North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness is a 63,200-acre wilderness area in Maricopa County, Arizona. It rises from about 808 to 2,781 ft. The nearest town is Gila Bend, 6.8 miles away in a straight line.
North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness map
North Maricopa Mountains 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
- Gila Bend, AZ is the nearest town, 6.8 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 12 miles east of Gila Bend.
- The highest ground in North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness is about 2,781 ft, and its lowest about 808 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Sheep Mountain, about 2,463 ft.
Who manages North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 63,200 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record |
Getting to North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
- Gila Bend, AZ is the nearest town, 6.8 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
- The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 12 miles east of Gila Bend.
- High-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended on the access roads.
Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-29. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.
Trailheads at North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
- Brittlebush Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 1,181 ft), at 33.0370, -112.5545
- Margies Cove East Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 1,698 ft), at 33.0777, -112.4703
- Margies Cove West Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 1,111 ft), at 33.1257, -112.5820
Trailhead locations: BLM recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
- Sheep Mountain summit
- Plug 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 North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
- BLM unitNorth Maricopa Mountains Wilderness lies inside Sonoran Desert National Monument.
- Wilderness areaSouth Maricopa Mountains Wilderness is 2.7 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
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=421 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n34w113/USGS_1_n34w113.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://gis.blm.gov/arcgis/rest/services/recreation/BLM_Natl_Recs_pts/MapServer/14 (accessed 2026-09-29)