Visit Wilderness

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

Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, Minnesota

Why Visit Wilderness?

Although you can certainly appreciate wilderness from afar—online, on television, or in books—first-hand experiences in nature such as campng or hunting enable you to enjoy the recreational, ecological, spiritual, and health benefits that wilderness areas provide. Wilderness areas provide “outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation,” opportunities to see wildlife, a chance to renew and refresh, and the health benefits of exercising outside. You can even bring your well-behaved dog to many wilderness areas.

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

This Wilderness contains the entire northern half of the imposing Cerbat Mountains. Although 7,148-foot Mount Tipton dominates the area (the lowest point in the Wilderness being about 3,300 feet), the real eye-catching attraction, the true centerpiece of the Wilderness, is located north of and below Tipton: the Pinnacles, immense tusklike rows of maroon-colored spires towering above open, yellow desert valleys. If you make the physically challenging climb up Mount Tipton, you'll discover a stand of large ponderosa pines on the northeast side and tremendous views in all directions, including the Pinnacles. Deep washes divided by descending ridges, small valleys, and bowls are found throughout the area. Unlike the nearby Black Mountains, the Cerbats are highly vegetated on their upper slopes with piñon pine, shrub live oak, manzanita, bear grass, and desert ceanothus. Large granite outcroppings break the ridgelines, the gray and red rock contrasting with the green vegetation. You'll probably encounter mule deer and raptors, and perhaps catch a glimpse of a kit fox, bobcat, and a Gambel's quail or two.

Backcountry explorers should pack plenty of water in with them. The summer climate in this area is harsh, with temperatures in the daytime often exceeding 100 degrees. Winter months can be quite cold and snow is possible at higher elevations, but temperatures are most moderate between October and April.

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Mount Tipton Wilderness.

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.

Location

The Mount Tipton Wilderness is located in Mohave County, 25 miles north of Kingman, Arizona.

Maps

Digital and paper maps are critical tools for wilderness visitors. Online maps can help you plan and prepare for your visit ahead of time. You can also carry digital maps with you on your GPS unit or other handheld GPS device. Having a paper map with you in the backcountry, as well as solid orienteering skills, however, ensures that you can still route-find in the event that your electronic device fails.

Online Maps

Interactive Map of the Mount Tipton Wilderness
Google Earth

Arizona Wildernesses

Printed Maps

Fetching MyTopo from Database

USGS Store

Rules & Regulations

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited in all wilderness areas. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters.

Wilderness-Specific Regulations

Learn more about why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.

Contacts

Applicable Wilderness Law(s)

Public Law 101-628

Date: November 28, 1990
Acreage: 31,070 acres

Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990 - Public law 101-628 (11/28/1990) To provide for the designation of certain public lands as wilderness in the State of Arizona

For more information (To download or see all affected Wilderness areas) visit our law library for 101-628 or special provisions for 101-628 or legislative history for 101-628.

General Trip Planning Information

Plan ahead, always check weather conditions prior to your trip. Summer time temperatures often exceed 100° F.Water is relatively scarce in this part of the Cerbat Mountains. Springs shown on topographic maps can generally be relied upon for drinking water. Following rainy weather, pothole water is available, but can dry up quickly. Purification of all water is a necessity.

Recreational Opportunities

Recreational opportunities in this area include hunting/trapping, hiking, dispersed camping, and equestrian use. Group size limits of 10 people and six pack animals are encouraged.

Climate and Special Equipment Needs

The summer climate in this area is harsh, with temperatures in the daytime often exceeding 100 degrees. Temperatures are more moderate between October and April. During winter months it can be quite cold and snow is possible at the higher elevations.

Want to Volunteer for Wilderness?

People who volunteer their time to steward our wilderness areas are an essential part of wilderness management. Contact the following groups to inquire about volunteer opportunities. Groups are listed alphabetically by the state(s) in which the wilderness is located.