Bear Wallow Wilderness
The Bear Wallow Wilderness was the origin point of, the Wallow Fire of June 2011, the largest wildfire in Arizona history. Though much of the area was affected by the fire, much of the Wilderness experienced a lower intensity burn due to earlier fires that reduced fuel loading. However, post-fire flooding has created landslides in some drainages. Much of the Wilderness is already renewing, with native grasses and thickets of aspen regenerating among the burned trunks of mixed conifer trees consumed by the fire.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 11,235 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.60° N, 109.45° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 12) |
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 2 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 20 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Wallow ↗ | 7.9 | |
| Rose Spring ↗ | 4.5 | |
| Gobbler Point | 2.9 | |
| Schell Canyon | 2.8 | |
| Reno | 1.9 |
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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD3 Hagen Rx
10 mi from the center point · 5,757 acres
- PrescribedD3 Bear Rx
11 mi from the center point · 5,072 acres
- PrescribedFta Tonto North Rx
11 mi from the center point
- PrescribedD6 Wallow West Unit 6 Rx
14 mi from the center point · 7,605 acres
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
- 8.7 miPs Knoll Lookout Complex ↗Maverick, AZ
- 14.4 miBear Mountain Lookout Complex ↗Mogollon Rim, AZ
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Arizona
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Bear Wallow Wilderness?
11,235 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Bear Wallow Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Bear Wallow Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Bear Wallow Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Bear Wallow 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 Bear Wallow Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.602° N, 109.454° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Bear Wallow Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest D3 Hagen Rx at 10 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Bear Wallow Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Ps Knoll Lookout Complex and Bear Mountain Lookout Complex.
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.