Pusch Ridge Wilderness
Pusch Ridge rises from the desert floor to over 9,000 feet above sea level, affording a clear view over the sprawling metropolis of Tucson. More and more people are climbing Pusch Ridge to take in that view and revel in the cool shade of pine, fir, aspen, and maple. No wilderness in Coronado National Forest is more heavily visited than Pusch Ridge, and wildlife species there are increasingly disturbed and threatened. It is no secret what attracts people to the region. Here in the essentially dry Santa Catalina Mountains, several streams originate in the high country. Summer temperatures may be 30 degrees cooler than in the nearby city. An extensive trail system provides access to Pusch Ridge.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 56,973 acres |
| Designated | 1978, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.38° N, 110.82° W |
| Night sky | Some glow on the horizon (Black Marble reading 40) |
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 8 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
32 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 119 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Rattlesnake ↗ | 8 | |
| Ventana ↗ | 7.9 | |
| Pima Canyon ↗ | 6.8 | |
| Bear Canyon Trail #29 ↗ | 6.7 | |
| Esperero ↗ | 6.7 | |
| West Fork ↗ | 6.5 | |
| Palisade ↗ | 6.4 | |
| Romero ↗ | 6.2 | |
| Finger Rock ↗ | 5.8 | |
| Mount Lemmon ↗ | 5.6 |
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
- PrescribedMica Mountain Rx
20 mi from the center point
- PrescribedNogales Piles Rx
45 mi from the center point · 101 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
- under 0.1 miLemmon Rock Lookout House ↗Tucson, AZ
- 0.5 mi
- 0.8 miLowell Ranger Station ↗Tucson, AZ
- 1.8 miGordon Residence ↗Tucson, AZ
- 2.4 miDrexel House ↗Tucson, AZ
- 2.5 miJacobson House ↗Tucson, AZ
- 2.6 miHall, Lewis D.w., House ↗Tucson, AZ
- 2.6 mi
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 Pusch Ridge Wilderness?
56,973 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Pusch Ridge Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Pusch Ridge Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Pusch Ridge Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1978.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Pusch Ridge 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 Pusch Ridge Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.376° N, 110.821° W. Saguaro National Park is 7 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Pusch Ridge Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Mica Mountain Rx at 20 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Pusch Ridge Wilderness?
Saguaro National Park (7 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Pusch Ridge Wilderness?
The National Register has 116 listings within 15 miles, including Lemmon Rock Lookout House and DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Historic District.
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.