Aubrey Peak Wilderness

Overview

The 15,400-acre Aubrey Peak Wilderness is located in Mohave County, 70 miles south of Kingman, Arizona and 40 miles east of Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

The wilderness contains imposing landforms carved into a variety of brightly colored volcanic rhyolites, tuffs, and basalt. Aubrey Peak, a large cliff-encircled mesa, dominates the eastern portion of the wilderness, along with numerous other large mesas, buttes and volcanic plugs. Water and wind have carved the soft volcanic rock in this area into natural windows, tufa caves, spires, slickrock terraces, and tinajas--deep water-filled potholes.

The Aubrey Peak Wilderness encompasses a portion of a Mohave/Sonoran Desert transition zone. Stands of large saguaro, paloverde, ironwood and smoke trees, typical Sonoran Desert species, often merge with Joshua and other species more typical of the Mohave Desert, creating a visually intriguing, quilt-like mosaic of plants throughout the area. This wilderness offers excellent opportunities for primitive types of recreation. Hiking, backpacking, and photography have become increasingly more popular in recent years.

Know Before You Go

• A four-wheel drive vehicle is strongly recommended to gain access to this wilderness.
• No hiking trails are present in this wilderness. Cross-country travel is relatively easy, and sand washes can be used as routes.
• The summer climate in this wilderness unit is harsh. Daytime temperatures during the summer months are over 100 degrees. Temperatures are more moderate between October 1 and April 30th.
• Water is very scarce in this unit. No naturally occurring water is present, except in potholes following rainstorms. Two wildlife water catchments are present which collect runoff from storms. Wherever found, water should always be purified.
• 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.
• 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.