The Galiuro Mountains are a large sky-island mountain range located in southeast Arizona in Graham County, and Bassett Peak is its highest point. For such a large range, it hides in plain sight. It is obscured from view by the Santa Catalina Mountains from the west and essentially invisible from points around Tucson. Viewed from Interstate-10 from the east nearer Benson and Willcox, other mountain ranges such as the Winchesters and Pinaleno Mountains block, or diminish, the view.
Its remoteness means that relatively few people visit the mountains. A fine trail runs nearly along the entire crest of the range, offering superb multi-day backpacking options. For those wishing to visit Bassett Peak only, a good trail from Ash Creek reaches the Crest Trail north of the summit. A round trip hike run s between 11 and 14 miles, depending on your vehicle’s ability to manage the last mile or two of the approach road. There are no technical sections, and the summit is reached by a simple bushwhack from the Crest Trail.
The Galiuro Mountains are one unit of the Coronado National Forest, much of the range enclosed within the Galiuro Wilderness. The famous Aravaipa Canyon borders the range to the north, an Arizona hiker’s classic route featuring perennial streams even during the hottest months of the year.
The best time to visit the Galiuros are in late Spring after the snow has melted, and in Fall (September-November) before the first snows. In the middle of summer, the heat can be taxing even at these elevations, and thunderstorms are common.
Full description via Summit Post
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