Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness
Narrow and twisting Aravaipa Canyon is a picturesque example of the Southwest’s desert country. Aravaipa Creek, shaded by cottonwoods, has cut a trough up to 1,000 feet deep in the Galiuro Mountains, and the canyon walls are wondrously carved and painted in subtle sandy colors. The creek runs year-round from springs, seeps, and tributary streams. Along the water grows one of the lushest riparian habitats in southern Arizona. The main canyon's length is about 11 miles, and the Wilderness extends well beyond it to include surrounding tablelands and nine side-canyons. Elevation in this Wilderness ranges from approximately 2,600 to 4,900 feet.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 19,410 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.90° N, 110.49° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 25) |
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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedSafford Piles Rx
44 mi from the center point · 367 acres
- PrescribedMica Mountain Rx
48 mi from the center point
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 13.1 miWinkelman Bridge ↗Winkelman, 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 Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness?
19,410 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.897° N, 110.491° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Safford Piles Rx at 44 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Winkelman Bridge.
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.
- 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.