Hellsgate Wilderness
Lying at the base of the Mogollon Rim, upper Tonto Creek has incised a 1,000-foot-deep canyon that runs entirely through the center of this Wilderness. A perennial waterway, Tonto Creek creates deep emerald pools sometimes separated by impassable falls. The area also contains Haigler Creek with its impressive rock formations. Elevations range from 6,440 feet atop Horse Mountain in the northeast corner to 2,960 feet where Tonto Creek leaves the area in the southwest. Trout, catfish, and smallmouth bass inhabit both creeks, popular destinations with anglers. Available water helps to support a variety of wildlife: black bears, mountain lions, mule deer, coyotes, gray foxes, javelinas, beavers, and many small mammals and birds.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 37,457 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.20° N, 111.06° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 18) |
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 21 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.
Show 4 moreHide
9 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trails
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 29 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Hell'S Gate ↗ | 10.1 | |
| Bear Flat ↗ | 6.5 | |
| Big Ridge ↗ | 5 | |
| 4 | ||
| Mescal Ridge | 3.1 |
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
- PrescribedRx Payson Pits Tnf0401P
8 mi from the center point
- PrescribedD2 Sinkhole Rx
13 mi from the center point · 875 acres
- PrescribedD2 Vincent Rx
18 mi from the center point · 2,258 acres
- PrescribedD2 Dye Rx
19 mi from the center point · 5,246 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
- 3.8 miDiamond Point Lookout Cabin ↗Tonto Village, AZ
- 6 miPleasant Valley Ranger Station ↗Young, AZ
- 6 miOx Bow Inn ↗Payson, AZ
- 6.1 miPerkins Store ↗Young, AZ
- 6.3 miPromontory Butte Lookout Complex ↗Beaver Park, 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 Hellsgate Wilderness?
37,457 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Hellsgate Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Hellsgate Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Hellsgate Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Hellsgate 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 Hellsgate Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.196° N, 111.059° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Hellsgate Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Payson Pits Tnf0401P at 8 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Hellsgate Wilderness?
The National Register has 5 listings within 15 miles, including Diamond Point Lookout Cabin and Pleasant Valley Ranger Station.
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.