Facility · Arizona ·
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management
Safford Field Office (Bureau of Land Management AZ) · Open Access
The Old Safford Bridge Picnic Area is a day use area located along the Black Hills Backcountry Byway just downriver from the historic Old Safford Bridge. The picnic area has four picnic sites with concrete tables and grills and a single trash receptacle. The picnic area provides access to the Gila River. The picnic area has an unpaved driveway and parking area with large mesquite trees all around.
Visit other nearby recreation sites in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area:
From Safford, head north on Highway 191 and continue past the Three Way roundabout toward Clifton, Arizona, for another 5.5 miles. Turn left off the highway at the entrance to the Black Hills Backcountry Byway. Drive another 3.8 miles and turn right just before crossing over the Old Safford Bridge.
From Clifton, head south on Highway 191 for 3.6 miles and turn right onto the Black Hills Backcountry Byway. Drive another 3.8 miles until you arrive at the Old Safford Bridge Picnic Area on the right.
32.96585, -109.30956 · 32°57'57.1"N 109°18'34.4"W
Typically 100°F in Jul, down to 60°F in Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 61 | 66 | 73 | 81 | 90 | 100 | 100 | 98 | 93 | 83 | 70 | 60 |
| Low °F | 35 | 39 | 45 | 51 | 59 | 69 | 74 | 72 | 66 | 55 | 42 | 35 |
| Precip in | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
A large color brochure with a map of the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area is available for free from the Safford Field Office.
Stay limit: Old Safford Bridge Picnic Area is a day use site. Camping is prohibited in riparian areas and designated picnic sites in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area.
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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