Sonoran Desert National Monument

About Sonoran Desert National Monument

The Sonoran Desert National Monument contains magnificent examples of untrammeled Sonoran Desert landscape. The monument sits in the most biologically diverse of the North American deserts and captures a significant portion of that diversity. The most striking aspect of the plant community in the monument is the extensive saguaro cactus forest. The monument contains three distinct mountain ranges, the Maricopa, Sand Tank and Table Top mountains, as well as the Booth and White hills, all separated by wide valleys. The monument also contains three congressionally designated wilderness areas, archaeological and historic sites, and remnants of several important historic trails.Hours and SeasonsThe monument is open 24 hours a day, year-round. It's best to enjoy the monument from late October to mid-April to avoid summer heat.Places to GoNorth Maricopa Mountains Wilderness AreaMargies Cove West Campground, Margies Cove West Trailhead, Margies Cove EastBrittlebrush TrailheadEstrella Wayside Recreation AreaTable Top Wilderness AreaTable Top TrailLava Flow TrailGetting AroundInterstate 8 and State Route 238 cross the monument. Most other roads are unpaved, primitive, and not maintained. High-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended in some areas. More than 460 miles of posted roads are available for back country, off-highway vehicle driving and mountain biking; however, by law, vehicles and bicycles are prohibited in wilderness.CampingCamping on Public LandsDispersed CampingDispersed camping and picnicking is allowed throughout the monument, unless otherwise posted. Desert camping allows visitors to take short scenic hikes, survey unique vegetation, and relax with friends under a blanket of stars.CampgroundsTwo small campgrounds at Margies Cove West and Table Top trailheads offer a toilet and three small campsites with a picnic table and barbecue grill. Four small campsites are also available at Estrella Wayside Recreation Area. No water or hookups are availabl

How to Get There

The Sonoran Desert National Monument is in south central Arizona, 60 miles from Phoenix. Do not rely on your vehicle's navigation system in the monument. Cell signals can be spotty. Download a map.You can get to the western side of the monument via State Route 85 north of Gila Bend. State Route 238 is paved and crosses the monument between Gila Bend and Maricopa. You can reach the eastern side of the monument from Maricopa. You can get to the southern part of the monument via Interstate 8 east of Gila Bend. Interstate 8 provides some access at the Vekol interchange (Exit 144) and the Freeman Interchange (Exit 140). For information about other access routes, contact us.

Plan Your Visit to Sonoran Desert National Monument

Heading to Sonoran Desert National Monument? 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

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• Park map (PDF)
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)