Cabeza Prieta Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in southwestern Arizona, United States
Cabeza Prieta Wilderness is a protected desert land in the far southwestern corner of Arizona, near the Mexican border, made up almost entirely of Sonoran Desert terrain. The landscape is shaped by bare mountain ranges, flat valleys, and open ground covered with cacti and low desert shrubs.
The area was first set aside as a national wildlife refuge in 1939, then used for decades by the US Air Force as a bombing and gunnery range. The Wilderness Act of 1990 gave it formal wilderness status and permanently restricted motorized activity within its borders.
The name "Cabeza Prieta" comes from Spanish and means "dark head," a reference to the black desert-varnished rocks found throughout the terrain. Visitors who look closely at the hillsides will notice these darkened stones, which give the area its name.
A free visitor permit is required before entering and must be obtained in advance. The area is very remote with no water sources, so carrying enough water and being prepared for extreme heat are essential for any trip here.
A trail called El Camino del Diablo, meaning "The Devil's Road," runs through the southern part of the area and was once used by travelers heading to California during the Gold Rush. Many of them died of thirst along the way, and old graves can still be found beside the route today.
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