Havasu Wilderness
The Havasu Wilderness lies within the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge which stretches along the Colorado River for 30 miles between Needles, California and Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Approximately one-third of the refuge—all of it in Arizona—is Wilderness. California later got into the act, adding almost everything north of Blankenship Bend on the Colorado River. This area shares its western border with the large Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness. The Wilderness is rich in wildlife including quail, geese, ducks, grebes, cranes, rails, herons, egrets, falcons, eagles, bighorn sheep, coyotes, porcupines, foxes, and bobcats. Here you may see the endangered desert tortoise and the poisonous Gila monster.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| States | Arizona, California |
| Size | 17,801 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.65° N, 114.42° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1 miOld Trails Bridge ↗Topock, AZ
- 11.8 miEl Garces ↗Needles, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Arizona
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Havasu Wilderness?
17,801 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Havasu Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Havasu Wilderness in?
The boundary crosses Arizona and California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Havasu Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Havasu Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.646° N, 114.422° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Havasu Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Old Trails Bridge and El Garces.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.