Visit Wilderness

Search for a wilderness as the destination for your next outdoor adventure.

Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, Minnesota

Why Visit Wilderness?

While wilderness can be appreciated from afar—through online content, television, or books—nothing compares to experiencing it firsthand. Activities like camping, hiking, or hunting allow you to fully enjoy the recreational, ecological, spiritual, and health benefits that wilderness areas offer. These areas provide “outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation,” chances to observe wildlife, moments to renew and refresh, and the physical benefits of outdoor exercise. In many wilderness areas, you can even bring your well-behaved dog.

Learn more about the diverse ways in which we benefit from wilderness and threats wilderness areas face today.

Geologically speaking, Mount Logan was an active volcanic area until only recently. Today, this spot in northwestern Arizona is sort of a local secret, not appearing on many maps. Just south of Mount Trumbull Wilderness and north of the Grand Canyon and within Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, this remote mountain region features basalt ledges breaking ponderosa pine forests (with some virgin growth) on the upper climbs, with piñon and juniper on the lower, steeper rocky slopes. In the northern portion of the area, Mount Logan rises from just short of 5,000 feet, within the Wilderness boundaries, to 7,966 feet. A large, natural, and colorful amphitheater known as Hells Hole occupies Logan's western side. Below Hells Hole lies Hells Hollow, suggesting someone had a devilish time naming the landmarks in this scenic country. One half-mile of a maintained hiking trail leads to a scenic overview of Hell's Hole. Views of Whitmore Canyon leading to the north rim of the Grand Canyon can be obtained from Mt. Logan.

Mount Logan is not quite as steep as nearby Mount Trumbull. Many small rodents inhabit the area, sharing their turf with mule deer, mountain lions, wild turkeys, coyotes, bobcats, spotted skunks, porcupines, and Kaibab squirrels. Backpackers and hunters are among the few, infrequent human visitors to explore Mount Logan Wilderness.

Climate in the Arizona mountains varies greatly with elevation. The higher elevations generally receive much more precipitation and much cooler temperatures than the lower elevations. Summers at the high elevations bring warm daytime temperatures with cool nights. Low elevations often experience very hot summer temperatures. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer. The winter and early spring months bring snow and sometimes cold temperatures to the highest elevations but frequent clear, sunny days. Winter brings moderate temperatures to the low elevations - a great time to recreate in these snow free areas - allowing both winter and summer type activities within very short distances.

General Trip Planning Information

The Arizona Strip Visitor's Map and other topographical maps and current information can be obtained at the St. George Interagency Visitor's Center, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah or by calling 435-688-3200. Access to the area is provided by taking the Tuweep Road south from Fredonia, Arizona approximately 70 miles on a maintained dirt road (may be impassable when wet and not passable during the winter at high elevations). Alternate access can be obtained driving south from St. George, Utah to Bundyville and then east to Mt. Trumbull and south to Mt. Logan, some 80 miles from St. George, Utah (roads may be impassable when wet, not passable during winter months at high elevations).

Recreational Opportunities

Recreational opportunities include day use, hiking, photography, wildlife viewing (wild turkeys, Kaibab squirrel, mule deer), birding and primitive camping. This wilderness and others on the Arizona Strip District provide excellent opportunities for solitude, natural quiet, and primitive recreation in a forested environment. Best times to visit this area include late spring, summer and fall (April - November, depending on snowfall). Views of the surrounding area north, west and south are superb and vistas as far away as 100 miles into Nevada, Utah and the tributaries of the Grand Canyon can be found.

Climate and Special Equipment Needs

Mt. Logan Wilderness is located at high elevation (6000-7000 feet asl)in ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper forests. The area is inaccessible during the winter because of snow accumultation (November - March)and roads may be impassable during and immediately after rainstorms because of the volcanic clay soils. Temperatures can be well below freezing during the winter months and in the 80s during the summer. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended, high clearance vehicles are necessary. Two spare tires are recommended.

Safety and Current Conditions

Because the area is remote, no services or facilities are available. Cell phone service will probably not be available. Use of GPS devices without a local map and knowledge of the area is discouraged because GPS may not provide accurate information in this remote location. Be sure to inform someone where you will be going and take plenty of water (minimum of 1 gallon/per person/per day)and food. Be prepared for an emergency overnight stay because you will encounter few humans while visiting this wilderness.