Apache Creek Wilderness
Remote, and relatively rugged, Apache Creek Wilderness offers rolling hills of juniper and pinion pine interspersed with outcroppings of ponderosa pine and granite boulders. Time, wind, and water have smoothed the rock, providing excellent habitat for mountain lions and numerous bird species. Three natural springs feed several important riparian ecosystems, including Apache Creek itself. There is approximately 5 miles of trail in this Wilderness, and elevations range from 5,280 feet to 6,970 feet.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 5,633 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.88° N, 112.91° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Trails
1 named Forest Service trail enters this wilderness, 7 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Apache Creek ↗ | 6.7 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 0.9 miHyde Mountain Lookout House ↗Camp Wood, AZ
- 1.7 miWalnut Creek Ranger Station ↗Prescott, AZ
- 3.2 miWalnut Creek Bridge ↗Simmons, AZ
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Arizona
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Apache Creek Wilderness?
5,633 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Apache Creek Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Apache Creek Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Apache Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Apache Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.878° N, 112.905° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Apache Creek Wilderness?
The National Register has 3 listings within 15 miles, including Hyde Mountain Lookout House and Walnut Creek Ranger Station.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.