Wilderness Areas
Wilderness areas within Graham County provide relatively untouched natural settings for wildlife to roam free and visitors to explore. These preserved areas give ideal natural landscapes to enjoy from the dawn of a new day to sunset and the brilliant night sky far removed from big city lights. The Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, Fishhooks Wilderness, Peloncillo Mountains Wilderness, and Redfield Canyon Wilderness are all located within Graham County – one of the highest concentrations of designated wilderness lands in the U.S..
Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness
Aravaipa's outstanding scenery, desert fish and wildlife, rich history...
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Aravaipa's outstanding scenery, desert fish and wildlife, rich history, and opportunities for primitive recreation will remain free from the influence of man and are protected in this condition for future generations. Its 19,410 acres beckon adventurers who yearn for solitude and scenic splendor.
The perennial waters of Aravaipa Creek have carved a scenic canyon through the Sonoran Desert at the northern end of the Galiuro Mountains in southeastern Arizona. Saguaro cactus dot the canyon slopes, and a mixed-broadleaf riparian forest lines the canyon slopes at the creek. The canyon, 1,000 feet deep in places, is home to desert bighorn sheep, javelinas, coati mundis, ringtail cats, and other interesting wildlife. The creek is home to 7 species of native fish, and over 200 species of birds live among the cottonwoods, sycamores, willows, ash, and other riparian species in the canyon. Aravaipa Canyon is 11 miles long, and elevations range from 3,000 feet at the eastern trailhead to 2,650 feet at the western trailhead. Nine major side canyons feed into Aravaipa.
Hunting is not permitted at the bottom of the canyon. Contact the Bureau of Land Management for specific information.
Contact Information:
Bureau of Land Management
Safford Field Office
711 14th Avenue
Safford, AZ 85546
928.348.4400
Fishhooks Wilderness
The 10,500-acre Fishhooks Wilderness is located about 30 miles...
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The 10,500-acre Fishhooks Wilderness is located about 30 miles northwest of Safford, Arizona in Graham County. With its scenic vistas and rugged beauty, this isolated wilderness area provides outstanding solitude for visitors. Upper, lower, and middle Fishhooks, Sam, Steer Springs and Dutch Pasture canyons offer pleasant hiking in seldom-visited areas that are tempered with shady riparian vegetation.
The canyon is named for the three canyons that form the hook-shaped curves in the center of the wilderness. There are no trails in this wilderness, so compass-and-map navigation skills are a must for hikers.
Gila Peak, rising to 6,629 feet, supports a border pinyon pine forest, found only in southeastern Arizona. The lower slopes and benches are covered with grassland and chaparral while the area's canyons support riparian vegetation.
Contact Information:
Bureau of Land Management
Safford Field Office
711 14th Avenue
Safford, AZ 85546
928.348.4400
Peloncillo Mountains Wilderness
The 19,440-acre Peloncillo Mountains Wilderness is located 9 miles...
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The 19,440-acre Peloncillo Mountains Wilderness is located 9 miles northeast of San Simon, Arizona, in Graham, Greenlee and Cochise counties.
The wilderness lies within the rugged Peloncillo Range, which stretches from Mexico to the Gila River. This remote and primitive area flanking the New Mexico state line shows little signs of human activity. The Peloncillo Mountain Wilderness offers outstanding opportunities for primitive recreation, including hiking, backpacking, rock scrambling, hunting and sightseeing. The higher country offers long-distance views; and excellent scenery enhances wilderness values in the rugged mountains and canyons.
Desert bighorn sheep have been recently reintroduced to the region and share their home with peregrine falcons and four other sensitive animal species. Vegetation ranges from desert shrub grasslands in the surrounding flatlands to oak juniper woodlands in the higher reaches. The area is also rich in archaeological sites with the historic Butterfield Stage route forming the southern boundary of the wilderness.
Contact Information:
Bureau of Land Management
Safford Field Office
711 14th Avenue
Safford, AZ 85546-3337
928.348.4400
North Santa Teresa Wilderness
The geologic landmark known as the Black rock rises nearly 1,000...
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The geologic landmark known as the Black Rock rises nearly 1,000 feet from its base while the remainder of this mile-long rhyolitic plug is encircled by cliffs of several hundred feet. To this day, the rock holds spiritual significance for local Native Americans as well as a mystique for visitors. Jackson Mountain rises to 5,890 feet southeast of the rock and is dissected by several canyons. The majority of this sister to the boulder-strewn Forest Service Santa Teresa Wilderness consists of desert and mountain shrub, grassland and riparian vegetation.
The 5,800-acre North Santa Teresa Wilderness is located about 25 miles west of Safford, Arizona in Graham County.
Contact Information:
Bureau of Land Management
Safford Field Office
711 14th Avenue
Safford, AZ 85546
928.348.4400
Redfield Canyon Wilderness
Redfield Canyon is a narrow red-walled chasm suitable for hiking...
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Redfield Canyon is a narrow red-walled chasm suitable for hiking during the spring and fall seasons. Tall cliffs pocked with eroded caves and strewn with boulders, Redfield Canyon offers the visitor a variety of recreational opportunities. Photographers can capture hidden cascades in the side canyons while casual visitors may occasionally find deep pools to enjoy. Located in the eastern part of the wilderness is the impressive Galiuro escarpment, an example of the fault-block development of the Basin and Range Province. Other small canyons containing perennial streams can be found in the area.
The 6,600-acre Redfield Canyon Wilderness, part of the Muleshoe Cooperative Management Area, is located about 32 miles north of Benson, Arizona in Graham and Cochise counties.
Contact Information:
Bureau of Land Management
Safford Field Office
711 14th Avenue
Safford, AZ 85546-3337
928.348.4400
