BLM · Arizona

Woolsey Peak Wilderness

Woolsey Peak Wilderness offers rugged topgraphy, colorful scenic vistas, rich variety of wildlife and vegetation, and outstanding opportunities for solitude and unconfined recreation. Woolsey Peak stands at 3,270 feet above sea level and approximately 2,500 feet above the Gila River (to the south). It is a geographical landmark visible from much of southwestern Arizona. The Painted Rock Dam blocks the Gila River not far from the southwestern corner of the area. Encompassing a major portion of the Gila Bend Mountains, this Wilderness is just barely separated from the smaller Signal Mountain Wilderness to the north.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Woolsey Peak Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StateArizona
Size64,000 acres
Designated1990, by Congress
Center point33.13° N, 112.90° W
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28)

Boundary map

1 outline

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

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Woolsey Peak Wilderness50°60°70°80°90°100°January: 0.69 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.46 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.64 inches of precipitationApril: 0.16 inches of precipitationMay: 0.16 inches of precipitationJune: 0.01 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.92 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.85 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.43 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.49 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.61 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.67 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 55.0°F averageFebruary: 58.6°F averageMarch: 65.1°F averageApril: 71.9°F averageMay: 79.8°F averageJune: 89.0°F averageJuly: 94.6°F averageAugust: 94.0°F averageSeptember: 87.7°F averageOctober: 75.2°F averageNovember: 62.7°F averageDecember: 54.0°F average0 in0.5 in1 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Painted Rock Dam, 8 miles from the center point at 568 feet, station USC00026194 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 6 inches a year.

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

Campsite Atlas →

None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 6 in all · Register Atlas

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 Woolsey Peak Wilderness?

64,000 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Woolsey Peak Wilderness?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Woolsey Peak Wilderness in?

Arizona.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Woolsey Peak Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1990.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Woolsey Peak 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 Woolsey Peak Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 33.131° N, 112.903° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Are there historic places near Woolsey Peak Wilderness?

The National Register has 6 listings within 15 miles, including Gillespie Dam Highway Bridge and MacLennan House.

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.