Hellsgate Wilderness
Hellsgate Wilderness is a 37,457-acre wilderness area in Gila County, Arizona. It rises from about 2,935 to 6,437 ft. The nearest town is Bear Flat, 0.6 miles away in a straight line.
Hellsgate Wilderness map
Hellsgate Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
Common questions
- Bear Flat, AZ is the nearest town, 0.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Hellsgate Wilderness is about 6,437 ft, and its lowest about 2,935 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Horse Mountain, about 6,436 ft.
Who manages Hellsgate Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 37,457 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Payson Ranger District, 928-474-7900 |
Getting to Hellsgate Wilderness
- Bear Flat, AZ is the nearest town, 0.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Hellsgate Wilderness
- Bear Flat Trailhead (0.12 mi outside the boundary, 4,990 ft), at 34.2846, -111.0686
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Hellsgate Wilderness
- Horse Mountain summit
- The Buttes summit
- Lost Camp Mountain summit
- Bearhide Canyon canyon
- Big Canyon canyon
- Peveler Chimney Spring spring
- Pocket Spring spring
- Bull Tank lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Hellsgate Wilderness
- National forestHellsgate Wilderness lies inside Tonto National Forest.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in Arizona
- https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=240 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n35w112/USGS_1_n35w112.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/GeographicNames/DomesticNames/DomesticNames_AZ_Text.zip (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_place_04.txt (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0 (accessed 2026-09-29)