Kanab Creek Wilderness

Kanab Creek Wilderness
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)
Map showing the location of Kanab Creek Wilderness
Location Coconino / Mohave counties, Arizona, United States
Nearest city San Manuel, AZ
Coordinates 36°33′55″N 112°34′08″W / 36.56528°N 112.56889°W / 36.56528; -112.56889Coordinates: 36°33′55″N 112°34′08″W / 36.56528°N 112.56889°W / 36.56528; -112.56889
Area 75,300 acres (305 km2)
Established 1984
Governing body

U.S. Forest Service &

Bureau of Land Management
Kanab Creek Wilderness
Pictographs in Kanab Creek Wilderness

Kanab Creek Wilderness is a 75,300-acre (305 km2) wilderness area[1] located along the Coconino/Mohave County line in the U.S. state of Arizona, approximately 30 miles (48 km) south of Fredonia. 68,600 acres (278 km2) of the Wilderness are located in the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, the remaining 6,700 acres (27 km2) are administered by the Arizona Bureau of Land Management.[2]

One of the major tributaries of the Colorado River, Kanab Creek is the largest tributary canyon system on the north side of the Grand Canyon. From its origin approximately 50 miles (80 km) north in southern Utah, Kanab Creek and its feeder streams have cut a network of gorges with vertical walls deep into the Kanab and Kaibab Plateaus. Elevations in the Wilderness range from 2,000 feet (610 m) at the river to about 6,000 feet (1,829 m) on the rim.[3]

Evidence in Kanab Creek Wilderness indicates that this area was inhabited by prehistoric peoples up to approximately AD 1100. The Wilderness contains some of the most interesting and significant rock art in the Southwest.[4]

Vegetation

Kanab Creek Wilderness is dominated by desert shrub blackbush, with occasional clumps of Indian ricegrass or needle-and-thread grass in the lower elevations. Along the drainage bottoms are groups of cottonwood, desert almond, western redbud, and single-leaf ash trees, though some of these riparian habitats are being invaded by salt cedar. The upper reaches have some stands of pinyon pine and juniper, but sagebrush dominates most of the area.[4]

Wildlife

The higher elevations of Kanab Creek Wilderness are used as winter range by mule deer and almost all of the chukar partridge in Arizona live in this area. The area is home to bobcat, fox, coyote, and various small mammals such as rabbit, squirrel, and mice. Several species of toad, frog, lizard, and snake can also be found in this area. The only known poisonous snake in the Wilderness is the rattlesnake.[4]

Trails

Historic Jump Up Cabin, built in 1906, overlooks the Kanab Creek Wilderness. It was restored in 2009 by the Forest Service.[5]

Three trails lead into Kanab Creek Wilderness:[6]

See also

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/19/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.