Sierra Ancha Wilderness
Centuries ago the Salado Indians built and lived in cliff dwellings in this region, and the ruins of many of them still stand today. An "original" Arizona Wilderness, Sierra Ancha was established as a...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 20,253 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.8269, -110.8960 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 15) |
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. 3 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
10 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 47 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Moody Point ↗ | 8.6 | |
| Rim ↗ | 7.6 | |
| Deep Creek ↗ | 5 | |
| Grapevine ↗ | 5 | |
| Lucky Strike ↗ | 5 | |
| Coon | 4.3 | |
| Reynolds Creek | 3.7 | |
| McFadden Horse | 3.3 | |
| Center Mountain | 2.5 | |
| Murphy | 1.5 |
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
43 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
- 9.9 miSalt River Bridge ↗Roosevelt, AZ
- 11.7 miPerkins Store ↗Young, AZ
- 12.8 miPleasant Valley Ranger Station ↗Young, AZ
- 13.3 mi
- 13.5 mi
- 13.6 mi
- 14.7 miAlchesay Canyon Bridge ↗Roosevelt, AZ
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
20,253 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Sierra Ancha Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Sierra Ancha Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1964.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Reynolds Creek Group Camp, 1.4 miles out. 3 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 Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.827, -110.896. Tonto National Monument is 13 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Sierra Ancha Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-18, the nearest D2 Vincent Rx at 43 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 15 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
Tonto National Monument (13 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
7 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Salt River Bridge and Perkins 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.