Wilderness.net's Sierra Estrella Wilderness
Fact Sheet
Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Sierra Estrella Wilderness
in 1990 and it now has a total of 14,400 acres. All of the wilderness is
in Arizona and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Description
The 14,400-acre wilderness, which includes roughly 0ne-fourth of the
Sierra Estrella Mountains, is 15 miles south of the metropolitan
Phoenix and east of Rainbow Valley, Arizona. Bordered entirely on
the north and east by the Gila Indian Reservation, Sierra Estrella
Wilderness contains knife-edged ridge-lines, steep slopes, and rocky
canyons, one of the most rugged mountainous areas of Arizona. In the
northeast corner Butterfly Mountain rises 2,600 feet above the desert
plain to an elevation of 4,119 feet in only two miles, a challenge for
backpackers and climbers. These extreme elevation changes have
produced diverse plant communities: saguaro, cholla, ocotillo, paloverde, and elephant bush lower
down, shrub live oak and a few junipers higher up. A remnant herd of desert bighorn sheep roams
these mountains. Other permanent residents include the Gila monster, giant spotted whiptail lizard,
desert tortoise, mountain lion, mule deer, coyote, javelina, golden eagle, prairie falcon, and Cooper's
hawk.
Though Sierra Estrella is not far from Phoenix, few humans venture into this Wilderness. If you
wander through, you may stumble across evidence of old mining activity. A four-wheel-drive
vehicle is required to reach the two public-access points; along the way you'll cross some extremely
sandy, deep washes. Primitive dirt roads near the wilderness boundary are extremely sandy or silty
and wash crossings are rugged and deep.
Leave No Trace
Leave the area as you would like to find it. Pack out all trash; do not bury it, as animals will dig it
up after you leave. Dogs disturb wildlife and other visitors; if you bring a dog, keep it under
control at all times. If you need a fire, keep it small and away from rock outcrops. If you build a
fire ring, please dismantle it when you are through and bury the ashes before leaving the area.
Cigarette butts, pull-tabs, orange peels, etc. are all liter. PACK IT IN - PACK IT OUT.
Location
Take Interstate 10 to exit 126 and travel south on the Estrella Parkway for 8.3 miles, take Elliot
Road west for 2.6 miles turning left on Rainbow Valley Road for 9.4 miles. Turn left going east on
Riggs Road for 4 miles to Bullard Avenue. Cross the road (jogging just a little south) and continue
east, following the unsigned dirt road that parallels the power lines. Proceed 5.3 miles east, then turn
south at the "T" intersection, where a small sign indicates the direction to an unnamed trail. Proceed
south two miles, then turn east on another unsigned dirt road. Follow it 1.9 miles to the trailhead.
Only the western boundary of the wilderness is accessible to the public. Due to land ownership
patterns, legal access is not assured.
Area Management
The Sierra Estrella Wilderness is part of the 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation
System. This System of lands provides clean air, water, and habitat critical for rare and endangered
plants and animals. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking,
backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing, and
extraordinary opportunities for solitude. You play an important role in helping to "secure for the
American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of
wilderness" as called for by the Congress of the United States through the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Please follow the requirements outlined below and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting the
Sierra Estrella Wilderness to ensure protection of this unique area.
Objective 1: Maintain or enhance the natural character of the wilderness by rehabilitating former
vehicle ways, controlling unauthorized use, coordinating search and rescue response protocal with
state, county, municipal agencies, and volunteer organizations. Prohibiting campfires, charcoal fires,
wood gathering, woodcutting and the displacement or disturbance of rocks. Campstoves will be
allowed along with the the casual surface collection of rocks.
Objective 2: Provide a diversity of primitive recreational opportunities and a high degree of of
solitude for visitors by establishing and/or maintaining Quartz Peak Trail and Trailhead, distributing
appropriate visitor information, adopting low-incidence visitor encounter standards, and
encouraging private air services to reduce low-level flights.
Objective 3: Maintain the present plant communities by resting impacted areas from livestock,
encouraging Arizona Game and Fish Dept to manage big game populations, and suppressing all
wildfires.
Objective 4: Provide habitat and water for diversity of fauna by increasing wildlife water catchments
capacities, allowing mechanized transport of water and conduct population censuses, and
sanctioning desert bighorn sheep transplants.
Contacts
General Contact: Jack Ragsdale
21605 N. 7th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85027
Restrictions: Office hours: 7:30 am - 4:15 pm Monday - Friday
Remarks: Dave Scarbrough is the backup for information
Phone: 623-580-5643
Fax: 623-580-5580
Email: [email protected]
Links on Wilderness.net
National, Regional and Local Wilderness Organizations (NGOs)
A listing of societies, organizations, coalitions and other wilderness-related advocacy and
stewardship groups.
Career and Volunteer Opportunities
A listing of sites providing information about wilderness- and environmentally-related career and
volunteer opportunities.
Applicable Wilderness Law(s)
Law
Date
Acreage Change (in acres)
Public Law 101-628
November 28, 1990
14,500
Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990 - Public law 101-628 (11/28/1990) To provide for the
designation of certain public lands as wilderness in the State of Arizona
download 101-628
General Trip Planning Information
Although distinguished as one of the closest wilderness areas to metropolitan Phoenix, four-wheel
drive vehicles are required to approach the wilderness boundary. Primitive dirt roads near the
wilderness boundary are extremely sandy or silty, and wash crossings are rugged and deep. Only the
western boundary of the wilderness is accessible to the public; elsewhere the area is bounded by the
Gila River Indian Reservation. Some lands around and within the wilderness are not federally
administered. Please respect the property rights of owners and do not cross or use these lands
without their permission.
Recreational Opportunities
Quartz Peak Trail, in the 14,400-acre Sierra Estrella Wilderness, leads visitors fro mthe floor of the
Rainbow Valley to the summit of the Sierra Estrella at Quartz Peak (elevation 4,052 feet)in just 3.0
miles. Along the way, visitors are treated to a variety of Sonoran Desert plants and animals, scenic
vistas, and evidence of the area's volcanic history. The views from the summit are spectacular to the
west is a dramatic panorama of rugged mountain ranges and desert plains, and to the east,
metropolitan Phoenix unfolds over the valley of the lower Gila River. Quartz Peak Trail is
extremely steep and difficult to follow in places. The is a hike for experienced and well-conditioned
hikers only! Overnight stays are primarily associated with hunting; however, hunting camps are
usually located outside the wilderness boundaries.
Climate and Special Equipment Needs
High use periods are from October through May. Be preparded for 100+ degree weather during the
months of May - October. Hiking poles are a definite plus.
Safety and Current Conditions
As with other types of outdoor activities, wilderness travel poses some potential hazards. You may
encounter flashfloods, poisonous plants, snakes and insects, or lightning storms. Be aware of your
exposure to heat and cold. Don't panic if you get lost. Carry an ample(at least 2 quarts) supply of
water with you since many areas may have inadequate or contaminated water sources.