It feels a bit ironic that the first blog post for California Packrafting is about a river in Arizona, but Burro Creek is just that intriguing. This post dives into my research and exploration of the upper sections of Burro Creek, including the elusive Wilderness Run, which remains undocumented in paddling guides. My goal was to scout this stretch to determine whether it could be a viable packrafting adventure.
Here’s a Caltopo Map with all the info on shuttle and river sections
The Burro Creek Watershed
Burro Creek is a significant watercourse in western Arizona, known for its diverse and dramatic landscapes. As Tyler Williams describes in Paddling Arizona:
“Burro Creek drains a large portion of western Arizona. It starts in pine-clad mountains northwest of Prescott, and runs to the low desert environs [below Highway 93].”
The creek is a tributary to the Big Sandy River, which drains the eastern slopes of the mountains near Kingman before flowing into Alamo Lake. Once it flows out of Alamo Lake, it becomes the Bill Williams River, eventually feeding into the Colorado River.
Burro Creek flows through the Upper Burro Creek Wilderness, a 27,440-acre area managed by the Bureau of Land Management. As one of Arizona’s few perennial streams, it supports diverse ecosystems and offers vital riparian habitat.
Flow Patterns and Challenges
Burro Creek’s intermittent flow makes planning a paddling trip particularly challenging. Since January 2000, flows meeting the 300 cfs minimum—generally considered necessary for boating—have been rare:
- March 2020: Spiked to 8k, runnable for 2 days. Spiked back to 2k, runnable for 1 day.
- September 2020: Spiked to 800 cfs (unclear duration).
- November 2022: Spiked to 6.5k cfs (unclear duration).
- January 2023: Spiked to 8k, dropped within a day.
- Feb–Mar 2023: Multiple peaks, including 8k and 11k cfs. Flows dropped rapidly (e.g., 11k on March 22, 1.5k March 23, 316 March 27).
- 2024: Briefly above 300 cfs in February and April; sustained runnable flows June–August.
The creek’s erratic flow pattern, characterized by dramatic spikes during rain events, makes it difficult to catch at optimal levels. Paddlers must exercise caution and avoid launching when additional rainfall is forecasted, as Burro Creek is prone to dangerous flash floods.
The Known Run: Highway 93 to Signal Road
This is the classic Burro Creek section described in Tyler Williams’ Paddling Arizona.
- Difficulty: Class III-IV
- Distance: 13.28 miles
- Gradient: 30.42 feet per mile
- Flows:
- Minimum: 300 cfs (scraping likely).
- Fun range: 400+ cfs.
- Ideal range: 1,000–2,000 cfs.
I hiked the Kaiser Hot Spring Trail, which descends from Highway 93 into the canyon, to take a look at the canyon. I found a breathtaking canyon, with some boulder gardens and some wide sand bars. At low water, hiking the riverbed seemed feasible, but I am not sure how differently it would look with boatable flows. See a few photos below:
Upstream Exploration: Six Mile Crossing to Highway 93
This section holds potential as an intermediate to advanced run.
- Difficulty: Class III-IV (with portages).
- Distance: 9.5 miles
- Gradient: 33.16 feet per mile
Notes from Fellow Paddlers:
A YouTube paddler (@Nottomorrownotyesterday) shared their experience:
“Such a sweet run! We got on the section above [Highway 93] last year. Lots of runnable Class IV and a tiny Class V mini gorge rapid we portaged…Anything above [6 mile crossing] would be a first descent….Burro Creek is a special place. “
Access to Six Mile Crossing:
- Take Burro Creek Crossing Road (right off Highway 93).
- Follow for ~15 miles to Six Mile Crossing.
Roads were dry and well-graded when I visited, making access feasible in a 2WD RAV4. However, conditions may worsen after rain.
The Wilderness Run and Beyond
This was the purpose of the visit, and it was worth the trouble, just to see it from the rim. It looks very worthy of the effort if conditions aligned, and what a dream to bag a first descent! My dad and I drove from the Burro Creek Campground through Baghdad, out Camp Wood road, and then across the Bozarth Mesa to the rim, and were greeted by the view below:
We tried to drive down the river, but it was steep and loose enough that I was worried my 2wd Rav4 wouldn’t make it back out. I hiked along the rim for a mile to see what was around the bend, and found this view:
This section goes through the protected wilderness area, which begins just below the river access point
- Difficulty: Likely Class V (based on gradient and lack of access or beta)
- Distance: 15.96 miles
- Gradient: 45.86 feet per mile
- Flows: Estimated minimum 400 cfs, with contributions from Boulder Creek.
Access:
- Drive through Bagdad, AZ, and follow Lindahl Road to Bozarth Road.
- Continue 14.5 miles across mesas to the rim of Burro Creek Canyon.
- A steep descent marks the put-in; 4WD may be required.
While I was able to access the put-in via car, the road might be too muddy to drive down when the creek is flowing. It’s a 9 miles from the intersection of Wood Camp Road and Bozarth Road. I suspect even after a rain you could drive on Wood Camp road without issue, as it’s graded and has a fair amount of gravel. Bozarth, I am not sure.
It looks to me that the creek is navigable above this point, but I couldn’t find a reasonable plan to access it.
Added to American Whitewater Database
To help document Burro Creek for future paddlers, I’ve added all three sections to the American Whitewater database. This includes:
- The Known Run: Highway 93 to Signal Road
- Upstream Section: Six Mile Crossing to Highway 93
- The Wilderness Run: Above Six Mile Crossing
I hope this will make planning trips to Burro Creek easier and encourage more paddlers to explore this beautiful area.
Preparation for Future Expeditions
Exploring Burro Creek has been fascinating, but much work remains to determine its full packrafting potential. I plan to monitor flows and revisit the known run soon. For the Wilderness Run, I may return to backpack and mark GPS points at hazards and rapids.
Burro Creek offers a unique opportunity for adventurous paddlers. Whether tackling the well-documented known run or scouting the Wilderness Run for the first time, this remote and rugged waterway promises a truly unforgettable experience.
Have you paddled Burro Creek?
Drop me a line and share your insights—I’d love to piece together more about this Arizona gem!