Overview

The 13,350-acre Signal Mountain Wilderness is in southwest Maricopa County, 18 miles northwest of Gila Bend and 35 miles southwest of Phoenix. This wilderness is adjacent to the 64,000-acre Woolsey Peak Wilderness just to the southeast, separated by a four-wheel-drive road.

This wilderness offers a variety of scenery, including sharp volcanic peaks, steep-walled canyons, arroyos, craggy ridges and outwash plains. Signal Mountain, at the area's center, rises 1,200 feet above the desert floor to an elevation of 2,182 feet. Paloverde-saguaro and creosote bush bursage plant communities are found throughout bajada and upland areas, while washes are lined with mesquite, ironwood, acacia and paloverde..

This wilderness provides several primitive recreation opportunities, such as rock climbing in the canyons and valleys around Signal Mountain, day and overnight hiking, rock collecting, and deer and quail hunting. Fortunate visitors may observe desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, mule deer and various raptors.

Know Before You Go

• In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. Please follow the regulations in place for this area, and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting to ensure protection of its unique natural and experiential qualities.
• Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport are generally prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the use of motor vehicles (including OHVs), motorboats, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters Contact the agency for more information about regulations.
• High-clearance vehicles are needed and four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended, except for portions of the Enterprise Road south of Gillespie Dam.
• Some lands around and within the wilderness are not federally administered. Please respect the property rights of the owners and do not cross or use these lands without their permission.

Access to this wilderness is on old U.S. Highway 80 via the Aqua Caliente Road and jeep trails. High-clearance vehicles are required and four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended.