Havasu Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Mohave County, Arizona
Havasu Wilderness is a protected area in Mohave County spanning roughly 17,800 acres with volcanic formations, sand dunes, and riparian wetlands. The landscape displays characteristic Mojave Desert uplands that extend along the Colorado River.
The area was established in 1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. The creation aimed to protect migratory bird habitats along the Colorado River.
This area functions as a critical stopover for migratory birds traveling between North and South America. Visitors notice geese, ducks, and herons using the wetlands, giving the place a seasonal character shaped by nature's cycles.
Visitors can hike on designated trails and observe wildlife at viewing points, but camping, fires, and motorized vehicles are not permitted. Fall and spring are ideal times to visit when migratory birds are most active.
Desert bighorn sheep climb steep rock faces here while sharing the landscape with mountain lions and thousands of bats. Abandoned mining tunnels scattered across the terrain provide shelter for bat colonies and hint at the area's mining heritage.
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