Hikes near Safford or Mount Graham

[mattandbecky]

Thinking of going to Safford and explore. Anyone know of any good hikes around that area? I love this site but wish it had a feature to look at hikes based on a map or close town. Thanks.

[joebartels]

Safford hikes http://hikearizona.com/subRegion-Hikes.php?RID=55 or you can zoom in on the TrailDEX Map and under the "Hikes" tab click "Find Hikes"

[azbackpackr]

Up on Mt. Graham, Webb Peak, West Peak, Ash Creek, Heliograph peak and many others.

Last time I was in Safford I wanted to see the Gila Box BLM recreation area, which is great for river running at certain times of the year, but is also great to visit, explore and just for the scenery. Unlike Mt. Graham, which is up in the pines, the Box is in the desert. Well, we drove around Safford and asked a lot of people in Walmart, gas stations, etc. No one had heard of it. We finally did find someone to direct us there. It was less than half hour out of town, to the north, had a good gravel road to get there, had many signs, picnic areas, etc., posted by the BLM--a regular tourist attraction. But no one in town knows about it?

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Most people are completely INcurious about their surroundings, they don't explore, and they don't buy maps or guidebooks. They shop and clean house and do yard work and maintenance on weekends--usually almost every weekend, in fact, from what I can gather talking to my co-workers. (My own messy house is mute testimony as to how I spend my weekends!) This should be fine with me--more room for me out there, right? But it also means there is huge ignorance out there as to which areas deserve protection and conservation. So it's also very sad.....

Safford has about 20 hot springs, plus a warm lake with a beach for swimming at Roper Lake State Park. We used to camp on Mt. Graham for a week, and then when we were good and dirty we'd take the kids swimming there. I think they also have showers there, as I recall! Great area.....

[Jeffshadows]

Send a PM to Preston Sands...AKA: "King of the Galiuros"