Whipple Mountains Wilderness
SIZE: 77,520 acresLOCATION: San Bernardino County; 10 miles northwest of Parker, Arizona
Whipple Mountains, Lake Havasu - John Shelton photo
NATURAL RESOURCES: The Whipple Mountains lie east to west across this wilderness. The western half of the range is created from pale green formations. A low angle fault separates the formation on the west from striking brick red volcanic formations to the east. The landscape is diverse, ranging from valley floors and washes to steep-walled canyons, domed peaks and eroded spires towering to 4,000 feet. Flowing westward from these colorful spires and domes are bajadas with isolated lava rock masses and red sandstone outcrops. Sonoran creosote bush scrub and the Sonoran thorn forest decorate the area. In addition, dense stands of palo verde, ironwood, smoke tree and cholla, saguaro, foxtail and Mojave prickly pear cacti all grow here. This unique array of vegetation support a variety of wildlife.
| GLOSSARY | > bajada, canyon, lava, volcanic, wash |
ACCESS: Access to the eastern boundary of the wilderness is by four-wheel drive vehicle on a powerline road. Start at Parker Dam on the Colorado River and go south on the California side to Black Meadow Landing Road (less than a mile). Take this paved road 6 miles to the dirt road that leads to Havasu Palms. Follow this route for 2.1 miles to the powerline road, which for the next 8 miles, forms the eastern boundary of the wilderness.
Mining