Arrastra Mountain Wilderness

Wild and remote and difficult to access, this sprawling Wilderness preserves imposing landscapes and vividly colorful geologic features. The Poachie Range runs northwest to southeast through the north-central portion and rises from 1,200 feet at the Wilderness's lowest points to almost 5,000. Southern slopes descend gradually, interspersed with isolated volcanic plugs and numerous drainages, several of them incised deeply into bright orange mudstone. The western and southern portions take in more than 20 miles of the ephemeral Big Sandy and Santa Maria Rivers. On the west side of the Big Sandy stands Artillery Peak, a nearly 3,200-foot volcanic plug dominating the Artillery Mountains. In the eastern portion you'll find pristine Peoples Canyon, where several springs support two miles of interconnected pools shaded by hundreds of sycamores, willows and cottonwoods. These pearls of water attract birds, which in turn lure bird-watchers. The Wilderness receives roughly 10 inches of precipitation annually, and summer daytime temperatures run over 100 degrees; October through April is more moderate. Lacking both trails and road access, Arrastra Mountain is visited by only a few backpackers, and all travel here is a challenge of the highest desert Wilderness order.