Powers Garden Trail #96
Powers Garden Trail #96 is an 8.7–8.8 mile one-way singletrack hike in Arizona’s Galiuro Mountains Wilderness. Plan for a long day: it trends moderate to strenuous and gains/loses substantial elevation (roughly ~1,370 ft up and ~420 ft down, depending on where you start).
You’ll ride out of the usual country quickly—terrain alternates between steep, rocky bluffs and canyon-bottom travel. The route stays mostly in shaded corridors and includes sections of sycamore- and oak-shaded riparian hiking as it drops and climbs in Rattlesnake Canyon.
A big part of the character is how the trail threads the lower reaches of Rattlesnake Canyon—running from the bottom of Powers Hill up to the mid-canyon junction where it connects to the Rattlesnake Trail (#285). Expect canyon travel to involve careful footing and intermittent, uneven ground rather than “flat” tread.
At various points, the canyon setting brings wildlife activity through riparian habitat—bears, lions, and white-tailed deer are part of the mix in this wilderness environment. Treat the route like a true wilderness hike: move with awareness, keep your distance, and don’t rely on frequent encounters or persistent water.
Water can be unreliable. Even though there are riparian stretches, water sources are often intermittent—so verify current spring conditions and carry enough for dry periods instead of assuming creek flow the whole way.
If you’re building a multi-day loop, #96 is commonly linked with the East Divide Trail (#287) and then combined with Tortilla Trail (#254) or Sycamore Trail (#278). Those combinations shift the direction of canyon travel and add more time on wilderness tread.
Access is typically built around the Deer Creek area via Aravaipa Road, using the #96 turnoff from there (or pairing with the Deer Creek Trailhead access pattern through nearby trails). Because it’s wilderness travel, start early enough to manage the day length for the amount of climbing involved.
Pack and ethics matter here: motorized and mechanized transport are prohibited in the designated wilderness, including bicycles. Do the route as foot travel only, and scout/inspect any committed footing or crossing spots before committing when conditions are wet—loose rock and slick canyon surfaces can turn a straightforward section into real trouble.
More information: Visitor information, Visitor information, Powers Cabin & Mine • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs