Cabeza Prieta Wilderness
Cabeza Prieta Wilderness has the distinction of being Arizona's largest Wilderness Area, encompassing nearly 93 percent of the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. The Wilderness spans across isolated and rugged, Sonoran desert landscapes including both the Arizona Uplands and Lower Colorado components which range from 700 to 2,800 feet. Rugged mountains and broad desert valleys, dotted with sand dunes and lava flows, dominate the region. This is a land of solitude, shattered only by the occasional summer monsoon or military overflight. To ensure you are aware of the dangers of unexploded military ordnance, a permit and your signature on a Holdharmless Agreement is required to enter the Wilderness.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 803,418 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.26° N, 113.42° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 35) |
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.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.6 miCraig, George C., House ↗Tucson, AZ
- 5.6 miFerguson, George W., House ↗Tucson, AZ
- 5.7 mi
- 11.4 miMilton Mine ↗Lukeville, AZ
- 14.7 miVictoria Mine ↗Lukeville, 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 Cabeza Prieta Wilderness?
803,418 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Cabeza Prieta Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Cabeza Prieta Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Cabeza Prieta Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Cabeza Prieta Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.261° N, 113.423° W. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is 14 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Cabeza Prieta Wilderness?
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (14 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Cabeza Prieta Wilderness?
The National Register has 5 listings within 15 miles, including Craig, George C., House and Ferguson, George W., House.
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.