South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness is a 60,100-acre wilderness area in Maricopa County, Arizona. It rises from about 1,204 to 3,254 ft. The nearest town is Gila Bend, 11.5 miles away in a straight line.
South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness map
South 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, 11.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 15 miles east of Gila Bend.
- The highest ground in South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness is about 3,254 ft, and its lowest about 1,204 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).
Who manages South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 60,100 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record |
Getting to South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
- Gila Bend, AZ is the nearest town, 11.5 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 15 miles east of Gila Bend.
- Access roads named on the area's wilderness.net page: Interstate 8, State Route 238.
- High-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended on the access roads.
Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-29. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.
Public lands next to South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness
- BLM unitSouth Maricopa Mountains Wilderness lies inside Sonoran Desert National Monument.
- Wilderness areaNorth 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=564 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n33w113/USGS_1_n33w113.tif (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)