gila box riparian national conservation area

Gila Box is so beautiful. When we were first driving in, I wanted to turn back so many times, because the road was so bad. It's not like we needed the 4X4, although we had it, it's that it is all gravel, it was dusty, and it was washboard. My back was screaming at me (although I will say, I have about a pound and a half of titanium in it, so it screams rather easy). As we got into the riparian area, it was totally worth the ride. The towering cottonwood trees beside the aquamarine pools of water were in gorgeous. The water slows in deeper pools and then speeds up and turns to slower whitewater (kind of sounds like an oxymoron, but I never saw anything bigger than a class 1). I would have been okay doing it in an inner tube, however I haven't been back since the monsoon season started, so the rapids may be much more extreme. In some areas, giant cliffs of rock shoot straight up out of the water and tower a hundred feet or more above the surface, providing shade below. It truly is remarkable to see this in the desert!

The BLM's Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area is close enough to Safford that it makes an easy day's getaway but far enough that you can "get away from it all" and enjoy the outdoors.There are two campgrounds, many picnic areas, a bird-viewing deck, historic sites, and three trails, plus hundreds of miles of back country primitive roads to explore.Now that it's a little cooler outside and the rains have made everything in the desert come alive, it's the perfect time to head to the Box!But a word of warning ... The recent rainstorms have resulted in higher than usual river levels. So be careful where you walk and don't attempt to float the river unless you are experienced and have the right gear.

This is a beautiful area in SE AZ that sees little human traffic. The beautiful Gila River flows wild through tall stands of cottonwood trees with a beautiful campground located near the River. Bring food and water as there no services in the area. Don't miss this hidden gem!

This is a really pretty area for those interested in birdwatching, hiking, having a picnic, or just plain relaxing outside. On different days we went to the two different locations - Bonita Creek and Gila River. Even though the Gila River section is further away from Safford then Bonita Creek, we had more success and ease in exploring the Gila River area. This time of year the cottonwoods are vibrant green and really stand out against the desert backdrop. It's a nice place to visit for those preferring solitude in nature.