Wilderness Areas are encouraged to be enjoyed – some of Arizona’s most popular destinations are designated Wilderness.

Driving vehicles inside Wilderness Areas is not permitted, although access to Wilderness Areas is essential for allowing the public to reach trailheads or other destinations.

While our Wilderness Areas are all different, they all share one theme – human or horse power is the only way to go. That said, wheelchairs are certainly allowed in all Wilderness Areas.

The Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness Proposal preserves more than 20 separate access roads that will allow visitors to reach a wide variety of areas on every side of the Wilderness. Opportunities for motorized recreation will remain ample on those and other roads surrounding the area.

While the interior roads will not actually be included in the Wilderness, a buffer around them will be created so that visitors can legally drive to one of the multiple access points.

The Wilderness Act states, “wilderness areas shall be devoted to the public purposes of recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use.” While mechanized equipment isn’t allowed in Wilderness, these beautiful areas are encouraged to be enjoyed by all.

Under human power, visitors gain a unique perspective on their natural heritage exemplified by the Tumacacori Highlands.

Hiking, horse-packing, photography, camping, bird-watching, hunting, fishing and other human-powered recreation are popular activities in the Tumacacori Highlands that will be preserved and enhanced with Wilderness designation.