Part of this year’s Gila River Festival. Event is FULL – send an email to gilariverfest@gmail.com to be added to the waiting list.

Participants: 10; Fee: Free, however registration required.
Difficulty: Easy
Meet at the Murray Ryan Visitor Center at 6:45 am. We will carpool to the trailhead because parking space is very limited. Travel time is 1.5 hours each way.

This hike parallels beautiful, lush Sapillo Creek as it heads downstream toward the Gila River. Participants will see many of the Gila’s common native riparian species, such as narrowleaf cottonwood, grape, walnut, willow, box elder, ash, alder, and false indigo bush. The hike also features semi-riparian and upland species, including three species of juniper, ponderosa pine, dogbane, chamisa, three-leaf sumac, gray oak, honeysuckle, New Mexico locust, New Mexico olive, banana yucca, and many more. The group will check out two lovely, small riverine wetlands that host cattail, horsetail, sedges, and other aquatics. Along the way, Gila National Forest botanist Donna Stevens will discuss identification of common native and invasive species and riparian ecology. Megan Saenz from the Gila National Forest Wilderness District, will discuss the value of Wilderness, and more. Participants will receive a plant handout to aid in species identification.

Please bring plenty of water, snacks, lunch, sunscreen, and hiking poles (for stability at stream crossings). Please wear a hat, long pants (to avoid one small patch of poison ivy), and shoes that can get wet. (Optional: binoculars, and dry shoes and socks to change into.) This out-and-back hike is 2 miles round trip, with 6 shallow stream crossings (3 each way), uneven terrain, and minimal elevation gain.