The United States Congress designated the Arrastra Mountain Wilderness in 1990 and it now has a total of 129,800 acres. All of the wilderness is in Arizona and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The Arrastra Mountain Wilderness is bordered by and the Tres Alamos Wilderness to the south.
Wild and remote, difficult to access, this sprawling Wilderness preserves imposing landscapes and vividly colorful geologic features. The Poachie Range runs northwest-southeast through the north-central portion of the area and rises to almost 5,000 feet. Southern slopes descend gradually and are interspersed with isolated volcanic plugs and numerous drainages, several of which have been incised deeply into bright orange mudstone. The western and southern portions of the Wilderness encompass more than 20 miles of the ephemeral Big Sandy and Santa Maria Rivers. On the west side of the Big Sandy stands Artillery Peak, a 1,200-foot volcanic plug dominating the Artillery Mountains. In the eastern portion of the area, you'll find pristine Peoples Canyon where several springs support two miles of interconnected pools shaded by hundreds of sycamores, willows, and cottonwoods. These pearls of water attract birds, which in turn lure bird-watchers.
Lacking both trails and road access, Arrastra Mountain gets tramped on by only a few backpackers. All travel here is a challenge of the highest desert Wilderness order.
Directions
NW of Wickenburg on US HIghway 93 parallels the wilderness area, and access can be found at the Bagdad turnoff (Hwy 97). Most access is via unmaintained roads, which may be washed out or otherwise impassable.
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