Salt River Canyon Wilderness
A haven for whitewater rafters, the steep-walled Salt River Canyon offers dramatic vistas and is home to more than 200 species of wildlife. If you aren’t in a boat, though, it’s hard to get here. There are no maintained trails, and the summers can be brutal.
Location: North of Globe
Established: 1984
Size: 32,101 acres
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
Contact: Globe Ranger District, 928-402-6200 or www.fs.usda.gov/tonto
Table Top Wilderness
Table Top Mountain rises sharply above this wilderness, where you’re likely to find saguaros, paloverdes and other Sonoran Desert vegetation. There’s not much rain here, but you may see coyotes, bighorns and other animals. Solitude awaits hikers and backpackers who venture here.
Location: South of Phoenix
Established: 1990
Size: 34,400 acres
Managed by: Bureau of Land Management
Contact: Sonoran Desert National Monument, 623-580-5500 or www.blm.gov/arizona
Signal Mountain Wilderness
This wilderness’ namesake mountain rises 1,200 feet above the surrounding desert to an elevation of 2,182 feet. Desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoises and raptors are common sights here, and Signal Mountain’s valleys and canyons are becoming popular with rock climbers.
Location: Northwest of Gila Bend
Established: 1990
Size: 13,350 acres
Managed by: Bureau of Land Management
Contact: Lower Sonoran Field Office, 623-580-5500 or www.blm.gov/arizona