Hells Canyon Wilderness
A scenic portion of the Hieroglyphic Mountain Range, Hells Canyon Wilderness is home to numerous peaks which encircle and isolate Burro Flats from the rest of the world. These peaks rise from 1,877 to...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 9,951 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.9445, -112.3854 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 25) |
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.
Trails
7 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 49 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Creek ↗ | 14.4 | |
| West Fork Rapid River ↗ | 11.1 | |
| Trail Creek ↗ | 8.1 | |
| Bald Mountain ↗ | 6.7 | |
| Indian Springs | 3.4 | |
| Rankin Mill | 2.7 | |
| Dog Ridge | 2.6 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas, refreshed September 18, 2026. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 11.6 miSun-Up Ranch (Boundary Decrease) ↗New River, AZ
- 12.6 miMorristown Store ↗Morristown, AZ
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Hells Canyon Wilderness?
9,951 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Hells Canyon Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Hells Canyon Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Hells Canyon Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Hells Canyon Wilderness?
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Hells Canyon Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.944, -112.385. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at Hells Canyon Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 25 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Hells Canyon Wilderness?
2 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Sun-Up Ranch (Boundary Decrease) and Morristown Store.
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.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- 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.