Swansea Wilderness
A six-mile stretch of the Bill Williams River, rarely seen by humans, cuts a deep gorge through the center of Swansea Wilderness which ranges from 670 to 1,900 feet. The river flows into the south end of nearby Lake Havasu on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, creating a riparian habitat. In the northern portion of the Wilderness, you'll find eroded volcanic dikes and plugs with precipitous cliffs, an extension of Black Mesa. The Buckskin Mountains form much of the western portion, and here the topography is subtle, rounded desert with a complex drainage system leading to the river. There are no trails, but you can hike along the water and up some of the side canyons. Rock climbing and horseback riding draw a few human visitors.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 16,400 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.23° N, 113.86° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 29) |
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.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Swansea Wilderness?
16,400 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Swansea Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Swansea Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Swansea Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Swansea Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.233° N, 113.857° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
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.