Unit 32 Galiuro Wilderness Access

[braden_bb]

Wanting to know which is the best access point to be able to backpack into the Galiuro Wilderness area coming from Mesa (east-valley area)? I keep reading access is pretty limited throughout the unit any info would help. Also people usually packing in water or finding seeps? Thanks

[metau]

I tried coming in from the north and west sides last year. Got close to the wilderness, but there were no trails and I had to hike up and over the top of the ridge to get where I wanted to go. Not a smart move. I believe there are still two access points that are still open with trailheads to get back in there. Fourmile, Long Hallow and Rattlesnake access points are closed. Deer Creek is supposed to be open, but I never made it that far down on the east side. There is also supposed to be an open trailhead at the south end of the west side, but I cannot remember the name now.

 

As for water, I found a small seep and set up camp nearby, but ran out of water on day 4 and had to pack out early. Not sure where the next closest water was, as I had a lion drinking from it my last two nights walking back to camp in the dark. I've heard there are springs further in, but I never made it over the ridge and stayed on the west face.

[Mr. Natural]

Rattlesnake being closed REALLY sucks.

[GreyGhost85]

Deer creek is probably your best bet but it's a long ways back in there and it gets very crowded. They need to cut the tags in half there since they cut the huntable land in half. We used to do good hunting long hollow and rattlesnake. Such a shame.

[braden_bb]

Thanks for all the info guys. Is there no access at all on the westside? I see Whitlock road and YLE Ranch road come in off the west but not sure if you can actually get down through those ranches. I don't need a trail head just a point that is not making me hike 15 miles like going up the basset trail on the southern part.

[PRDATR]

Sent you a PM

[metau]

Access on the west side is limited, at best. I ended up taking the Copper Creek road back in as far as I could, and then loaded up. I only made it about 3 miles back in, but never saw a soul.

[sneakem33]

Access is limited... plenty of people crowding the few points that you can access. Jackson Cabin is a decent access to the wilderness, the road in is a rough sob though...

[AZHunter1]

Fourmile is closed now? How far can you get in over there?

[Str8Shot]

Access has sucked from both sides for over 12 years and has gotten worse year after year .... When Mercers cut off access getting in bed with a couple guides we stopped applying for that Unit ...Know anyone with Horses ?

[brian390]

We used to go up the fourmile area but now I guess that it's closed. I used to like ranchers but now I'm starting to wonder. This is depressing to hear and I wish somehow they could regain access for hunters.

[AZ_SAWBUCK]

The main reason the ranchers have cut access off is the people who tear up roads leave trash and shoot up targets etc. and don't pick up after them selves. I'm sure some have alternative motives for having a hunting ground to themselves, but for the most part its disrespectful A holes that ruin it for everyone hunters and non hunters. If I were in the ranchers shoes I'd lock off access too.

[Str8Shot]

The main reason the ranchers have cut access off is the people who tear up roads leave trash and shoot up targets etc. and don't pick up after them selves. I'm sure some have alternative motives for having a hunting ground to themselves, but for the most part its disrespectful A holes that ruin it for everyone hunters and non hunters. If I were in the ranchers shoes I'd lock off access too.

You are right , but many of those people are not Hunters ... We Hunted several years paying the Mercers for access, which was a very fair price. During all those years we never witnessed misuse of the land during the hunting season by other hunters who had gained access. I think it was 7 or 8 years ago ... they leased some mining back in Bunker hill, the roads were great and they were cutting a new road going around Sombrero Butte, When asked about the road and letting them know we were hoping to be back the next year, we were informed they were locking it down and had teamed up with a couple guide/outfitters and that would be the only way to gain access. It is a shame because it was nice to set up a base camp and have a not so bad hike to cold camp miles up Cake mountain or China peak. That was the Last time we hunted 32 and not really missing it.

[AZ Mule Packer]

We've packed in with mules on multiple occasions from Deer Creek and Rattlesnake. It's about 9.5 miles from Deer Creek camp ground back to Power's Garden depending if you take the short cut trail or not. The trails on the gps maps, as of a couple years back, were not correct. Not hard to stay on the trail though. FS rarely does any trail maintenance back in there and water can be very sparse. Depending on the year, water can be your biggest challenge. Best of luck!