Hellsgate Wilderness
Lying at the base of the Mogollon Rim, upper Tonto Creek has incised a 1,000-foot-deep canyon that runs entirely through the center of this Wilderness. A perennial waterway, Tonto Creek creates deep emerald...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 37,457 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.1960, -111.0590 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 18) |
Boundary map
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
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 sits inside the boundary. 22 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
10 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trails
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 29 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Hell'S Gate ↗ | 10.1 | |
| Bear Flat ↗ | 6.5 | |
| Big Ridge ↗ | 5 | |
| 4 | ||
| Mescal Ridge | 3.1 |
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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD2 Vincent Rx
18 mi from the center point
- PrescribedD2 Dye Rx
19 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
- 3.8 miDiamond Point Lookout Cabin ↗Tonto Village, AZ
- 6 miPleasant Valley Ranger Station ↗Young, AZ
- 6 miOx Bow Inn ↗Payson, AZ
- 6.1 miPerkins Store ↗Young, AZ
- 6.3 miPromontory Butte Lookout Complex ↗Beaver Park, AZ
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Hellsgate Wilderness?
37,457 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Hellsgate Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Hellsgate Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Hellsgate Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Hellsgate Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Christopher Creek, 2.1 miles out. 22 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
How do I get to Hellsgate Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.196, -111.059. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Hellsgate Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-18, the nearest D2 Vincent Rx at 18 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Hellsgate Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 18 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Hellsgate Wilderness?
5 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Diamond Point Lookout Cabin and Pleasant Valley Ranger Station.
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.