{{Short description|Protected wilderness area in Arizona and California}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Havasu Wilderness | iucn_category = Ib | image = | image_caption = | map = USA | relief = 1 | map_caption = | location = Mohave County, Arizona & San Bernardino County, California, United States | nearest_city = Lake Havasu City, AZ | coordinates = {{coord|34|38|58|N|114|24|54|W|region:US|display=inline, title}} | area = {{convert|17801|acre|km2|0}} | established = 1990 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = US Fish & Wildlife Service }}
'''Havasu Wilderness''' is a {{convert|17801|acre|km2|0|adj=on}} wilderness area located within the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge near Lake Havasu in the U.S. states of Arizona and California. {{convert|14606|acre|km2|0}} are located in Arizona and {{convert|3195|acre|km2|0}} are located in California.<ref name="wilderness">[http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Havasu%20Wilderness Havasu Wilderness] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611101511/http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Havasu%20Wilderness |date=2011-06-11 }} – Wilderness.net</ref>
The western boundary of the Wilderness is formed by the Chemihuevi Mountains Wilderness in California. The area includes volcanic spires, a large sand dune with vegetation varying from riparian wetlands to Mojave Desert uplands. The habitats here consist of open water, emergent vegetation, subaquatics, dry mountains, desert uplands and washes.
==Vegetation== Vegetation in Havasu Wilderness is dominated by creosote bush, ocotillo, blue-green paloverde, and pockets of saguaro. A variety of trees grow in washes with willows and salt cedar found at the edges of the river.<ref name="wilderness"/>
==Wildlife== Havasu Wilderness is home to a variety of wildlife, including species of quail, geese, duck, grebe, crane, rail (including the endangered Yuma rail), heron, egret, falcon, eagle, desert bighorn sheep, coyote, porcupine, fox, and bobcat. Gila monster and the endangered desert tortoise can also be found in the wilderness.<ref name="wilderness"/><ref>[http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-new-mexico-arizona-oklahoma-sidwcmdev_069178.html#havasu Havasu Wilderness, Arizona] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429063226/http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-new-mexico-arizona-oklahoma-sidwcmdev_069178.html#havasu |date=2010-04-29 }} – GORP</ref>
==Recreation== Fires, mechanized vehicles, some types of boats, and camping are not permitted in Havasu Wilderness. The most common activities are hiking and wildlife watching.<ref>[http://www.publiclands.org/explore/site.php?id=6313&PHPSESSID=23cfeb7c9 Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, California] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609001604/http://www.publiclands.org/explore/site.php?id=6313&PHPSESSID=23cfeb7c9 |date=2011-06-09 }} – PublicLands.org</ref>
==See also== * List of Arizona Wilderness Areas * List of U.S. Wilderness Areas * Wilderness Act
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.fws.gov/SOUTHWEST/REFUGES/arizona/havasu/hiking.html Hiking on Havasu Wilderness] – Havasu National Wildlife Refuge * [http://www.fws.gov/SOUTHWEST/REFUGES/arizona/havasu/regulations.html Regulations of Havasu NWR] – Havasu National Wildlife Refuge * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110611101511/http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Havasu%20Wilderness Havasu Wilderness] – Wilderness.net
Category:Protected areas of Mohave County, Arizona Category:Protected areas of San Bernardino County, California Category:Wilderness areas of Arizona Category:Wilderness areas of California Category:Wilderness areas within the Lower Colorado River Valley