Salt River Canyon Wilderness
Many describe the vista where U.S. 60 crosses the Salt River Canyon as the most dramatic in Arizona. Here, the highway descends 2,000 feet of steep switchbacks, crosses a bridge, and ascends the opposite side of the canyon. About 20 miles below the bridge, the spectacular steep-walled canyon bisects Salt River Canyon Wilderness. Within the area, elevations range from 2,200 feet at the canyon's lower end to 4,200 feet on White Ledge Mountain. More than 200 species of wildlife have been identified along the river. Access to this area is very difficult, and there are no maintained trails.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 32,115 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.66° N, 110.81° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 24) |
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 3 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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD2 Sinkhole Rx
45 mi from the center point · 875 acres
- PrescribedRx Payson Pits Tnf0401P
48 mi from the center point
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 miSalt River Bridge ↗Roosevelt, AZ
- 9 miSalt River Canyon Bridge ↗Carrizo, AZ
- 10.8 miMiami Community Church ↗Miami, AZ
- 10.8 miSoderman Building ↗Miami, AZ
- 10.8 mi
- 10.9 miKeystone Avenue Bridge ↗Miami, AZ
- 10.9 miInspiration Avenue Bridge ↗Miami, AZ
- 10.9 miBullion Plaza School ↗Miami, 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 Salt River Canyon Wilderness?
32,115 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Salt River Canyon Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Salt River Canyon Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Salt River Canyon Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Salt River Canyon 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 Salt River Canyon Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.657° N, 110.813° W. Tonto National Monument is 11 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Salt River Canyon Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest D2 Sinkhole Rx at 45 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Salt River Canyon Wilderness?
Tonto National Monument (11 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Salt River Canyon Wilderness?
The National Register has 26 listings within 15 miles, including Salt River Bridge and Salt River Canyon Bridge.
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.