The Bureau of Land Management in Arizona is responsible for 47 wilderness areas totalling about 1.4 million acres. Congress established these areas through the Arizona Wilderness Act of 1984 and the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990. The list below , organized by Field Office that manages the areas, provides links to more information. Wilderness visitors need to be aware of their impact on the land and know how to reduce it. Education is a key to preserving the ecological health of our wildlands.
Education is more effective than regulation in changing people's behavior.
The following Leave No Trace principles are recommended as a guide to minimizing the impact of your wilderness visits. For more information, visit the Leave No Trace home page. As with other types of outdoor activities, wilderness travel poses potential hazards. You may encounter flashfloods, poisonous snakes and insects, poisonous plants, or lightning storms. Be aware of your exposure to heat or cold.