New Water Mountains Wilderness
Despite its name, this land of colorful craggy spires, sharp ridges, sheer rock outcrops, natural arches, and slickrock canyons receives less than five inches of rainfall annually, so you should pack in your own water. Bordered on the south by Kofa Wilderness and on the north by Interstate 10, New Water Mountains offers great backpacking. About 20 primitive, two-track trails can be easily followed on foot. Hunters track sheep and mule deer here. Black Mesa, a large volcanic butte, stands in the northwest corner 1,200 feet above the Ranegras Plain and 3,639 feet above sea level, the highest point in the Wilderness. Vegetation is sparse. Saguaro, creosote, ocotillo, and cholla dot the hills, and paloverde and ironwood line the washes.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 24,600 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.58° N, 113.96° 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
- 11.1 miHi Jolly Monument ↗Quartzsite, 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 New Water Mountains Wilderness?
24,600 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages New Water Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is New Water Mountains Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was New Water Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to New Water Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.577° N, 113.964° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near New Water Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Hi Jolly Monument.
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.