Kachina Peaks Wilderness
Kachina Peaks Wilderness is a 18,616-acre (75 km2) wilderness area about 6 miles (10 km) north of Flagstaff within the Coconino National Forest in the U.S. state of Arizona.
| Kachina Peaks Wilderness | |
|---|---|
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area) | |
Humphreys Peak from the Inner Basin Trail | |
| Location | Coconino County, Arizona, US |
| Nearest city | Flagstaff, AZ |
| Coordinates | 35°20′22″N 111°39′45″W |
| Area | 18,616 acres (75 km2) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The wilderness encompasses most of the upper reaches of the San Francisco Peaks including Humphreys Peak, Arizona's highest point at 12,643 feet (3,854 m). The area is named for the Hopi spirit beings, or Kachinas, some of whom according to Hopi mythology live here from July to December. In mid-summer kachinas can bring clouds and rain from the top of the peaks to the Hopi mesas during the seasonal monsoons. These peaks are sacred to tribes including the Havasupai, Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni. Several religious shrines have been identified in the wilderness, some of which are still in use.