Harquahala Mountains Wilderness
In the language of an early native tribe, Harquahala translates to “running water high up.” This elevated region, set on one of western Arizona's largest desert ranges, was so named for its numerous perennial seeps and springs. The Harquahalas rise from 2,100 feet to just short of 5,691-foot Harquahala Peak, which sits just outside of Wilderness boundaries. From the upper elevations of this Wilderness, panoramic views includes the surrounding desert and mountains up to 100 miles away. Natural mountain springs support a rare habitat among Sonoran Desert mountains, a screened interior canyon system with exceptional natural diversity. Rare cacti live here among relict "islands" of chaparral and desert grasslands.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 22,880 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.83° N, 113.30° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27) |
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
- under 0.1 miHarquahala Peak Observatory ↗Wenden, AZ
- 9.1 miNohlechek, Rhoda, House ↗Wenden, 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 Harquahala Mountains Wilderness?
22,880 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Harquahala Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Harquahala Mountains Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Harquahala Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Harquahala Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.828° N, 113.296° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Harquahala Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Harquahala Peak Observatory and Nohlechek, Rhoda, 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.