North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area | Arizona

The 63,200-acre North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area lies in southwestern Maricopa County. Arizona, 12 miles east of Gila Bend and 20 miles southwest of Phoenix. 

The wilderness provides outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation, including hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, camping, wildlife observation and photography. The Margie's Cove and Brittlebush Trails take you through the heart of the North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness.

The North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness contains a 10-mile section of the Maricopa Mountains, a low-elevation (1,000 to 2,813 feet) Sonoran Desert range, and extensive surrounding desert plains. The North Maricopa Mountains are a jumble of long ridges and isolated peaks, separated by bajadas and washes. Vegetation includes saguaro, cholla, ocotillo and other Sonoran Desert plant species. Desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, coyotes, bobcat, fox, deer, Gambel's quail and raptors live in this wilderness.

Adventure is at Your Fingertips

Phone

Activities

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HIKING
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WILDERNESS
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DISPERSED CAMPING
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WILDLIFE VIEWING
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PHOTOGRAPHY
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HORSEBACK RIDING
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BACKPACKING
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BIRD WATCHING

Addresses

Lower Sonoran Field Office
2020 E. Bell Road
Phoenix
Arizona
85022

Geographic Coordinates

33.1030141, -112.5286386

Fees

There are no permits, passes, or fees required to visit this wilderness area. It is free.

However, commercial, competitive, and large organized group events require a special recreation permit. Contact the local managing field office for more information about special recreation permits.

Recreational activities on any nearby state trust land require a permit from the State of Arizona.