Please register or login . Here the prehistoric Salados culture built and lived in cliff dwellings of which many ruins stand today. Uranium exploration carved a few roads into this area in the 1950s, roads now being reclaimed by natural processes. Exceptionally rough, scenic and often inaccessible, Sierra Ancha consists of precipitous box canyons, towering vertical cliffs and pine-covered mesas, and ranges in elevation from 4,000 feet near Cherry Creek to above 7,400 feet on several high peaks and reaching the highest point on Aztec Peak at 7,733 feet. Chaparral covers lower elevations with species such as turbinella oak, manzanita and mountain mahogany.
Snow falls up high in winter, and summers tend toward outrageously hot.
Although several springs usually offer water year-round, water cannot be guaranteed. Thirteen trailheads give access to a well-maintained network of foot and horse pathways. Center Mountain Trail climbs 2.5 miles for some excellent views of the surrounding area. Four wheel drive recommended. Fall to spring.