USFS · Wilderness area · Arizona

Sycamore Canyon Wilderness

This sprawling Arizona Wilderness encompasses all of Sycamore Canyon, from its pine- and fir-forested rim on the Colorado Plateau down through the Mogollon Rim to its desert mouth in the Verde Valley....

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Sycamore Canyon Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byU.S. Forest Service
StateArizona
Size58,448 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1972, by Congress
Center point34.9808, -112.0226
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 5 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

Trailheads and sites

Forest Service directory · 1

The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 day hiking. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.

Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.

Fire nearby

Within 50 miles · as of 2026-09-17
  • Prescribed
    Cy26 Knf Rx Support

    20 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

National Register listings within 15 miles · 33 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Sycamore Canyon Wilderness?

58,448 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Sycamore Canyon Wilderness?

The U.S. Forest Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Sycamore Canyon Wilderness in?

Arizona.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Sycamore Canyon Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1972.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Sycamore Canyon Wilderness?

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is White Horse Lake Campground, 0.9 miles out. 5 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Where to camp

Where are the trailheads in Sycamore Canyon Wilderness?

The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site here, including 1 day hiking. Each one links to its Forest Service page.

Source: Trailheads and sites

How do I get to Sycamore Canyon Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 34.981, -112.023. Tuzigoot National Monument is 6 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Is there a fire near Sycamore Canyon Wilderness right now?

1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Cy26 Knf Rx Support at 20 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.

Source: Fire nearby

How dark is the night sky at Sycamore Canyon Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 20 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Which national parks are near Sycamore Canyon Wilderness?

Tuzigoot National Monument (6 mi), Montezuma Castle National Monument (20 mi) and Walnut Canyon National Monument (24 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

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.