Sierra Estrella Wilderness
Sierra Estrella Wilderness is a 14,400-acre wilderness area in Maricopa County, Arizona. It rises from about 1,203 to 4,101 ft. The nearest town is Santa Cruz, 2.5 miles away in a straight line.
Sierra Estrella Wilderness map
Sierra Estrella 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
- Santa Cruz, AZ is the nearest town, 2.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Sierra Estrella Wilderness is about 4,101 ft, and its lowest about 1,203 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Butterfly Mountain, about 4,076 ft.
Who manages Sierra Estrella Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 14,400 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Outdoor Recreation Planner, 623-580-5643 |
Getting to Sierra Estrella Wilderness
- Santa Cruz, AZ is the nearest town, 2.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
- Access roads named on the area's wilderness.net page: Interstate 10, Elliot Road, Rainbow Valley Road, Riggs Road.
Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for Sierra Estrella Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-29. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.
Trailheads at Sierra Estrella Wilderness
- Quartz Peak Trailhead (inside the boundary, 1,548 ft), at 33.1983, -112.2399
Trailhead locations: BLM recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Sierra Estrella Wilderness
- Butterfly Mountain summit
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.
Other wilderness areas in Arizona
- https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=552 (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)