| Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness | |
|---|---|
Fall colors in Boynton Canyon
| |
| Location | Coconino / Yavapai counties, Arizona, United States |
| Nearest city | Sedona, AZ |
| Coordinates | 34°57′56″N 111°51′24″W / 34.96556°N 111.85667°W / 34.96556; -111.85667 |
| Area | 47,194 acres (191 km2) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness is a 47,195-acre (19,099 ha) wilderness area located within the Coconino National Forest in the U.S. state of Arizona.[1]
The wilderness is predominantly wind and water sculpted pinnacles, windows, arches, and slot canyons, and the red-rock cliffs of the Mogollon Rim that mark the edge of the Colorado Plateau. Bordered on the east by Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, the high mesas of Secret Mountain and Wilson Mountain jut out into the lower country and canyons as deep as 1,500 feet (457 m) drain into Oak Creek and the Verde River.[1]
Prehistoric rock art and abandoned cliff dwellings can be found in the wilderness.[2]
The high rims are relatively cool and moist compared with the lower desertland of the wilderness, and a wide variety of vegetation supports plentiful wildlife, including elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, javelina, coyote, rabbit, mountain lion, and black bear.[1]
Common recreational activities in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness include horseback riding, photography, wildlife viewing, swimming, and hiking. There are numerous short trails in the wilderness:[2]
