Hellsgate Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Gila County, Arizona.
Hellsgate Wilderness is a protected wilderness area in Gila County covering more than 37,000 acres and defined by deep canyons. The centerpiece is a roughly 1,000-foot gorge carved by Tonto Creek through the Mogollon Rim.
The Salado culture inhabited the southern section until around the 14th century and practiced agriculture there. Environmental shifts eventually led them to abandon the region.
The name comes from the dramatic gorge carved by Tonto Creek through the Mogollon Rim. Native peoples hunted across this land for generations before moving to reservations in the late 1800s.
Most roads require a four-wheel-drive vehicle, especially Forest Road 133, to reach the area. Hikers and backpackers can use Trail 37, which offers several entry points.
In 1927, an airplane carrying MGM's famous mascot Leo the Lion made an emergency landing nearby. The event left its mark on local history, and the place was later named Leo Canyon.
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