TRAVEL50 Years of Wilderness in ArizonaA spring flows in the West Clear Creek Wilderness Area outside of Strawberry. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicLightning is seen over the Eagletail Mountains in the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness outside of Tonopah.David Wallace/The RepublicJim Vaaler of Phoenix, hikes on the Hell's Hole Trail #284 in the Salome Wilderness outside of Young.David Wallace/The RepublicJim Vaaler of Phoenix, takes a drink while hiking on the Hell's Hole Trail #284 in the Salome Wilderness outside of Young. Vaaler is an avid hiker, backpacker and river runner and has been a member of the Sierra Club for over 40 years. He was instrumental in the 1984 and 1990 wilderness bills that created many of the Wilderness Areas in Arizona. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicJim Vaaler of Phoenix, hikes on the Hell's Hole Trail #284 in the Salome Wilderness outside of Young. Vaaler is an avid hiker, backpacker and river runner and has been a member of the Sierra Club for over 40 years.David Wallace/The RepublicArizona Republic reporter Ron Dungan hikes in the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness outside of Tonopah.David Wallace/The RepublicA petroglyph is seen in the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness outside of Tonopah. Some petroglyphs in the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness date back 3500 years. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicThe interior of an ancient Indian cliff dwelling is seen in the Sierra Ancha Wilderness, outside of Young. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicAncient Indian cliff dwellings are seen in a canyon in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness outside of Sedona.David Wallace/The RepublicA Bull Snake is seen in a slot canyon in the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicA pair of Mexican Spotted Owls is seen in a tree in a canyon in the West Clear Creek Wilderness Area outside of Strawberry. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace David Wallace/The RepublicSaguaros are silhouetted in the morning sun in the Superstition Wilderness Area outside of Gold Canyon. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicAfter a winter storm a canyon comes alive with a waterfall in the Superstition Wilderness Area outside of Apache Junction. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicWith Couthouse Butte (background left) and Bell Rock (background right) as a backdrop Henk Pranger, a tourist from Holland, walks around the trailhead of the Bell Rock Pathway among other tourists in the Munds Mountain Wilderness Area outside of Sedona. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicFrancisca Adrian (center), the Wilderness Trails and Rivers Coordinator for the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest , picks up trash among other hikers on the Bell Rock Pathway in the Munds Mountain Wilderness Area outside of Sedona.David Wallace/The RepublicGraffiti is etched into the sandstone at Bell Rock in the Munds Mountain Wilderness Area outside of Sedona.David Wallace/The RepublicMillion dollar homes are seen on the edge of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness as seen from the Boynton Canyon Trail inside the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness outside of Sedona.David Wallace/The RepublicJeff Lemaster reaches to the snowy slope of Humphreys Peak while heading to the summit of the highest mountain in Arizona in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area outside of Flagstaff. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicFour Peaks in the Four Peaks Wilderness Area is seen from the Superstition Wilderness Area outside of Apache Junction. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicAravaipa Creek flows in the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness outside of Klondyke. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicThe sun sets in the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness outside of Tonopah.David Wallace/The RepublicChollas are seen as the sun sets in the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness outside of Tonopah.David Wallace/The RepublicFallen leaves are seen in a canyon in the Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness Area outside of Sedona. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicPat Quill looks down a drop while canyoneering in a slot canyon in the Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness Area outside of Sedona. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicMaryann Pratt plays with her dog "Pistol" at her LF Ranch, which is completely surrounded by the Mazatzal Wilderness Area outside of Payson.David Wallace/The RepublicMaryann Pratt crosses the East Verde River while looking for her horses in the Mazatzal Wilderness Area outside of Payson. Pratt owns the LF Ranch which is deeded land completely surrounded by the Mazatzal Wilderness Area and she also has grazing rights for her cattle on over 30,000 acres of the Mazatzal Wilderness Area.David Wallace/The RepublicA natural arch is seen in the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness outside of Klondyke. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The RepublicHikers in the Paria Canyon in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness outside of Page. September 3 is the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the legal definition of wilderness in the U.S. and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. Today there is nearly 110 million acres throughout 758 wilderness areas. Arizona has 90 wilderness areas totaling just over 4.5 million acres.David Wallace/The Republic