The East Cactus Plain Wilderness and the Cactus Plain Wilderness Study Area are located in western Arizona near the California border approximately 145 miles (21/2 hours) west of Phoenix and 200 miles (31/2 hours) east of Los Angeles. It’s a beautiful slice of desert with incredibly clear night skies. You can hear coyotes at night and it’s utterly and wonderfully quiet. This is near the ghost town of Swansea, you can read my account of camping there.