North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
The North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness consists of a series of rocky, isolated summits, long ridges, and vast, level valley floors. The ridges are dissected by normally dry washes and separated by desert outwash slopes (bajadas). Elevations in this Wilderness range from approximately 900 feet, near Gila Bend, to approximately 3,000 feet, at Butterfield Pass. The two major vegetation communities which characterize this area include Paloverde-Mixed Cactii, which consists of dense "forests" of saguaro cactus, paloverde, and ironwood, and Creosote-Bursage, which covers low elevation valley floors in seemingly unbroken expanses.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 63,200 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.10° N, 112.53° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 29) |
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
1 federal campground sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.6 miMacLennan House ↗Wickenburg, AZ
- 6.8 miGila Bend Overpass ↗Gila Bend, AZ
- 7.7 miStout's Hotel ↗Gila Bend, AZ
- 10.3 miGillespie Dam Highway Bridge ↗Gila Bend, AZ
- 12.6 miBuckeye Woman’s Club ↗Buckeye, AZ
- 12.9 miBuckeye Union High School School A-Wing ↗Buckeye, AZ
- 13 miLiberty Methodist Episcopal Church, South ↗Buckeye, 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 North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness?
63,200 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at North Maricopa Mountains 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 North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.103° N, 112.529° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 7 listings within 15 miles, including MacLennan House and Gila Bend Overpass.
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.