December 17, 2017

Tucson area hikes - the Galiuros

The Galiuros are North and East of Tucson. They are the range across the San Pedro Valley from the Catalinas.

The place that most people go is Aravaipa Canyon, and perhaps someday I will write some about that once I go there again. You can access it from the west (from north of Oracle and Mammoth) or from the east (near Klondike, a long drive via Wilcox).

If you are in the mood to visit the Galiuros from the east, consider Ash Creek and a possible hike up Basset Peak (7663). This is also accessed via Wilcox. Basset Peak is the highest point in the Galiuros, although Kennedy Peak, which is further north is a close second at 7549.

A number of interesting areas can be visited by way of Muleshoe Ranch, now administered by the Nature Conservancy.

Redfield Canyon and the "stone house" are at the south end of the range and can be accessed from the Mammoth to Benson "highway", aka Pomerene road.

Access Issues

Access to various trailheads in the Galiuros seems to be an ever changing situation due to blocks of private land held by (or once held by) ranchers. Any information I provide here is subject to change, so don't be mad at me if you make a long drive only to find a locked gate.

Some roads may cross State trust land, which requires a permit for recreational use. These permits are inexpensive and now easily obtained online.

Have any comments? Questions? Drop me a line!

Tom's hiking pages / tom@mmto.org