The San Francisco River is born in far eastern Arizona before it flows into New Mexico. Here, it traces canyons along the western part of the Mogollon Mountains within the Gila National Forest. The San Francisco, a tributary of the Gila River, then flows back into Arizona where it joins with the Gila River in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area. The lands surrounding the San Francisco within New Mexico are in the heart of the Mexican gray wolf recovery area.
Hiking, though challenging, is a great way to explore the San Francisco. The Frisco Box Trail, which provides access, drops 2,000 feet into the canyon along sharp ridgelines and grassland parks and often fades from clear view. The trail skirts private land for a short distance, but most of it lies within public lands on the Reserve Ranger District.
This is an extraordinarily rugged landscape that proves a challenging trek for experienced hikers and backpackers. Once you reach the Box there is no marked trail within the boulder-strewn canyon. But the reward is well worth the effort as the intrepid explorer will experience outstanding wildness and opportunities for primitive forms of recreation. As you ascend the river, the canyon narrows and in the Box, you will find stunning sheer canyon walls rising over 1,000 feet. In places, the towering cliffs narrow to the point where sunlight fights to make its way to the waters at the bottom. Once you pass the Box, the canyon widens bit by bit, and if you continue another mile and a half upstream, you will arrive at the Frisco Warm Springs.
Hiking the Box requires caution. Any slot canyon is dangerous when heavy rains are predicted in the region. Flash floods can hit even under clear blue skies. After particularly wet winters, the spring runoff season can likewise prove dangerous.
In the Gila region, archaeological remains date to about 10,000 years ago. Numerous cultures are known to have inhabited the area prior to European colonization, and this area conceals a multitude of ancient sites and artifacts.
