Campground Overview:
The Round Mountain Rockhound Area is a remote rockhounding and boondocking area located south of the town of Duncan in Eastern Arizona. The area is at least 12 miles off the main road into the desert on unpaved dirt roads. This is a very remote area. Make sure to take plenty of water and have your gas tank filled up. Be prepared to pack in, pack out all gear. Four wheel drive recommended.
Round Mountain Rockhound Area is a prime collecting spot for fire agates, an uncommon semi-precious gem found only in Mexico, California and Arizona. This particular spot is considered to be among the richest areas in the world for this gem. This is also a great wide-open area for primitive camping. If you’ve never done any rock collecting, gemstone hunting or have just thought about it, this is an excellent time and place to get started. It offers such tremendous rewards for so little effort.
From Highway 70 east of Safford approximately 50 miles, travel into New Mexico to just beyond milepost 5. Take the dirt access road on your right for 12 miles, following the signs to the Rockhound Area.
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Dispersed |
Season: |
Year-Round |
Nearby City: |
Safford |
Fishing: |
None |
Campground Website: |
Round Mountain Rockhound Area |
Campground Map: |
N/A |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
Peloncillo Mountains Wilderness was designated in 1990 and it now has a total of 19,440 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Arizona and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Ragged and rugged, the Peloncillo Mountains stretch north from Mexico to the Gila River and New Mexico is just across the border from this wilderness. The historic Butter-field Stage Route forms the southern boundary, but within the area you won’t find many history buffs–in fact, you’ll find few signs of human activity at all. Violent volcanic upheaval pushed these mountains into a veritable maze of canyons extending in all directions. Little Doubtful Canyon on the eastern side is extraordinarily scenic with an extensive Emory and Arizona white oak forest on the bottom, but just outside the Wilderness, access gates are often locked by landowners. Other canyons worth exploring include Ward, Indian Springs, Midway, Old Horseshoe, Millsite, and West Doubtful. Elevations range from about 4,000 feet to 6,401 feet and the views are worth the climb to higher ground. Among the vegetation in this high, dry land is mesquite, snakeweed, burroweed, turpentine bush, creosote, catclaw, whitethorn, agave, prickly pear, and juniper. Desert bighorn sheep have been reintroduced, and peregrine falcons soar in the bright skies. A large deer population attracts a few hunters.