Turkey Creek with Gila Trails
November 2-4, 2025
Turkey Creek and I go back a long way. I had to scour this website to learn how far! I first attempted to reach the hot springs in 2003, when Dave Cameron and I visited as many AZ-NM hot springs as possible over Thanksgiving weekend. But we were short on information and only made it about halfway.
By 2008, I had acquired a husband and a GPS track. Dave, Rogil, Dennis and I collaborated on a successful backpack to the hot springs.
Scroll ahead three years, and Dennis and I were leading regular backpacking trips to Turkey Creek with the Tucson Backpackers. We took groups there in 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
But years of fire and flood took their toll, and the trail past Skeleton Canyon all but disappeared. The barrier was no longer just the 10-foot-long tunnel under the rock we had to pull our packs through (which was actually kind of fun). Now making our way upstream required either piecing together shreds of the old trail high on the canyon wall, or crawling over house-sized boulders in the stream bed.
In 2019, rather than retrace our steps in the creek, we exited by climbing up a loose scree slope to the top Skeleton Ridge. It was very challenging with a fully loaded backpack. Since then, we have not returned to Turkey Creek, even though we live just 40 miles away in Silver City.
When Gila Trails posted a work trip there, I had to check it out, even though it was sandwiched between house guests and an undiagnosed issue with my right knee.
We packed in a hurry and headed up the hill from the town of Gila. I could not believe how much the road had deteriorated since our last trip! There was always a bad section for the last mile downhill from Brushy Canyon, but now the whole road is a badly eroded bare rock shelf with precipitous drop-offs. We crept along at barely five miles an hour, mindful of our 20-year-old truck with a thousand-pound camper on its back.
So it was amazing to see how many people were camped by the Gila, on a Sunday night. We finally found a spot with the required solar exposure nearly a mile away from our group. But what were these holes along the shore, and what was this familiar white efflorescence on the rocks?
OMG, there was a soaking pool right next to our campsite, and the water was HOT!
That night a magnificent full moon glowed on the ridge above our camp.
Members of our crew at the first crossing of the Gila River, with the "rabbit ears" sticking out of their packs.
My trail buddy John at the first crossing. We would spend most of that afternoon hacking away at a grove of mesquite that formed a canopy over the trail near the second crossing.
Selfie at the second crossing.
The water was a little deeper there.
Although there was very little brushing required, I continued to the old ranch about two miles in. Years ago, we found cars parked nearby. I don't know how in the Hell they made it that far. There's surely a story behind the artwork on this old tin shack.
The old windmill is still standing, but it doesn't turn anymore.
It used to play quite a mournful tune. Here it is back in 2018.
Alas, it's also the end of the road for my favorite hiking shirt!
I took the long way back to camp that afternoon. So much beauty along the Gila River, with the cottonwoods and the willows at their peak of color!
Evening easing down.
The next day the Gila Trails crew would move their base camp four miles upstream. Since I still don't know exactly what's going on with my knee, we stayed behind to relax by the river.
Waiting for the horse packers, who would transport our gear to the second base camp. Since the road is impossible, they worked their way up the river from Mogollon Box.
And here they come!
The Gila Backcountry Horsemen support the Gila Trails crew by packing in food, water and equipment to remote locations in the Gila Wilderness where it would otherwise be extremely difficult to perform any trail maintenance.
Although I didn't make it to the main hot springs this time, there were abundant consolation prizes. A soaking pool in a nearby canyon that I remember as a rusty bathtub covered with a nasty old tarp has received a much needed upgrade.
Reflecting on our time at Turkey Creek. On the drive in, I swore it was the last time we'd attempt it. Well, um ... scratch that!
