Conditions:Blue Velvet Canyon-20251008195359

Latest:	3 Oct 2025 (19 days ago)

Reported by:	Brdn.gonzales (47 reports)
Quality:	Great
Waterflow:	Very Low
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Normal
Time:	9 hours

Team: 5 people with experience level Brand new to Expert

Trip report URL:

Comments: Great first trip through Blue Velvet! The approach is the same as the Arizona Hot Springs hike, but about three-quarters of the way in, you’ll cut up and to the left. From there, it’s pretty exposed with a few scree-covered hills to climb up and down. Once you drop into the canyon, though, it’s nicely shaded and much cooler.

We tried to keep webbing use to a minimum by partner-assisting and down-climbing where possible. A couple of old slings were pretty fried and crusty, which we replaced, but most were still in solid shape. We checked the wind forecast beforehand — it was blowing south to north, which turned out to be perfect. Once we inflated the packrafts, the wind practically pushed us upriver, making for a super chill float out.

One from our group decided to pack a thick wetsuit and swim the whole way instead. Probably not something I’d recommend, but he called it great triathlon training.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
3 Oct 2025	Great	Very Low	None	Normal	9 hours	5 people Brand new to Expert	Brdn.gonzales (47 reports)
Comment: Great first trip through Blue Velvet! The approach is the same as the Arizona Hot Springs hike, but about three-quarters of the way in, you’ll cut up and to the left. From there, it’s pretty exposed with a few scree-covered hills to climb up and down. Once you drop into the canyon, though, it’s nicely shaded and much cooler. We tried to keep webbing use to a minimum by partner-assisting and down-climbing where possible. A couple of old slings were pretty fried and crusty, which we replaced, but most were still in solid shape. We checked the wind forecast beforehand — it was blowing south to north, which turned out to be perfect. Once we inflated the packrafts, the wind practically pushed us upriver, making for a super chill float out. One from our group decided to pack a thick wetsuit and swim the whole way instead. Probably not something I’d recommend, but he called it great triathlon training.
24 Feb 2024					9 hours	7 people Beginner to Advanced	Cheveran (97 reports)
Comment: Lovely canyon! Floated out to Crane's rest on a no-wind day. Mixed crew of alpackas and explorer 200s. Time includes the rather leisurely float.
7 Jan 2024	Great					2 people Advanced	RFontaine (316 reports)
Comment: A really great route for the area with narrow slotty corridors that twist around rapidly plunging towards the river. We did this route as a part of a 3 day trip paddling down the river from the dam camping and hitting canyons along the way. We started the day from the AZ Hotsprings Beach. The hike from beach to turn off took maybe 30mins going though the hot springs. From the turn off it took us 2.5hrs for the approach/descent at a casual pace, back down to the river. The approach does follow a very faint trail crosscountry. The descent is short and committing, rappels all enjoyable enough, many of which down large chutes. We were able to stay dry, one pothole had water but was avoidable, may not be in wet season. All webbing in good shape, we added an anchor on the questionable 2 stage to break up the pulls. The route ends with a short stemming down climb though a crack LDC to a small beach to inflate rafts. Paddle upstream to AZ Hotsprings was short and despite the opposing wind, we managed just fine. I feel this is a great full featured route for those wanting a short descent with day trip to the hotsprings that is a much more interesting option than Secret Canyon.