Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Overview
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| Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (Taylor S. Kennedy/National Geographic/Getty) |
Habitat
Havasu Wilderness provides a primitive mountainous desert experience. Topock Marsh Unit—4,000 acres of Topock Marsh. Topock Gorge—ColoradoRiver, backwater bays, beautiful desert, mountains, and cliffs. Havasu wilderness measures 14,606 acres.
Recreation and Education
Wildlife observation and study, photography, boating, hunting, fishing, and hiking.
Wildlife
Endangered Yumaclapper rail, desert bighorn sheep, variety of marsh birds, and neotropical migrant landbirds. In the desert uplands, there are a variety of reptiles.
Directions to Office
From I-40, exit on J Street. Proceed southwest. Turn right at the headquarters entrance sign and follow the signs. To Topock Marsh from Needles: Take Harbor Avenue North; turn right onto Highway 95 to refuge signs.
Weather
Temperatures get extremely high in the summer months. Bring plenty of water, a hat, and sun protection.
Published: 28 Oct 2008
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Highlights
- If you're lucky, you may spot bighorn sheep on the steep slopes. You’re likely to see mud nests of swallows on the cliffs as well as herons, geese, ducks, long-billed prospectors, and red-winged blackbirds.
- Topock Gorge is a superb day trip for canoeists, kayakers, and rafters, taking about seven hours for the 17 river miles. Swift currents of the Colorado River speed you along without rapids or serious turbulence.
- Thirty-two percent of the refuge, 17,606 acres, is designated wilderness, which presents a special opportunity for the prepared hiker. The first rule is to bring plenty of water, as this is a desert environment.
- The refuge's website has brochures, regulations, bird and plant lists, and maps. Or you can contact the office in Needles, California.
- Established in 1941, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Pintail Slough, Fivemile Landing, and Catfish Paradise are popular hot spots for birding. Each of these areas has available parking and can be accessed by foot.
- The Havasu Wilderness is rich in avian wildlife: quail, geese, ducks, grebes, cranes, rails, herons, egrets, falcons, and eagles, as well as migratory waterfowl and migrating songbirds, can be seen in the refuge. Four endangered bird species—the Yuma clapper rail, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Peregrine Falcon, and southern Bald Eagle—also can be found in the refuge.
- Most of the refuge is accessible only by boat; however, areas for birding that can be reached by land are along the marshes near Golden Shore and Topock—both are on the Colorado River north of the US 40 bridge.
- Try participating in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count in the Lake Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. Each year volunteers track the winter bird populations and distributions in a variety of areas and the information is compiled and reported back to the Audubon Society.
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Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Travel Q&A
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What's your favorite hike? Where's the best campsite? Join the conversation! Ask Your Question
Articles & Advice on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
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Where are you going?
What do you want to do?
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- Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge, AZ (28 mi.)
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