Pajarita Wilderness
Attention, botany lovers: you should not miss this little Wilderness. More than 660 species of plants have been identified within its borders, 17 of them found nowhere else on Earth. Botanists have called Pajarita one of the most intriguing small areas in the United States. Its wildflowers alone attract photographers from around the world. Hugging the border of Mexico, Pajarita is dominated by the narrow and twisting, steep-walled Sycamore Canyon. While the stream only flows on a seasonal basis, it does have year-round pools of water and serves as a major migration corridor for wildlife. Rolling hills and oak woodlands are dissected by several canyons. Elevation ranges from 3,800 feet to 4,800 feet.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 7,499 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 31.39° N, 111.19° 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 2 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
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 19 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Sycamore Canyon ↗ | 9.9 | |
| Border ↗ | 8.6 |
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
- PrescribedNogales Piles Rx
37 mi from the center point · 101 acres
- PrescribedSierra Vista Piles Rx
41 mi from the center point · 161 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
- 12.7 miTumacacori Museum ↗National Historic Landmark
- 14.3 miGuevavi Mission Ruins ↗National Historic Landmark
- 1.9 miAtascosa Lookout House ↗Tubac, AZ
- 11.2 miKitchen, Pete, Ranch ↗Nogales, AZ
- 12.4 miHouse at 334--338 Walnut Street ↗Nogales, AZ
- 12.5 miHouse at 220 Walnut Street ↗Nogales, AZ
- 12.5 miNogales High School ↗Nogales, AZ
- 12.6 miMediterranean Style House ↗Nogales, 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 Pajarita Wilderness?
7,499 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Pajarita Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Pajarita Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Pajarita Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Pajarita 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 Pajarita Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 31.395° N, 111.191° W. Tumacácori National Historical Park is 13 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Pajarita Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Nogales Piles Rx at 37 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Pajarita Wilderness?
Tumacácori National Historical Park (13 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Pajarita Wilderness?
The National Register has 34 listings within 15 miles, including Tumacacori Museum and Guevavi Mission Ruins.
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.