Upper Burro Creek Wilderness

Bureau of Land Management, Arizona.

Overview

The 27,440-acre Upper Burro Creek Wilderness is located in Yavapai and Mohave counties, 60 miles west of Prescott, Arizona and 60 miles southeast of Kingman, Arizona. The small mining town of Bagdad is located 10 miles southeast of the wilderness.

This wilderness lies along the upper reaches of Burro Creek, a perennial stream and one of the few streams in Arizona to flow relatively undisturbed into the lower desert. Nine miles of Burro Creek lie within the wilderness. In this area, Burro Creek passes through incised bedrock where it runs deep, creating clear blue pools connected by small waterfalls. In other areas, the creek has backed up into long, marshy pools ringed with young trees and other water-loving vegetation.

Away from the stream corridor, the wilderness preserves an expanse of basalt mesas and the desert grassland found on their rolling upland surfaces. Negro Ed, a huge and colorful butte rising far above its surroundings, is one of the many beautiful natural features of the wilderness.

Upper Burro Creek Wilderness offers outstanding recreation opportunities for hiking, backpacking, camping, sightseeing, hunting, rock collecting, and horseback riding. Swimming, birdwatching, and photography are special attractions all along the stream corridor.

Know Before You Go

• A four-wheel drive vehicle is strongly recommended to gain access to this wilderness.
• Several access roads to this wilderness have a high clay component to them. Following precipitation events, these roads can be impassable for a period of time
• No formal hiking trails exist within this area. Considerable "bush-whacking" may be necessary to negotiate the Burro Creek corridor or areas of chaparral brush.
• The summer climate in this area is harsh, with temperatures in the daytime often exceeding 100 degrees. Temperatures are more moderate between October 1 and April 30th.
• With the exception of the Burro Creek Canyon, water is scarce within this wilderness unit, and where found, must always be purified.
• Please follow the regulations in place for this area, and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting to ensure protection of its unique natural and experiential qualities.
• Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport are generally prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the use of motor vehicles (including OHVs), motorboats, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters. Contact the agency for more information about regulations.
• Some lands around and within the wilderness are not federally administered. Please respect the property rights of the owners and do not cross or use these lands without their permission.

Nearby Activities

• Camping
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Hunting
• Photography
• Swimming
• Swimming Site
• Wilderness
• Wildlife Viewing

Directions

A four-wheel drive vehicle is strongly recommended for all access routes.

Upper Burro Creek Access: This route should not be attempted within several days of major rainstorms or if the possibility of rain is in the forecast. Proceed to the town of Bagdad, AZ, and turn right on Lindahl Road. Follow the road to the junction with the Phelps Dodge Mine Access Road (about 3 miles) and turn right. Drive about 13 miles, following Camp Wood signs, to Bozarth Road (just past a ranch headquarters). Proceed west on Bozarth Road for 14.5 miles across Behm and Bozarth Mesas to the rim of Burro Creek Canyon. Go through the gates and drop steeply down into Burro Creek which marks the eastern boundary.

Six-Mile Crossing Access: This route should not be attempted within several days of rainstorms or if the possibility of rain is in the forecast. Proceed to milepost 132 on Highway 93, located about 7.5 miles south of Wikieup, Arizona. Take the good unpaved road bearing east at this point. Follow this road for about 15 miles, until you reach Six-Mile Crossing, which is a fording of Burro Creek. Cross the creek, and just beyond, pass through a steel gate. Turn left after the gate, and follow the fence north for about 4.5 miles, paralleling Burro Creek. This area is the southern boundary.

Sycamore Camp Access: Proceed to milepost 132 on Highway 93, located about 7.5 miles south of Wikieup, Arizona. Take the good unpaved road bearing east at this point. Follow this road for 7.8 miles, to a road intersection located on top of a ridge. Follow this road north for 4.9 miles. At this point there will be a jeep trail on the right dropping into Cornwall Canyon, which is the southwest boundary of the wilderness. Another access route is another 3.4 miles north on a jeep trail along a fenceline. Follow this jeep trail about 4.5 miles, turning right at the intersection encountered at 1.0 miles, to Black Willow Spring. This area is the west boundary.

Goodwin Mesa Access: This route should not be attempted within several days of major rainstorms or if the possibility of rain is in the forecast. Proceed to milepost 107.4 on Highway 93, located about 16 miles south of Interstate 40. Take the good unpaved road bearing east at this point. Set your trip odometer at zero before starting down the road. At mile 1.6 - turn right at intersection; mile 2.0 - turn right at intersection; mile 3.6 - turn left at intersection; mile 4.0 - cross the Big Sandy River; mile 4.4 - straight ahead at intersection; mile 16.6 - turn right at intersection; mile 18.0 - turn right at intersection; mile 24.0 - SV Ranch headquarters; reset your odometer at zero; proceed south and east onto Goodwin Mesa; mile 3.4 - turn left at intersection; mile 3.5 - cross the Swale Tank dam, a large stockwater pond; mile 4.4 - go straight at intersection just past gate; mile 7.1 - turn left at intersection; mile 7.3 marks the western wilderness boundary.