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.Hells Canyon Wilderness
– Bureau of Land Management

Topography

Hells Canyon Wilderness is a portion of the

Hieroglyphic Mountains The Hieroglyphic Mountains are a mountain range located in central Arizona. The Hieroglyphics roughly straddle the border between Maricopa and Yavapai counties and form an effective physical barrier northwest of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Du ...

. The most prominent peaks are Garfias Mountain at and Hellgate Mountain at . Other peaks, most over in elevation, encircle Burro Flats, effectively isolating the flats from the surrounding countryside.

Private Land

Earth Day Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 b ...

, 2008, The Wilderness Land Trust purchased a 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.

Vegetation

Most of Hells Canyon Wilderness is covered by Sonoran desert shrub vegetation such as

saguaro cactus The saguaro (, ) (''Carnegiea gigantea'') is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus ''Carnegiea'' that can grow to be over tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains ...

, paloverde, barrel cactus, ocotillo, and various desert grasses.

Recreation

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

References

External links