Mount Baldy Wilderness
Captain George Wheeler, who surveyed much of the American Southwest in the 1870s, wrote that the view from Mount Baldy was "the most magnificent and effective of any among the large number that have come under my observation." In other words, he liked it... he really liked it. So do the scores of day hikers who visit Mount Baldy Wilderness today, making it one of the most popular hiking areas in Arizona. Two major trails crisscross the Wilderness. The popular West Baldy Trail (Sheep's Crossing) follows the West Fork of the Little Colorado River for seven miles. The East Baldy Trail (Phelp's Cabin) follows the East Fork of the Little Colorado for seven miles and receives much less foot traffic.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 6,819 acres |
| Designated | 1970, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.94° N, 109.53° 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 9 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.
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Trails
3 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 17 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| West Baldy ↗ | 8 | |
| East Baldy ↗ | 5.9 | |
| Mt. Baldy Crossover | 3.5 |
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
- PrescribedD6 Wallow West Unit 6 Rx
11 mi from the center point · 7,605 acres
- PrescribedFta Tonto North Rx
14 mi from the center point
- PrescribedD6 - Heifer Rx
17 mi from the center point · 3,116 acres
- PrescribedD7 Brushy Mtn North Rx
20 mi from the center point · 1,353 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
- 5 miButterfly Lodge ↗Greer, AZ
- 12.4 miPs Knoll Lookout Complex ↗Maverick, AZ
- 14.2 miWater Canyon Administrative Site ↗Springerville, 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 Mount Baldy Wilderness?
6,819 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mount Baldy Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mount Baldy Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mount Baldy Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1970.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mount Baldy 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 Mount Baldy Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.938° N, 109.530° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mount Baldy Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest D6 Wallow West Unit 6 Rx at 11 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Mount Baldy Wilderness?
The National Register has 3 listings within 15 miles, including Butterfly Lodge and Ps Knoll 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.