Arrastra Mountain Wilderness
Wild and remote, difficult to access, this sprawling Wilderness preserves imposing landscapes and vividly colorful geologic features. The Poachie Range runs northwest-southeast through the north-central portion of the area and rises from 1,200 feet in the lowest points of the Wilderness to almost 5,000 feet. Southern slopes descend gradually and are interspersed with isolated volcanic plugs and numerous drainages, several of which have been incised deeply into bright orange mudstone. The western and southern portions of the Wilderness encompass more than 20 miles of the ephemeral Big Sandy and Santa Maria Rivers. On the west side of the Big Sandy stands Artillery Peak, a nearly 3,200-foot volcanic plug dominating the Artillery Mountains.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 129,800 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.37° N, 113.42° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 26) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
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
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Arrastra Mountain Wilderness?
129,800 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Arrastra Mountain Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Arrastra Mountain Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Arrastra Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Arrastra Mountain Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Arrastra Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.375° N, 113.423° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
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.