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South of Gila River 2.5

This is an easy, relaxed Jeep trail through lush Sonoran Desert vegetation while enjoying great scenery, and there is even a chance to play in the Gila River, depending on water flow.

Access to this area is the Florence-Kelvin Highway, but the Gila River can sometimes be forded to access this area from the north.  The water flow should be 350 cfs or less at Coke Ovens Ford – the flow should be less than that at Cochran ford.

The main track shows an interesting trip through the area, but there are many more easy roads and washes to be run if you have the time.  Trail is described west to east but can be done either way.

​There is a GPS - gpx track at the bottom of the page.
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Bank of the Gila River
​We like to run this route west to east.  It crosses, then parallels, Box O Wash down to the Gila River, skirts the edge of South Butte and then travels a high road with fantastic views of the White Canyon Wilderness and Walnut Canyon areas.
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Heading for Box O Wash
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Box O Wash
Cross Box O Wash then parallel it down to the shore of the Gila River, the opening photo of this page.

​Leave the Gila, go south of South Butte and return to the river in a different spot.  Continue east and enjoy a high road with views of North and South Buttes (photo) and of the Walnut Canyon area across the Gila River.
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Pass south of South Butte
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High road at east portion
Finish the day returning via Superior with a stop at the Ray Mine overlook - a humongous open pit copper mine.  Caution - the overlook seems to be open on a random basis.
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Ray Mine conveyors
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Ray Mine pit
Updated 2019.

Picture

south_of_gila_river_2.5.gpx
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  • Jeep The USA
  • Trails
    • Arizona Jeep Trails >
      • Apache Junction Jeep Trails
      • Kingman Jeep Trails
      • Lake Havasu - Parker Jeep Trails
      • Phoenix to Flagstaff Jeep Trails
      • Quartzsite Jeep Trails
      • Tucson - Benson Jeep Trails
    • California Jeep Trails >
      • Death Valley
    • Colorado Jeep Trails >
      • Breckenridge Jeep Trails
      • Buena Vista Jeep Trails
      • Grand Junction Jeep Trails
      • Montrose Jeep Trails
      • Silverton - Ouray Jeep Trails
    • Nevada Jeep Trails >
      • Las Vegas Jeep Trails
      • Mesquite Jeep Trails
    • New Mexico Jeep Trails >
      • Elephant Butte Jeep Trails
      • Las Cruces Jeep Trails
    • South Dakota Jeep Trails >
      • Black Hills Jeep Trails
    • Texas Jeep Trails >
      • Big Bend Jeep Trails
    • Utah Jeep Trails >
      • Blanding Jeep Trails
      • Green River -Hanksville Jeep Trails
      • Moab Jeep Trails
      • Page - Escalante - Kanab Jeep Trails
      • Saint George Jeep Trails
    • Wyoming Jeep Trails >
      • Bighorn Mountains Jeep Trails
      • Lander Jeep Trails
  • Difficulty Ratings
  • Use GPX
  • Interactive map Tutorial