Hells Canyon Wilderness (Arizona)

Hells Canyon Wilderness
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)
Location	Yavapai / Maricopa counties, Arizona, US
Nearest city	Phoenix, Arizona
Coordinates	33°56′41″N 112°23′07″W / 33.94474316°N 112.385326358°W / 33.94474316; -112.385326358[1]
Area	9,900 acres (40.1 km2)
Established	1990
Governing body	Bureau of Land Management

Hells Canyon Wilderness is a 9,951 acre (4,027 ha) wilderness area in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Phoenix in Maricopa and southeast Yavapai counties.^[2]

Hells Canyon Wilderness is a portion of the Hieroglyphic Mountains. The most prominent peaks are Garfias Mountain at 3,381 feet (1,030.5 m) and Hellgate Mountain at 3,339 feet (1,017.7 m). Other peaks, most over 3,000 feet (910 m) in elevation, encircle Burro Flats, effectively isolating the flats from the surrounding countryside.^[2]

On Earth Day, 2008, The Wilderness Land Trust purchased a 640-acre (2.6 km²) inholding near the center of Hells Canyon Wilderness. The parcel included Hells Canyon itself and had belonged to a Phoenix area land developer. Once the Trust transfers the land to the federal government the entire wilderness area will be publicly owned.^{[citation needed]}

Most of Hells Canyon Wilderness is covered by Sonoran Desert shrub vegetation such as saguaro cactus, paloverde, barrel cactus, ocotillo, and various desert grasses.^[2]

Popular recreational activities in Hells Canyon Wilderness include rock climbing, hiking, wildlife watching, and camping.^[2]

• Bradshaw Mountains
• Castle Hot Springs (Arizona)
• List of Arizona Wilderness Areas
• List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
• Wilderness Act

• Hells Canyon Wilderness – Bureau of Land Management
• The Wilderness Land Trust