Arizona · Hiking · Mazatzal Wilderness

Highwater

9.1 mi
round trip
215 ft
climb
3,033 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Oct–Apr
best months

Is Highwater open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Tonto National Forest. It doesn't name Highwater, so check the source for the area it covers.

  • Rattlesnake Cove Developed Recreation Site - Post Flood Recovery and Public Safety Closure

    Agency closure covering Tonto National Forest · Order 3-12-01-26-36 · USFS · Tonto National Forest

  • Emergency Closure of Needle Rock and Box Bar Recreation Sites for Public Safety

    Agency alert covering Cave Creek Ranger District · Order 03-12-01-26-32 · USFS · Cave Creek Ranger District

  • Horseshoe Dam Road (NFSR 205) Emergency Closure for Public Safety

    Agency alert covering Cave Creek Ranger District · Order 03-12-01-26-31 · USFS · Cave Creek Ranger District

  • Riverside Post Fire Recovery and Safety Closure – Extension

    Agency alert covering Cave Creek Ranger District · Order 03-12-01-26-24 · USFS · Cave Creek Ranger District

  • Canyon Lake Drawdown Public Safety Closure

    Agency alert covering Tonto National Forest · Order 03-12-00-26-22 · USFS · Tonto National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Tonto National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Highwater is a 9.1-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona's Mazatzal Wilderness, within the Cave Creek Ranger District of Tonto National Forest. The trail rises from a low point of 2,305 feet to a high of 3,033 feet, with a total elevation gain of 215 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and not open to bikes. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Childs, AZ, show April highs around 81°F and October highs around 84°F, while July averages about 104°F and June and August reach the low 100s. The hike is open year-round. Wet Bottom lies about 2 miles away, and the Verde River and Red Hills hikes are each roughly 5 miles off. Willow Basin is about 7.5 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.