Mazatzal Wilderness is a protected area in central Arizona covering about 390 square miles within the Tonto and Coconino national forests, between Payson and the Verde River. Its rugged terrain and extreme summer heat are matched by a dramatic elevation span, rising from about 2,100 feet at Sheep Bridge to 7,903 feet on Mazatzal Peak. That variation supports diverse plant communities, from desert shrubs at low elevations to grassland plants, mountain shrubs, pinyon-juniper woodland, ponderosa pine, and Douglas-fir higher up. About 240 miles of trails traverse the wilderness, including the well-known Verde River Trail and Mazatzal Divide Trail.