Trigo Mountain Wilderness
Only a thin strip of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge separates this wilderness from California. The Trigo Mountains are popular with rock climbers, and the washes that cut through the area are good for horseback riding and backpacking. Look for bighorn sheep, mule deer, foxes and coyotes.

Location: North of Yuma
Established: 1990
Size: 30,300 acres
Managed by: Bureau of Land Management
Contact: Yuma Field Office, 928-317-3200 or www.blm.gov/arizona


Tres Alamos Wilderness
In this wilderness in the Black Mountains, you’ll find oddly shaped Joshua trees, columns of colorful stone, saguaros and paloverdes. Gila monsters live here, too, so watch where you step. There are no established trails in this wilderness, but it’s suitable for hiking and camping.

Location: Northwest of Wickenburg
Established: 1990
Size: 8,300 acres
Managed by: Bureau of Land Management
Contact: Kingman Field Office, 928-718-3700 or www.blm.gov/arizona


Upper Burro Creek Wilderness
Thirteen miles of Burro Creek pass through this wilderness. The creek is one of the few perennial streams to flow undammed into Arizona’s lower desert. At least 150 bird species, including several raptors, can be spotted here. Burro Creek and its side canyons are good for hiking, but summer temperatures can be extreme.

Location: Southeast of Kingman
Established: 1990
Size: 27,440 acres
Managed by: Bureau of Land Management
Contact: Kingman Field Office, 928-718-3700 or www.blm.gov/arizona


EDITOR’S NOTE: Each afternoon in September, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, we’re spotlighting three of Arizona’s 90 wilderness areas. For more information about any of the state’s wilderness areas, visit Wilderness.net, a collaboration between several wilderness-related organizations. The information here comes from that site and the wilderness areas’ managing agencies. Always contact the managing agency before visiting a wilderness to learn about any restrictions that may be in effect. To see our entire Wild Arizona series, click here.