Black Hills Rockhound Area - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Black Hills of Greenlee County are a 20 mi long mountain range of the extreme northeast Sonoran Desert bordering the south of the White Mountains of eastern Arizona's transition zone. The mountain range is bordered by the Gila River, and the range is a large block that forces the Gila to flow northwest, west, southwest; at the west, the Gila River begins an excursion northwest at the start of the Gila Valley, where Safford and Thatcher lie in the valley.

Guthrie Peak is the highest point of the Black Hills, the northern extension of the Peloncillo Mountains in eastern Arizona. It isn’t a major Arizona summit. However, it does enjoy a prominence of over 2,000’, making it a worthwhile destination in its own right. Although it is far from any major Arizona cities. The summit is easily accessible because it starts right off US-191 and has a road to the top. For this reason, Guthrie Peak can be hiked any time of year.

The 23,000-acre Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area includes four perennial waterways, the Gila and San Francisco rivers and Bonita and Eagle creeks. This region is a very special riparian ecosystem abounding with plant and animal diversity. Impressive Gila Conglomerate cliffs tower more than 1,000 feet above the Gila River, and bighorn sheep are commonly spotted. Bonita Creek, a key tributary of the Gila River, is lined with large cottonwoods, sycamores, and willows.

Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area is a National Conservation Area located along the Gila River in southern Graham and Greenlee counties in southeastern Arizona in the United States. Administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the conservation area is approximately 23,000 acres in size. Campgrounds and hiking trails are available. The section of the Gila River that flows through the Gila Box is popular with white-water rafters and kayakers.

Eagle Creek is a 58.5-mile-long river located 50 miles northwest of Clifton, Arizona, United States, at the base of the White Mountain Range. It is a tributary of the Gila River.

Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area has many cliffs, canyons, and historical sites to explore. This 23,000-acre BLM property is in eastern Arizona. Within the conservation area, the Gila and San Francisco rivers flow through the area in addition to Bonita and Eagle Creeks. Hiking, rafting, wildlife viewing, and much more await Gila Box visitors.