Munds Mountain Wilderness
Arizona is well known for its red rock formations, conjuring up images of magnificent crimson outcroppings set against azure skies. Munds Mountain Wilderness is home to many of these ruggedly beautiful specimens, along with several traditional high mesas common to central Arizona. Elevations on the mountain itself range from 3,600 feet to 6,825 feet, and moderate to steep slopes climb all along the Mogollon Rim. Cliff faces are marked with extensive outcroppings of Coconino and Supai sandstone, and ramp basalt flows everywhere. Among the area's most picturesque landmarks are Courthouse Butte and magical Bell Rock. Along Horse Mesa are Jacks Canyon and Wood Canyon, both of which have outstanding riparian habitats.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 18,109 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.82° N, 111.71° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 22) |
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 4 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
12 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 35 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Loop ↗ | 11.2 | |
| Jacks Canyon ↗ | 6.6 | |
| Woods Canyon ↗ | 5.2 | |
| Munds Mountain | 2.8 | |
| Courthouse Loop | 2.4 | |
| Margs | 1.9 | |
| Schnebly Hill | 1.9 | |
| Jim Bryant | 1.8 | |
| Rector Connector | 0.6 | |
| Bell Rock | 0.4 |
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
- PrescribedFrog Tank 2 Piles Rx
10 mi from the center point · 1,989 acres
- PrescribedNewman 2 Piles Rx
14 mi from the center point · 723 acres
- PrescribedNewman 3 Piles Rx
14 mi from the center point · 756 acres
- PrescribedBrie Slash Piles Rx
29 mi from the center point · 700 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
- 0.4 miHart Store ↗Sedona, AZ
- 0.9 miJordan Ranch ↗Sedona, AZ
- 1.3 miMidgley, W. W., Bridge ↗Sedona, AZ
- 1.4 miChapel of the Holy Cross ↗Sedona, AZ
- 3.4 miSchuerman Homestead House ↗Sedona, AZ
- 4.2 miCross Creek Ranch House ↗Sedona, AZ
- 6 miLee Butte Lookout Tower and Cabin ↗Happy Jack, AZ
- 7 miBeaver Creek School ↗Rimrock, 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 Munds Mountain Wilderness?
18,109 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Munds Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Munds Mountain Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Munds Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Munds Mountain 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 Munds Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.819° N, 111.705° W. Montezuma Castle National Monument is 10 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Munds Mountain Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Frog Tank 2 Piles Rx at 10 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Munds Mountain Wilderness?
Montezuma Castle National Monument (10 mi), Tuzigoot National Monument (15 mi) and Walnut Canyon National Monument (23 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Munds Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 13 listings within 15 miles, including Hart Store and Jordan Ranch.
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.