south of the Gila River on Passage 15.
The northern half of Passage 16 showcases dramatic geology in a relatively unexplored part of Arizona.
If you want to hit the trail from here, please follow the trail description in reverse order. The closest way to access the north end of Passage 16 is to hike in on Alamo Passage from either the Picketpost Trailhead (11.5 miles) or to drive in on FR 4 from Superior (Mary Road) for 7 miles. (Caution: FR 4 is extremely rocky and accessible only with a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle and a very confident driver.) There is room to park and camp where the trail crosses FR 4. From this point, you still need to travel south for 4 miles to the ranch gate that divides the north end of Passage 16 from the south end of Passage 17.