Sierra Estrella Wilderness
The Sierra Estrella Wilderness, which includes roughly one-fourth of the Sierra Estrella Mountains, is 15 miles south of the metropolitan Phoenix and east of Rainbow Valley, Arizona. Bordered entirely on the north and east by the Gila Indian Reservation, the Wilderness is only accessible from its western boundary. It contains knife-edged ridge-lines, steep slopes, and rocky canyons, one of the most rugged mountainous areas of Arizona. In the northeast corner, Butterfly Mountain rises 2,600 feet above the desert plain to an elevation of 4,119 feet in only two miles, a challenge for backpackers and climbers. These extreme elevation changes have produced diverse plant communities.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 14,400 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.21° N, 112.24° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28) |
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
- 8.2 miLaveen School Auditorium ↗Laveen, AZ
- 9 mi
- 9.6 miWindes, Dudley and Hope, Farmstead ↗Phoenix, AZ
- 12.5 mi
- 13.9 miLiberty Methodist Episcopal Church, South ↗Buckeye, AZ
- 14.6 miKing's Rest Hotel Motor Court ↗Phoenix, AZ
- 14.8 miCisney, C. W., House ↗Phoenix, AZ
- 14.9 miShell Oil Co. ↗Phoenix, 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 Sierra Estrella Wilderness?
14,400 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Sierra Estrella Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Sierra Estrella Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Sierra Estrella Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Sierra Estrella Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.211° N, 112.239° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Sierra Estrella Wilderness?
The National Register has 10 listings within 15 miles, including Laveen School Auditorium and Initial Point of the Gila and Salt River Base Line and Meridian.
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.