Pictures courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona -Sonoran Desert National Monument.
Campground Overview:
The Sonoran Desert National Monument contains magnificent examples of untrammeled Sonoran Desert landscape. This National Monument is the most biologically diverse of the North American deserts, and the monument captures a significant portion of that diversity. The most striking aspect of the plant community within the monument is the extensive saguaro cactus forest. The monument contains three distinct mountain ranges, the Maricopa, Sand Tank and Table Top Mountains, as well as the Booth and White Hills, all separated by wide valleys. The monument also contains three Congressionally designated wilderness areas and many significant archaeological and historic sites, and remnants of several important historic trails.
Dispersed camping and picnicking is allowed throughout most of the monument. Desert camping allows visitors to take short scenic hikes, survey unique vegetation, and relax with friends under a blanket of stars.
Motorized and mechanized vehicles, including bicycles must remain on existing routes. Drinking water is not available, so visitors are reminded to bring plenty of their own water. Vehicles should be in good working order, have a full fuel tank of gas and full size spare tires. The main access routes and washes are prone to heavy seasonal rains and flash floods. Cellular phones do not work in many areas of the national monument
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Dispersed |
Season: |
Year-Round |
Nearby City: |
Gila Bend |
Fishing: |
None |
Campground Website: |
Sonoran Desert National Monument |
Campground Map: |
Click Here |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
The Sonoran Desert National Monument contains 496,600 acres of cactus plains and rugged mountain ranges southwest of Phoenix and in 2001 became one of four new BLM-administered zones in Arizona. Unlike NPS national monuments, the Sonoran Desert has very few facilities and no central attraction; its purpose is mainly to protect the historic sites, Indian relics, native habitats, vegetation and wildlife rather than attract visitors.
The monument offers many opportunities to explore and discover the secrets of the Sonoran Desert and includes three wilderness areas, the North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness, the South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness, and the Table Top Wilderness. These wilderness areas offer excellent opportunities for solitude and unconfined recreation. The North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness has two hiking and equestrian trails, the 9-mile Margie’s Cove Trail and the 6-mile Brittlebush Trail. The Table Top Wilderness also has two hiking and equestrian trails, the 7-mile Lava Flow Trail and the 3-mile Table Top Trail. A section of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail crosses the national monument. This congressionally designated trail parallels the Butterfield Overland Stage Route, the Mormon Battalion Trail, and the Gila Trail. A four-wheel-drive accessible route follows the trail corridor for approximately 10 miles through the national monument. (Click here for Map)