Top Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Spots in Arizona

Gila River

A 649-mile tributary of the Colorado River flowing through New Mexico and Arizona, the Gila River drains nearly 60,000 square miles of dramatic desert and mountain landscape. For over 2,000 years, Indigenous peoples thrived here — the ancient Huhugam civilization built 500 miles of irrigation canals supporting 50,000-60,000 people. The river's headwaters feed the Gila National Forest and Wilderness Area, one of the first designated wilderness areas in the United States, offering hiking, camping, and hot springs in remote canyon country.