Roads and Access: Proposed Changes
Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness Act 2007

Road Mileage Statistics | System Road Changes | Road Status Map | OHV/ATV Access


Wilderness system road changes are designed to ensure a perfect balance
of public access and wilderness protection.

This information is compiled from U.S. Forest Service Resource Access
Travel Management (RATM) data and updated on-the-ground survey data conducted by
Sky Island Alliance staff and volunteers.

Visit the Sky Island Alliance Landscape Restoration Program
volunteer schedule for more information on how to support or participate with these efforts.

Post Designation Status of Roads

Download Map: Proposed Tumacacori Wilderness

 

Road Mileage Statistics

Definitions:
Interior Road - located within the designated wilderness area.
Border Road - defines the wilderness boundary; follows along the border of the designated wilderness.
Edge Road - located outside the wilderness area but provides access to the edge of the wilderness border.
System Road - a road designated and maintained by the U.S. Forest Service.
Non-System Road - A road not authorized by the U.S. Forest Service; illegally made ATV tracks and roads.

  Miles
Pre-Wilderness Designation 		Miles
Post Wilderness Designation		 Percent Change
System Roads      
Interior Access 78 56 -28.2%
Border Access 28 27 -3.5%
Total (Interior/Border/Edge) 143 122 -14.6%
Total Road Density† 0.624/sq mi 0.448/sq mi -28.2%
       
Access All Roads      
Total (Interior/Border/Edge) 188 150 -20.2%
Administrative Access Only 8.5 8.5 0%

†Optimal road density thresholds for wildlife and game species are less than 1.0mi/square mile in studies conducted in the eastern United States. Scientists would expect a lower threshold in arid lands. These studies have yet to be conducted for wildlife in the deserts and Madrean mountain ranges of Arizona, New Mexico or Northern Mexico.


Proposed System Road Changes
For the Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness

Download this list - Proposed System Road Changes.
Prints on legal sized paper.

Forest Service #

Road Name

Current Status

Post Wilderness Designation Status

Road Description

39

Ruby Road

Open

Open

I-19 to 4131 (towards Arivaca)

39a

Summit Reservoir

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to Pajarita Wilderness border trail

39b

Pena Blanca Campground

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to campground

39c

Pena Blanca Boat Ramp

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to boat ramp

39e

Red Rock Picnic Area

Open

Open

State Hwy 289 to end of road

115

Bear Valley

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to Bear Valley Ranch/ Granite Tank

221

Walker Canyon

Open

Open

State Hwy 289 to Big Steve Mine

222

Calabascas Ridge

Open

Open*

State Hwy 289, 3.9 miles to US/MEX Trail

682

Midway Dam

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to Midway Dam

684

Sardina Canyon

Open

Open

State Hwy 22 to Forest Boundary

810

Lower Thumb Rock

Open

Open

State Hwy 289 to end of road

818

Peck Canyon

Open

Open

1-19 access to MT change/ Gas Pipeline Road

4112

Yank Tank

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to Yank Tank

4114

Red Rock Tank

Closed

Closed

4186 to end of road

4127

Papalote

Open

Open

4135 to Arivaca Lake

4128

Bear Grass

Open

Open*

4127, 3.1 miles to Murphy Well

4130

Lake

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to Arivaca Lake

4131

Chiminca

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to Forest Boundary

4132

Cedar Dam

Open

Open*

4128, 0.7 miles to end of road

4133

East Fork

Open

Open*

4128, 2.0 miles to Noon Tank

4134

Apache Peak

Open

Open*

4133, 0.3 miles to end of road

4135

Cedar Canyon

Open

Open

684 to Forest Boundary

4136

Sopori

Open

Open

4137 to Red Spring Tank

4137

Lower Sardina

Open

Open

4136 to well

4138

Sardina Well

Open

Open*

684 to 0.8 miles before Lobo Tank, near Diversion Tank

4139

Coyote Well

Open

Open

4136 to Coyote Well

4141

Anita Well

Open

Open

684 to Anita Well

4143

Jaliso

Open

Open

4128 to end of road

4145

Rock Corral

Open

Open*

I-19 Frontage Road, 1.6 miles to Springs

4147

Tinaja

Open

Open

I-19 Frontage Road to end of road

4148

Fresno

Open

Open*

4149, 2.8 miles to end of road

4149

Wolf Canyon

Open

Open*

818, 2.8 miles to 4148

4151

Pipeline

Open

Open

I-19 Frontage Road to 4149

4176

Alto Schumaker

Open

Open

217 to Tank

4178

Ruby Peak

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to end of road

4179

Bolsa Tank

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to end of road

4180

Tinaja

Open

AdminAccess

4181 to end of road

4181

Yanks

Open

AdminAccess

Ruby Road (39) to end of road

4182

Alamo Canyon

Open

Open

39a to Tank

4183

Wood

Open

Open

682 to end of road

4186

Corral Nuevo

Open

Open

Ruby Road (39) to Apache Pass Dam

4187

Opal Tank

Open

Closed

4186 to Oak Tank

4188

Coyote Tank

Open

Open*

4186, 0.3 miles to Coyote Tank

4189

Monument Tank

Open

Open

39a to Tank

4191

Wise Mesa

Open

Open

I-19 Frontage to Forest Boundary

4192

Basin Tank

Open

Open

4191 to 4194

4193

Castle Tank

Open

Closed

4191 to Castle Tank

4195

Castle Rock

Open

Open*

Ruby Road (36), 1.0 mile to end of road

4196

Sunset Mine

Open

Open

4195 to Mine

4197

Morning Mine

Open

Open

4195 to Mine

4198

Dutchman Tanks

Open

Open*

4191, 2.9 miles to hairpin turn

4200

Bellota Tank

Open

Open

810 to end of road

4201

Mud Tank

Open

Open

39d to end of road

4203

Pajarito

Open

Open

221 to end of road

4833

Doodlebug

Open

Open

684 to Pipeline

4853

Moyza

Open

Open

684 north to 684 at Moyza Well

4854

Sardine Well

Open

Open*

4138 at Sardine Well, 0.2 miles to end of road

4855

Dick's Peak

Open

Open*

4133, 0.2 miles to end of road

4857

Apache Canyon

Open

Open

4134, 0.2 miles to end of road

4876a

Rock Corral

Open

Open

4145 to end of road

Casalina Rd.

Casalina Road

Open

Open

I-19 to 4191

       

*road open designated miles only.

 

OHV/ATV Access

The Tumacacori Highlands provide excellent hunting and recreational opportunities. One of the most serious threats to this pristine area of biodiversity is excessive off-road use (see Threats). OHVs (Off-Highway Vehicles) include4X4's, buggies or sandrails, All-terrain Vehicles (ATV's) and motorcycles. This type of recreation has increased dramatically in Arizona, faster than the population is growing, and there are many places in Arizona dedicated to off-road vehicle recreation as a result [see them here].

This increased OHV use has its drawbacks for our public lands however. Most negative affects can be minimized by following regulations, avoiding washes and steam beds, packing out trash, and other "Tread Lightly" practices. Staying on legitimate roads is the most important way to minimize habitat destruction - and to maintain the quality of a place worth visiting.

It is becoming more and more rare to find places without motorized recreation. For those who prefer a quiet camping trip or hike away from noise and pollution, or who want an undisturbed hunting experience in the backcountry, Wilderness is the answer. It allows people to interior access by horse, mule and foot. In Wilderness OHV, ATV and other motorized vehicles are allowed on designated Forest Service roads only.

As Wilderness, the Tumacacori Highlands will remain accessible for OHVs/ATVs, cars and trucks by most existing system roads, like Ruby Road, and by designated roads that enter the wilderness area to provide access to selected spots by vehicle, such as water tanks or dispersed camping grounds. However, to protect the habitat and a quality wilderness experience, wilderness designation prohibits driving off-road. Every effort has been made to retain adequate access, in collaboration with concerned citizens, the Forest Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department.


Habitat and Driving the Backroads
Read what the Arizona Game and Fish Department has to say about Habitat and OHV use.

Download the Guide to Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Laws, Rules and Regulations, published by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

 

Road Mileage Statistics | System Road Changes | Road Status Map | OHV/ATV Access

Copyright © 2008 Sky Island Alliance
P.O. Box 41165 Tucson, AZ 85717 | 520-624-7080 | info@tumacacoriwild.org