Black Hills Back Country Byway
21 miles - 45 minutes
The Black Hills Back Country Byway is the perfect place to go for a thrilling drive in your off-road vehicles. The byway also offers a challenge for experienced mountain bikers or hikers. Other hobbies you could try your hand at are horseback riding, birding, photographing wildlife, fishing and hunting, or even rock collecting. Rockhound is open for digging unique stones. One of the most popular stones to collect is Fire Agate.
The Black Hills area includes parts of the Gila River. Take a picnic to the old Safford Bridge, or join the rafters floating down the river. About a quarter of a mile hike up an old abandoned road along the river leads to the hottest natural hot springs in Arizona. The waters are only accessible during low river flow but they stay a constant 180 degrees Fahrenheit.