The Big Horn Mountains Wilderness is a wilderness area located in central Arizona, USA, within the arid Sonora Desert. The wilderness lies midway between Phoenix and Quartzsite. Consisting of 21,000 acres, it was established by the United States Congress in 1990.
| Big Horn Mountains Wilderness | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location | Maricopa County, Arizona, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 33°36′55″N 113°08′23″W / 33.6152362°N 113.1398282°W[1] |
| Area | 21,000 acres (8,500 ha)[2] |
| Established | 1990 |
| Governing body | Bureau of Land Management |
Geography and features
editThe area contains 9 miles of the Big Horn Mountains, which form the center core of the wilderness. The mountains are surrounded by desert plains.[2] The most prominent peak is Big Horn Mountain, which rises 1,800 feet (550 m) above the desert,[3] other peaks include Burnt Mountain and Little Horn Peak. Activities include hiking, camping, rock climbing, photography, and nature study. Just to the northeast lies the Hummingbird Springs Wilderness.[2]
Flora and fauna
editThe area is inhabited by several indigenous mammals and birds. These include bighorn sheep, gila monsters, kit foxes, desert tortoises, golden eagles, prairie falcons, barn owls and great horned owls.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Feature Detail Report for: Big Horn Mountains Wilderness". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Big Horn Mountains Wilderness Area". Bureau of Land Management. 2016. Archived from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ "Big Horn Mountains Wilderness". The University of Montana. Retrieved October 20, 2016.