Arrastra Mountain Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The 129800 acres Arrastra Mountain Wilderness is located in Mohave
, Yavapai
, and La Paz counties
, 100 miles (160.9 km) northwest of Phoenix
and 70 miles (112.7 km) southeast of Kingman, Arizona
. This sprawling wildland encompasses imposing landscapes and unique natural features. The Poachie Range
, which trends northwest-southeast through the north-central portion of the wilderness, rises to almost 5,000 feet. The gradual southern slopes of the range are interrupted by several isolated volcanic plug
s and numerous drainage
s, several of which have been deeply incised into a bright orange mudstone
.
The western and southern portions of the wilderness encompass more than 20 miles (32.2 km) of the ephemeral Big Sandy
and Santa Maria River
s. West of the Big Sandy River, the Artillery Mountains
are dominated by the striking red Artillery Peak, a 1200 feet (365.8 m) volcanic plug. The east side of the wilderness contains the uniquely pristine Peoples Canyon. Several springs here maintain a 2 miles (3.2 km) chain of deep, interconnecting pools densely shaded by hundreds of sycamores, willow
s, and cottonwoods.
Some lands in and around the wilderness are not federally administered.
and the wilderness parallel the route 7–9 mi (11.3–14.5 ) to the southwest, with some access points to the foothills. At the north, Signal, Arizona on unimproved dirt roads lies about 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest off US 95.
A common access route is Alamo Lake State Park
at about 5–8 mi (8–12.9 ) bordering the Poachie Range on the southwest; the lake is the confluence of the Santa Maria River and the Bill Williams River
, which then flows west to the Colorado River
. Alamo Lake is accessed northwards by 33 miles (53 km) from U.S. Route 60 in Arizona
at Wenden, Arizona
. Access roads to the Poachie Range area-[5–8 mi (8–12.9 )] from the Alamo Lake area is by unimproved desert dirt roads, and are passable depending only upon current weather events.
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Arrastra Mountain
Mohave County, Arizona
Mohave County is located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 200,186, an increase of 45,154 people since the 2000 census count of 155,032. The county seat is Kingman...
, Yavapai
Yavapai County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, and La Paz counties
La Paz County, Arizona
La Paz County is a county in the western part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census its population was 20,489. The county seat is Parker...
, 100 miles (160.9 km) northwest of Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
and 70 miles (112.7 km) southeast of Kingman, Arizona
Kingman, Arizona
Kingman is located in a desert climate on the edge of the Mojave Desert, but its higher elevation and location between the Colorado Plateau and the Lower Colorado River Valley tempers summer high temperatures and contributes to winter cold and rare snowfall. Summer daytime highs reach above 90 °F ...
. This sprawling wildland encompasses imposing landscapes and unique natural features. The Poachie Range
Poachie Range
The Poachie Range is a moderate length mountain range and massif in southeast Mohave County, Arizona, and the extreme southwest corner of Yavapai County; the range also abuts the northeast corner of La Paz County...
, which trends northwest-southeast through the north-central portion of the wilderness, rises to almost 5,000 feet. The gradual southern slopes of the range are interrupted by several isolated volcanic plug
Volcanic plug
A volcanic plug, also called a volcanic neck or lava neck, is a volcanic landform created when magma hardens within a vent on an active volcano. When forming, a plug can cause an extreme build-up of pressure if volatile-charged magma is trapped beneath it, and this can sometimes lead to an...
s and numerous drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
s, several of which have been deeply incised into a bright orange mudstone
Mudstone
Mudstone is a fine grained sedimentary rock whose original constituents were clays or muds. Grain size is up to 0.0625 mm with individual grains too small to be distinguished without a microscope. With increased pressure over time the platey clay minerals may become aligned, with the...
.
The western and southern portions of the wilderness encompass more than 20 miles (32.2 km) of the ephemeral Big Sandy
Big Sandy River (Arizona)
The Big Sandy River is in northwestern Arizona in Mohave County. It begins where Cottonwood Wash and Trout Creek converge in the Hualapai Indian Reservation near Hualapai Peak then flows past Wikieup south of Kingman. It has a length of and joins the Santa Maria River to form Bill Williams River...
and Santa Maria River
Santa Maria River (Arizona)
The Santa Maria River is an intermittent stream located in western Arizona. It is a primary tributary of the Bill Williams River and one of the main sources of inflow for Alamo Lake...
s. West of the Big Sandy River, the Artillery Mountains
Artillery Mountains
The Artillery Mountains are a mountain range in Mohave County in western Arizona. High point of the range is Artillery Peak, 2,917 feet above sea level. Artillery Peak is at coordinates N 34.36946 W 113.58160 ....
are dominated by the striking red Artillery Peak, a 1200 feet (365.8 m) volcanic plug. The east side of the wilderness contains the uniquely pristine Peoples Canyon. Several springs here maintain a 2 miles (3.2 km) chain of deep, interconnecting pools densely shaded by hundreds of sycamores, willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
s, and cottonwoods.
Some lands in and around the wilderness are not federally administered.
Access to the wilderness
The Arrastra Mountain Wilderness is nearest to U.S. Route 95 in Arizona, a northwest-by-southeast route – (from Kingman to Wickenberg). The Poachie RangePoachie Range
The Poachie Range is a moderate length mountain range and massif in southeast Mohave County, Arizona, and the extreme southwest corner of Yavapai County; the range also abuts the northeast corner of La Paz County...
and the wilderness parallel the route 7–9 mi (11.3–14.5 ) to the southwest, with some access points to the foothills. At the north, Signal, Arizona on unimproved dirt roads lies about 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest off US 95.
A common access route is Alamo Lake State Park
Alamo Lake State Park
Alamo Lake State Park is a state park of Arizona, USA, centered around Alamo Lake, a flood control and recreational reservoir. The park is located in western Arizona about north of Wenden. It is accessed via dirt road off either U.S. Route 60 to the south or U.S. Route 93 to the east...
at about 5–8 mi (8–12.9 ) bordering the Poachie Range on the southwest; the lake is the confluence of the Santa Maria River and the Bill Williams River
Bill Williams River
The Bill Williams River is a river in western-central Arizona in Mohave County; the river proper is the northern border of La Paz County which it drains in the north, as well as areas of far western Yavapai County...
, which then flows west to the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
. Alamo Lake is accessed northwards by 33 miles (53 km) from U.S. Route 60 in Arizona
U.S. Route 60 in Arizona
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway within Arizona. The highway runs for from a junction with Interstate 10 near Quartzsite to the New Mexico State Line near Springerville...
at Wenden, Arizona
Wenden, Arizona
Wenden is a census-designated place in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 556 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wenden is located at ....
. Access roads to the Poachie Range area-[5–8 mi (8–12.9 )] from the Alamo Lake area is by unimproved desert dirt roads, and are passable depending only upon current weather events.
Reference
External links
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Arrastra Mountain