The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Eagletail Mountains Wilderness is a wildlife preserve area that encompasses over 97,000 acres of land. Within this land, visitors can encounter desert spaces as well as mountains, with the Eagletail Mountains running for 15 miles across the northern section of the wilderness area. One popular attraction to this wilderness area is the Eagletail Peak, which rises 3,300 feet in elevation, as well as Courthouse Rock, which is a solid granite formation that rises over 1,000 feet in elevation. Both professional and amateur geologists love the area for its unique natural rock arches, spires, monoliths, ridges, and up to eight-mile-long dry washes.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness and ensures that it remains clean and safe for the wildlife that lives within it. This wilderness is also an option for Bureau of Land Management free camping with dispersed campground areas.
The Mesquite Canyon Trail is a loop trail that starts and ends at a picnic area surrounded by native cacti.
Length: 8 miles
Intensity: Moderate
The Signal Peak Trail is just over four miles round trip, but it is highly challenging with steep elevations up to Signal Peak.
Length: 4.3 miles
Intensity: Difficult
Jester's Trail is a trail popular for hiking as well as ATV riding through the Arizona desert.
Length: 2.8 miles
Intensity: Moderate
The Eagletail Mountains Wilderness is extremely popular with rock climbers as it contains a variety of monolith rock formations of varying sizes in all directions. However, the north section includes the Eagletail Mountains, and the south section includes the shorter Cemetery Ridge peaks for climbers who prefer traditional slope shapes for climbing. A lot of climbers come to the area just to climb Courthouse Rock, which is a rugged monolith and perhaps the tallest monolith in the area.
Many photographers enjoy the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness for its scenery and unique mix of vegetation. In the center of the area, in between the mountain ranges, are desert plains full of ocotillo, cholla, creosote, ironwood, saguaro cactus, barrel cactus, Mormon tea, and mesquite. The wildlife of this wilderness tend to be shy and avoid hikers and campers, but coyotes and great horned owls can sometimes be spotted at night.
There are no designated picnic areas in the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness, but picnicking is still permitted and can be done with your own equipment. Consider bringing your own blankets or folding chairs for your picnic, and you can choose some exotic places to eat, such as on top of a rock formation or at the base of the scenic Eagletail Mountains. No matter where you choose to picnic, be sure to also bring your own trash bags and containers to clean up after you are done.
The Arizona desert is a top destination for stargazers because it typically has clear, dry nights and is far from the light pollution of nearby cities. Keep in mind, though, that the desert may also have chilly nights along with very hot days, so packing warm clothing, blankets, and battery-powered heaters is a good idea.
The Bureau of Land Management usually does not require fees to stay at their campgrounds, but its campsites are usually primitive and not easily accessible to RVs. When you're looking for places that easily accommodate RV camping, try nearby facilities like Roadrunner Campground, which has full RV hookups and sits on a lake. You can also look at Cave Creek Regional Park Campground, which also has full hookups plus bathrooms with showers.
When you are searching for "BLM camping near me," check out the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness. This wilderness area permits campers to stay in a dispersed fashion for up to 14 days at a time. When you come to this wilderness area, you will be able to choose your own campsite anywhere that is not considered a fire hazard and is at least 200 feet away from any water source. Staying at this type of Bureau of Land Management campgrounds is entirely free, but it is primitive, too, so be sure to plan your trip ahead and prepare to be without electricity or running water during your stay.
It is important that you prepare for your trip to Eagletail Mountains Wilderness ahead of time by packing supplies that you may need in case a windstorm occurs. Pop-up thunderstorms with high winds occur often with no prior warning, so you should always have raincoats, boots, and maps, which you may have to chart yourself at all times.
If you plan to camp overnight in this wilderness area, you should also pack all of the supplies you will need since the wilderness is far from any stores or restaurants. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
All visitors who come to the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness will need to follow the Leave No Trace guidelines put in place by the BLM. These guidelines are easy to follow and include rules like not disturbing the wildlife, leaving things you find in their natural environment, and disposing of trash off the land after you leave. By following these rules, you can help the BLM in its mission to keep the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness clean for future generations to enjoy.
To reach the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness from Phoenix, start out on I-10 W to exit 81. Turn left and make a sharp right onto Harquahala Valley Road. From there, travel five miles, then turn right onto Centennial Road and continue for 6.5 miles. After that, turn right onto Pipeline Road for 3.8 miles until you reach route YE013. There will be a parking area on the left by an information kiosk. Note that the BLM recommends high clearance or off-road vehicles for driving farther than Centennial Road.
Ready to visit Eagletail Mountains Wilderness? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day of exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
