Pajarita Wilderness
Pajarita Wilderness is a 7,499-acre wilderness area in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. It rises from about 3,463 to 5,048 ft. The nearest town is Arivaca, 11.2 miles away in a straight line.
Pajarita Wilderness map
Pajarita 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
- Arivaca, AZ is the nearest town, 11.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Pajarita Wilderness is about 5,048 ft, and its lowest about 3,463 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Manzanita Mountain, about 4,800 ft.
Who manages Pajarita Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 7,499 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Nogales Ranger District, 520-281-2296 |
Getting to Pajarita Wilderness
- Arivaca, AZ is the nearest town, 11.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Pajarita Wilderness
- Sycamore Canyon Trailhead (0.24 mi outside the boundary, 3,982 ft), at 31.4292, -111.1903
- Atascosa (0.65 mi outside the boundary, 4,681 ft), at 31.4050, -111.1464
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Pajarita Wilderness
- Manzanita Mountain summit
- Flat Top Mountain summit
- Peñasco Canyon canyon
- Horse Pasture Spring spring
- Little Tinaja Spring spring
- Black 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 Pajarita Wilderness
- National forestPajarita Wilderness lies inside Coronado 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=440 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n32w112/USGS_1_n32w112.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)