The Harcuvar Mountains vary in elevation from about 2,400' to more than 5,100' at the crest of the top ridge. The 25,050-acre Harcuvar Mountains Wilderness covers about 10 miles dropping from the north side of that ridgeline into the Butler Valley. You'll find mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep, golden eagles and desert tortoises here. You'll also find rosy boas, desert night lizards and Gilbert's skinks in a 3,500-acre island of chaparral habitat along the northern ridgeline.

Access to the Harcuvar Mountains Wilderness is not easy and the mountains themselves are rugged (lots of canyons and deep arroyos). If you want to truly get away from it all, this is one of those places... if you want to survive your visit you'll bring lots of water.

To get there, go to Wenden on US 60. Turn north on the Alamo Dam Access Road. Once you pass over the Harcuvar Mountains, the Harcuvar Mountains Wilderness is to the east and can be accessed via primitive roads and jeep trails, if you have the clearance and 4WD.

USGS Maps: 7.5 minute: Smith Peak, Webber Canyon, E.C.P. Peak, Alamo Dam SE, Cunningham Pass