Area 40.06 km² Established 1990 | Nearest city Phoenix Management Bureau of Land Management | |
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Location Yavapai / Maricopa counties, Arizona, USA 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.
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TopographyEdit
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.
Private LandEdit
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.
VegetationEdit
Most of Hells Canyon Wilderness is covered by Sonoran desert shrub vegetation such as saguaro cactus, paloverde, barrel cactus, ocotillo, and various desert grasses.
RecreationEdit
Popular recreational activities in Hells Canyon Wilderness include rock climbing, hiking, wildlife watching, and camping.