West Clear Creek Wilderness

West Clear Creek Wilderness is a protected area of steep canyons and clear streams in the Mogollon Rim section of the Colorado Plateau. The land spans 15,238 acres with deep canyon terrain and volcanic rock formations throughout.

The Arizona Wilderness Act of 1984 protected this land and placed it under United States Forest Service management. This designation preserved a landscape that had been shaped by human use for centuries.

Native tribes inhabited this region for thousands of years, leaving traces of their presence among the volcanic formations and deep canyons.

Access comes through forest roads and hiking trails, with Bull Pen Ranch serving as the main entry point. The creek-side path is doable for most visitors but features steep and uneven terrain in places.

Canyon walls rise roughly 300 meters (1,000 feet) above Clear Creek, creating steep backdrops behind groves of sycamore and oak trees. Rainbow and brown trout inhabit the cool waters and draw people who fish along the creek.