Hot Springs Canyon Creek

Location: Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management Area, Galiuro Mountains, AZ
Rating: Canyon Hiking 2B II to 2B IV depending on section
Length: 2 to 12 hours
Mileage: Up to 12 miles round trip, variable depending on route selection
Longest Rappel: None
Permits: Check current regulations with The Nature Conservancy, BLM, and Forest Service. Visitors to the area must sign in at the entrance kiosk at the start of Jackson Cabin Road. Reservation required for Hooker Hot Springs. (928) 348-4400. Overnight reservation at Muleshoe Ranch.
Wet Suit: Not Needed
Shuttle: No

Overview: Hot Springs Canyon Creek is a remote desert canyon and riparian corridor located within the Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management Area of southeastern Arizona. The canyon system is jointly managed by The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service and protects some of the finest remaining stream habitat in the Southwest.

Unlike Arizona's slot canyons and technical descents, Hot Springs Canyon offers a network of flowing streams, cottonwood forests, mesquite bosques, wildlife habitat, and rugged desert scenery. The canyon system supports numerous native fish species and serves as critical habitat for migratory birds, coatimundi, javelina, and other desert wildlife.

Modern visitors typically explore Hooker Hot Springs, Hot Springs Wash, Bass Canyon, Double R Canyon, and surrounding drainages as individual hikes or loop routes rather than attempting a single end to end canyon traverse.

For a narrow canyon experience, parties should explore the Hot Springs Wash downstream ~6 miles to the border of The Nature Conservancy and then return after exploration. 

Canyon Sections: Hot Springs Canyon can be broken into several distinct areas of exploration, each offering a different experience within the Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management Area.

• Hot Springs Wash: The primary drainage flowing from Hooker Hot Springs and Muleshoe Ranch headquarters. This section contains perennial water, lush riparian habitat, native fish populations, smooth bedrock pools, and the closest experience to traditional canyon hiking within the area.
• Bass Creek Trail: The most popular hiking route within the preserve, forming a scenic 3.5 mile loop with Hot Springs Wash. Bass Canyon features perennial water, towering cottonwoods, Arizona sycamores, abundant wildlife viewing opportunities, and access to nearby tributaries including Double R Canyon. This route provides an excellent introduction to the unique desert stream environments found throughout the Muleshoe area.
• Beth Woodin Scenic Vista Trail: A scenic 7 mile route that climbs above the canyon floor to panoramic overlooks of the Galiuro Mountains, surrounding desert grasslands, and the Muleshoe Ranch watershed. The trail ascends from the ranch corrals, follows a wash upstream, contours beneath rugged volcanic formations, and eventually returns to Hot Springs Wash, offering some of the best elevated views in the preserve.
• Hooker Hot Springs: Located near Muleshoe Ranch headquarters, Hooker Hot Springs is a natural geothermal spring with water temperatures around 106°F (41°C). The spring has attracted visitors since the late 1800s and gave Hot Springs Wash and Hot Springs Canyon Creek their names. Access to the soaking pools is restricted to ranch guests or subject to current management policies.

Approach: From Willcox, travel west on Airport Road, which becomes Cascabel Road. Continue approximately 14 miles to the junction with Muleshoe Ranch Road. Turn north and continue approximately 14 miles to Muleshoe Ranch Preserve headquarters. 

Roads may become extremely muddy and impassable following storms. Visitors should verify current access conditions before travel.

All visitors should register at the entrance kiosk as required by current management regulations.

Route Description: From Muleshoe Ranch headquarters, follow Hot Springs Wash downstream through one of the most biologically diverse riparian corridors in southeastern Arizona. Unlike many Arizona canyons that remain dry for much of the year, this drainage is fed by Hooker Hot Springs and several perennial streams, creating a surprisingly lush desert environment.

The upper portion of the route follows a broad wash shaded by cottonwoods, Arizona sycamores, mesquite, and other streamside vegetation. Flowing water is commonly encountered, though conditions vary seasonally. Wildlife sightings are frequent and may include coatimundi, javelina, native fish, raptors, and numerous migratory bird species.

As the wash descends, the canyon gradually narrows and transitions into a more rugged drainage featuring bedrock sections, small pools, gravel bars, and occasional boulder obstacles. Travel is generally straightforward, though visitors should expect periods of creek walking, light scrambling, and route finding around dense vegetation.

Approximately 1 mile downstream from the Bass Canyon confluence, the wash becomes increasingly remote and receives significantly fewer visitors. Those continuing beyond the popular Bass Canyon Hot Springs Loop will find a quieter wilderness experience with fewer signs of human activity.

The route may be explored as a short out and back hike from headquarters, combined with the Bass Canyon Loop, or extended farther downstream toward the Wildcat Canyon section for a longer wilderness outing. Most visitors simply turn around at a predetermined point and return upstream via the same route.

Popular Route: Bass Canyon and Hot Springs Loop

Length: ~3.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Time: 2 to 4 hours

This is the most popular hike within the preserve.

From headquarters, follow Jackson Cabin Road over a low ridge before descending into Bass Canyon. The route follows perennial water through cottonwood and sycamore groves before reaching the confluence with Hot Springs Wash.

Return via Hot Springs Wash to complete the loop.

Hot Springs Canyon and the surrounding Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management Area offer one of Arizona's most unique canyon hiking experiences. The combination of flowing desert streams, rich wildlife habitat, historic ranching history, and remote wilderness scenery creates a destination unlike any other canyon system in the state.