Mica Mountain (elevation 8,666 ft.) crowns this roadless backcountry of 57,930 acres within the park’s Rincon Mountain District. The great range in elevation—more than a vertical mile—supports six different biotic communities: desert scrub, desert grassland, oak woodland, pine-oak woodland, pine forest, and mixed conifer. The 38,590-acre Rincon Mountain Wilderness Area, maintained by the Coronado National Forest, wraps around the east side for still more places to explore. Although you can visit the edges of the wilderness areas on day hikes, a backpack adventure greatly increases your options. To preserve the backcountry, the park requires permits for camping, which is allowed only at designated sites. Water can be found at the camping areas during wet times, but the springs and intermittent streams disappear completely during dry spells; check before setting out and be prepared to pack in water. Black bear live in the mountains, so each of the camping areas has bear-proof boxes to store food. Spring and autumn bring the best weather—avoid summer’s baking heat in the desert and winter’s snow in the higher country.

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