Things to do nearMazatzal Mountains

The Mazatzal Mountains form the backbone of the Mazatzal Wilderness, a federally designated area within Tonto National Forest. The range stretches roughly fifty miles through Maricopa and Gila counties, rising to its high point at Mazatzal Peak near 7,900 feet. The name derives from a Yavapai word, and the region has long held significance for Indigenous peoples who traveled and lived among these canyons.

Visitors come primarily for backcountry hiking and solitude. The trail network is lightly maintained and genuinely remote, attracting experienced hikers seeking routes far from crowded trailheads. The Mazatzal Divide Trail serves as the spine of the system, running the length of the range and connecting to numerous side canyons.

Wildlife sightings are common throughout the Mazatzal Mountains. Mule deer, javelina, black bear, and mountain lion all inhabit the range, along with a rich variety of raptors riding thermals above the ridges. Riparian corridors like Wet Bottom Creek support cottonwood groves and a concentration of birdlife that contrasts with the surrounding desert.

For those willing to earn the views, the Mazatzal Mountains offer a rare experience of the Arizona high country without the crowds found elsewhere in the region.