Mazatzal Wilderness
In the language of the Aztecs mazatzal means "an area inhabited by deer," but just how the word reached Arizona, or what significance it holds, remains somewhat of a mystery. Yes, deer inhabit the area....
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 250,760 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.1434, -111.5842 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 21) |
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. 5 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
32 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 231 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Verde River ↗ | 27.6 | |
| Mazatzal ↗ | 27.2 | |
| Willow Springs ↗ | 16.2 | |
| Red Hills ↗ | 14.6 | |
| Davenport ↗ | 12.9 | |
| Dutchman Grave ↗ | 10.1 | |
| Wet Bottom ↗ | 9.4 | |
| Deer Creek ↗ | 8.5 | |
| Sheep Creek ↗ | 8.4 | |
| Saddle Ridge ↗ | 8 |
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
41 mi from the center point
- PrescribedD2 Dye Rx
43 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
- 0 miFossil Creek Bridge ↗Strawberry, AZ
- 0.6 miVerde River Sheep Bridge ↗Carefree, AZ
- 1.7 miNatural Bridge Lodge ↗Payson, AZ
- 2.4 miStrawberry School ↗Strawberry, AZ
- 4 miMiller, Pryor, House ↗Pine, AZ
- 4 miRandall, Alfred Jason, House ↗Pine, AZ
- 4.4 mi
- 6.1 miBartlett Dam ↗Carefree, AZ
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mazatzal Wilderness?
250,760 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mazatzal Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mazatzal Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mazatzal Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1964.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mazatzal Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Sheep Bridge, 0.7 miles out. 5 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 Mazatzal Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.143, -111.584. Montezuma Castle National Monument is 18 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mazatzal Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-18, the nearest D2 Vincent Rx at 41 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Mazatzal Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 21 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Mazatzal Wilderness?
Montezuma Castle National Monument (18 mi) and Tonto National Monument (28 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Mazatzal Wilderness?
12 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Fossil Creek Bridge and Verde River Sheep Bridge.
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.