Graham County: Wilderness, Desert, and History

At 10,720 feet, Mount Graham is the highest peak in the Pinaleño Mountains. Together with river landscapes, desert trails, and places with connections to regional history, it offers a glimpse of the variety of things to discover in Graham County.

Landscapes and Nature Experiences

More than 100 bird species have been recorded at the Bonita Creek Watchable Wildlife Viewing Area. In the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, four perennial waterways and a rich riparian ecosystem shape the landscape. These two facts highlight specific interests for nature lovers: birdwatching at Bonita Creek and the aquatic and riparian habitats of the Gila Box.

In the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, Aravaipa Creek flows year-round through a riparian corridor lined with sycamores, ash, cottonwoods, and willows. Several side canyons, caves, rock outcrops, chimneys, and so-called windows add to the landscape; these formations can be explored. A permit is required for hiking, backpacking, and hunting in the wilderness, including its side canyons. Check the permit procedures before taking such a trip.

You’ll encounter a different landscape at Discovery Park: the Nature’s Hideaway Trail System winds for more than four miles through the Sonoran Desert. This desert trail system and the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, shaped by a creek that flows year-round, offer different kinds of nature experiences. These landscapes and their distinctive features provide specific points of reference if you want to plan your trip around nature experiences.

Routes and Practical Planning

The Black Hills Back Country Byway is a 21-mile unpaved route through the rugged heart of the Old West. Vehicles with high clearance are particularly suitable for it. Access to Turkey Creek also follows an unpaved road; vehicles with high clearance and four-wheel drive are normally required there. The distinction matters for planning: high clearance is particularly suitable for the byway, while high clearance combined with four-wheel drive is normally required at Turkey Creek.

A cliff dwelling is also located at Turkey Creek. It was probably occupied by prehistoric farmers for a few months each year around 1300 AD. The seasonal use and access via an unpaved road are two separate factors to consider when planning this visit.

Culture, History, and Season

At Discovery Park, the Native Heritage Museum displays artifacts such as pottery, arrowheads, woven sandals, and beaded jewelry. You can combine a visit to the park with both the more than four-mile-long Nature’s Hideaway Trail System and a look at this collection.

Safford’s historic downtown features historic buildings, local shops, and community landmarks that reflect the growth of the Gila Valley in the early 20th century. The historic Graham County Courthouse is in Solomonville. Solomonville was also the administrative center of Graham County before Safford became the county seat. At Fort Thomas, the focus is on the town’s role during Arizona’s frontier era: it was important to the settlement and development of eastern Arizona. In Thatcher, a museum preserves stories, artifacts, photographs, and exhibits about the history of the Gila Valley.

One seasonal point of interest is the Graham County Fair, held annually in October at the Graham County Regional Park Complex. If the fair coincides with your travel dates, check the specific event dates in advance. Nature, regional history, and the October event offer different ways to plan your stay; choose your hotel based on the themes that matter most to your trip.

Discover more destinations: Thatcher, Safford, Yuma, Mohave, Pinal County, Maricopa, Cochise County, Boone.

For the broader travel overview: Arizona.