About North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area
The 63,200-acre North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area lies in the Sonoran Desert National Monument in southwestern Maricopa County, about 12 miles east of Gila Bend and 20 miles southwest of Phoenix. The wilderness provides outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation, including hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, camping, wildlife observation and photography. The Margies Cove and Brittlebush Trails take you through the heart of the North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness.The North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness contains a 10-mile section of the Maricopa Mountains, a low-elevation (1,000 to 2,813 feet) Sonoran Desert range, and extensive surrounding desert plains. The North Maricopa Mountains are a jumble of long ridges and isolated peaks, separated by bajadas and washes. Vegetation includes saguaro, cholla, ocotillo and other Sonoran Desert plant species. Desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, coyotes, bobcat, fox, deer, Gambel's quail and raptors live in this wilderness.
How to Get There
You can get to the North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area from the west via State Route 85 and BLM route 8001 to Margies Cove West. From the south, off of State Route 238/Maricopa Road, BLM route 8004 connects to the Brittlebush Trailhead. BLM route 8002 parallels the east side of the wilderness and connects to Margies Cove East on route 8002A. Download a map.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area
Heading to North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area?
No central reservation system listed for North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/253996) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area?
You can get to the North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area from the west via State Route 85 and BLM route 8001 to Margies Cove West. From the south, off of State Route 238/Maricopa Road, BLM route 8004 connects to the Brittlebush Trailhead. BLM route 8002 parallels the east side of the wilderness and connects to Margies Cove East on route 8002A. Download a map.
How do I contact North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness Area?
You can reach the park at phone: 602-867-5400 or email: blm_az_pdoweb@blm.gov.
References & Official Resources
