Shoes & Footwear for Aravaipa Canyon

For most Aravaipa Canyon hikers, we recommend closed-toe, non-waterproof hiking shoes or trail runners that drain well, paired with low gaiters to keep gravel out. Expect your feet to get wet repeatedly. Avoid waterproof/Gore-Tex shoes that hold water, and avoid open sandals that allow gravel to collect around your feet.

And if hiking in cold conditions, neoprene socks are a good solution.

What you need to know about walking conditions

1. You will often be walking in shin-deep water. Expect to have wet feet for much of the hike.
2. The creek water temperature is generally pleasant in warmer weather, but in colder weather, repeated immersion can make your feet very cold.
3. The creekbed often has sand and fine gravel, so it’s easy to get rocks in your shoes if you don’t specifically do something to prevent it.
4. There is no established trail, and footing is uneven and sometimes slippery.

Shoes and footwear for a day hike in Aravaipa

BLM recommends sturdy footwear suitable for sand, gravel, cobble, and repeated stream crossings.

Based on our experience day hiking Aravaipa, the most important recommendation is to wear closed shoes (e.g. trail runners or hiking boots). And we strongly advise against sandals or open-style river shoes because those will fill with gravel and you will be constantly needing to clear out the pebbles.

The second most important recommendation is to wear hiking gaiters. These will help keep gravel from getting into your shoes from the top.

And for the last tip: If hiking in the winter, neoprene socks can help keep your feet warm.

Shoes and footwear for backpacking in Aravaipa

For backpacking in Aravaipa, the above recommendations still hold:

1. Wear closed shoes
2. Wear ankle gaiters
3. Wear neoprene socks if backpacking in cold weather

But there are a few more details to consider:

1. Bring lightweight camp shoes like Crocs or the plastic Birkenstocks. That way you can change out of your wet shoes when you get to camp.
2. Prioritize hiking shoes that dry well. (Tip: Gore-Tex shoes don’t dry as well as non-waterproof shoes.) That way you’ll get to put on dry shoes the next day. Also be aware that if overnight temperatures fall below freezing, wet shoes can freeze.
3. Bring trekking poles to reduce the strain on your knees and ankles, and reduce the chance of slipping with a heavy pack on your back.

What we personally wear

After more than 60 trips and 75 nights in Aravaipa Canyon across all four seasons and all sorts of conditions, we’ve settled on two footwear options that have proven to be an excellent fit for the canyon:

1. The Arc’teryx Vertex Speed Shoe (men, women) with its integrated gaiter (not the “Low” model)
2. Salomon Forces Quest 4D (non-Gore-Tex) combined with the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Trail Gaiters

Your clothes matter too

Read our guide on What to wear in Aravaipa Canyon.