The Santa Teresa Mountains are located about 30 miles west of Safford. They are characterized by a network of rugged mountains, deep canyons and large mesas. Elevations rise from less than 4,000 feet in the canyon bottoms to nearly 7,500 feet at the summit of Cottonwood Peak. The central part of the Wilderness is dominated by Holdout and Mud Spring mesas. Holdout Canyon typifies the Santa Teresas because its extreme ruggedness provides extraordinary solitude.
Trails are hard to follow, because of their remoteness and lack of maintenance.
Water is available seasonally in a few isolated springs. Access to the Wilderness is over many miles of unpaved roads. Use of roads crossing State land requires a permit from the Arizona Land Department, or that the user be actively hunting in accordance with a valid hunting license. The majority of developed recreation facilities are located in the Pinaleno Mountains, although dispersed camping, trails and other recreation opportunities abound in all of the ranges of the Safford District. Click on a number for additional information on developed recreation sites.