Arizona Trail — Passage 16: Gila River Canyons
~3 days · 25.2 mi · hard · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Arizona Trail — Passage 16: Gila River Canyons is known for
Passage 16 of Arizona Trail is an official 41.4 km point-to-point section from Gila River (Kelvin-Riverside Bridge) to Tonto National Forest boundary.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 5,456 ft to 11,982 ft over 25.2 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 13.9 mi · 56%
- Downhill 6.8 mi · 27%
- Flat 4.3 mi · 17%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Arizona Trail — Passage 16: Gila River Canyons?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Arizona Trail — Passage 16: Gila River Canyons scores 21/100, a relative rating across the 1,243 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Arizona Trail — Passage 16: Gila River Canyons take?
Most backpackers hike the Arizona Trail — Passage 16: Gila River Canyons in about 3 days (2 nights out) over its 25.2 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Arizona Trail — Passage 16: Gila River Canyons?
The Arizona Trail — Passage 16: Gila River Canyons climbs roughly 5,289 ft total — about 210 ft per mile, topping out near 3,681 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.