Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Permit Guide 2026

Arizona · Leashed dogs OK

By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger

Last updated

An Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness permit covers trips into a lush, perennial desert stream canyon on BLM land in Arizona, where the hike is the creek itself - wading between towering canyon walls. A permit is required year-round for everyone, even day hikers, and access is split between an East and a West entrance. Because the daily quota is small, prime spring and fall dates go fast.

Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. First-come-first-served: each entry date opens 13 weeks (91 days) ahead on a rolling window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific - the single online release moment. 50 people/day total (East 20, West 30); permits are required year-round, even for day hikes. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.

When permits are released

First-come-first-served: each entry date opens 13 weeks (91 days) ahead on a rolling window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific - the single online release moment. 50 people/day total (East 20, West 30); permits are required year-round, even for day hikes.

Fees

  • Reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable)
  • Per person, per day: $5 per person per day

How to get a Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness permit

  1. Pick your entrance (East or West) and your entry date; note that a permit is required for day hikes as well as overnight trips.
  2. Each entry date opens 13 weeks (91 days) ahead on a rolling window, advancing every morning at 7:00 AM Pacific - the single online release moment.
  3. Book your permit on recreation.gov as soon as your date enters the window, since the daily quota is limited.
  4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching: cancellations return to the pool, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens.

Notable trails

Aravaipa is accessed from two entrances, each leading into the same creek-bed canyon. Here are the notable hikes mapped to the permit's entrances.

Top passes in this area

The most in-demand Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness entry points, each with its own detail page.

Frequently asked questions

When do Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness permits open?

First-come-first-served: each entry date opens 13 weeks (91 days) ahead on a rolling window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific - the single online release moment. 50 people/day total (East 20, West 30); permits are required year-round, even for day hikes. Exact on-sale details are on the recreation.gov permit page.

What if my dates are sold out?

Cancellations open up all season. Watch the passes you want on Permit Ranger and you get an instant alert when a date you need becomes bookable.

Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?

No. Permit Ranger alerts you the moment a watched date opens, with a direct booking link, but the booking is always yours to make on recreation.gov.

More permits in Arizona

Dog-friendly permits

Plan ahead

Sold-out dates reopen all the time from cancellations and quota drops. Permit Ranger checks recreation.gov around the clock and alerts you the moment your dates open. It never books for you.

Browse Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness passes · Book on recreation.gov