Location and Description

The 5,080-acre Coyote Mountains Wilderness is located 40 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona in Pima County.

The wilderness includes the Coyote Mountains with their rugged peaks, massive rounded bluffs, sheer cliff faces, and large open canyons. The vegetation includes paloverde, saguaro, chaparral, and oak woodlands.

Recreation opportunities such as day hikes, climbing, sightseeing, and photography are enhanced by the diverse topography, scenic character, and the botanical, wildlife, and cultural values of the area. The area offers many challenges to the wilderness recreationist.

Access

From Tucson, take Highway 86 west toward the Kitt Peak Observatory then south on Highway 289 for approximately 8 miles. The Coyote Mountains lie four miles east of Kitt Peak. Currently there is no legal access to the Coyote Mountains Wilderness. Permission to park and access to the wilderness boundary must be obtained from the private landholder or the Tohono O'Oodham Indian Nation.

Nonfederal Lands

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.

Related Maps

• 7.5-minute Topographic: Kitt Peak, Palo Alto Ranch, Pan Tak, San Pedro
• 1:100,000 BLM Surface Management:  Sells, Silver Bell Mountains 
• Game and Fish Management Unit 36C

For more information contact:

Bureau of Land Management
Tucson Field Office
12661 East Broadway
Tucson, AZ 85748
(520) 258-7200

"The more we become separated from that pristine wildness and beauty, the more pleasure does the mind of enlightened man feel in recurring to those scenes."
George Catlin, 1913