First established in 1933 as a "Primitive Area," this 20,850 acre wilderness is full of surprises and is a pleasure to explore. The Sierra Ancha Wilderness is large in acres, but it is a very special wilderness that includes precipitous box canyons, high cliffs, and pine-covered mountains.

The extremely rough topography limits (and often prohibits) cross-country travel; however, there is an extensive system of trails (trail condition varies from good to poor). A wide variety of plant and animal species are found here. Species range from those found in the desert to those found at 8,000 feet.

The Sierra Ancha cliff dwellings are located on the Pleasant Valley Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest, within the Sierra Ancha Wilderness. Built on ledges and in crevices within the short precipitous canyons flanking Cherry Creek, the Sierra Ancha cliff dwellings were constructed of stone slabs and blocks laid in mud mortar, plastered over, with roofs and floors of heavy timber beams layered over with branches and grass and finished with alternating layers of earth and stone.

Uranium exploration carved a few roads into this area in the 1950s, roads now being reclaimed by natural processes. Elevations range from 4,000 feet near Cherry Creek to more than 7,400 feet on several high peaks, with the highest point on Aztec Peak at 7,733 feet. Chaparral covers lower elevations with turbinella oak, manzanita, and mountain mahogany. Some pinion and juniper cloak the east side of the Wilderness, dropping to semidesert brush and grassland below. Several springs usually offer water year-round, but there is no guarantee.

Group size is limited to 15 people and 15 head of livestock. Length of stay is limited to 14 days.

Thirteen trailheads give access to a network of foot and horse trails. The Center Mountain Trail climbs 2.5 miles for some excellent views of the surrounding area.

Devils Chasm is located in the Cherry Creek area of the Sierra Ancha Wilderness. The hike involves a steep climb up a remote canyon to well preserved (and well known) Salado Indian ruins. Normally I would not publicize the location of Indian ruins, but this hike has been published elsewhere and are frequently visited (in fact the author ran into another group of 8 as he was coming down the canyon, and this was on a non-holiday weekday). Not to sound like a broken record but, ruins are fragile and irreplaceable, please leave the area as you found it.

Forest Road 487 continues 3.7 miles past the falls through pine forests, aspen groves, and meadows to the lookout tower atop Aztec Peak (7,748 feet); you can get here with a high-clearance vehicle, mountain bike, or on foot. The tower, when open, provides great panoramas of the Sierra Anchas, Roosevelt Lake, Four Peaks, the Mazatzals, and many other features of central Arizona. 

Abbey's Way Trail #151 also climbs to the top of Aztec Peak (800 feet in two miles one-way); the trailhead is on the left 0.6 mile past the falls. Parker Creek Trail #160 is on the right side of the road one mile past the falls; it goes southwest 3.4 miles to AZ 288, dropping 2,100 feet.

The Rim Trail #139 begins a short way down Parker Creek Trail and curves east and north 7.6 miles to Edwards Spring with good views. Most of the hike lies within the Sierra Ancha Wilderness. It makes an easy outing, with only a 500-foot elevation gain. 

Coon Creek Trail #254 also branches off Parker Creek Trail for a 4.4-mile, 2,400-foot descent south along Coon Creek to a trailhead at the end of Forest Road 189. 

Moody Point Trail #140 begins on the right 2.2 miles past the falls on Forest Road 487; it connects with the Rim Trail and continues east all the way across the Sierra Ancha Wilderness to Cherry Creek (which may be too high to cross when it's in flood) and Forest Road 203; this challenging trail is 8.6 miles long and drops 4,200 feet. You can find many places for dispersed camping along Forest Road 487 above the falls, but only the established recreation areas can be used below the falls. Hikers can cool off in the "tubs," natural pools in Workman Creek; from the Workman Creek bridge on AZ 288, follow the trail downstream 250 yards.

• Coon Trail #124

• Deep Trail #128

• Grapevine Trail #135

• Rim Trail #139

• Moody Point Trail #140

• Murphy #141

• Center Mountain Trail #142

• Lucky Strike Trail #144

• Cienega Trail #145

• McFadden Horse Trail #146

• Reynolds Trail #150

• Abbey's Way #151

• Parker Trail #160

• UCSA

• Cienega TH

• Billy Lawrence TH

• Reynolds TH

• Moody TH

• Peterson TH

• Oak Creek TH

• Bull Canyon TH

• Leisure Canyon TH

• Grapevine TH

• Carr TH

• Lucky Strike TH

• Murphy TH

• Aztec TH