Buckskin Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Buckskin Mountains are a mountain range
in western-central Arizona
, USA
. The range lies just east of the north-south Colorado River
, and borders south of the east-west, west-flowing Bill Williams River
.
The range is part of a three-range sequence of mildly arc-shaped ranges, and two intermountain valleys in the Maria fold and thrust belt
, a region in western Arizona
and southeast Southern California
, with the Colorado River flowing south through the western part of the belt. The fold-and-thrust-belt region contains numerous plains, valleys, and mountain ranges, about 30 landforms in all.
The Buckskin Mountains also extend west into a section abutting the Colorado River. Buckskin Mountain State Park
borders the south of the Bill Williams River.
and Harquahala Mountains
. The highest peak in the section is Battleship Peak, 2569 feet (783 m), at the southwest end, and directly northeast of Bouse
in the Ranegras Plain, and the Bouse Wash
Drainage.
The west end of the mountains abut the north-south Colorado River
. Located here is the Gibralter Mountain Wilderness, with Gibralter Mountain, at 1566 feet (477 m).
The entire north perimeter of the range is the Bill Williams River. Buckskin Mountain State Park
is at its confluence in the northwest at the Colorado River. Abutting the Bill Williams in the center is the Swansea Wilderness; the northeast contains the Rawhide Mountains Wilderness on both sides of the river. The northeast of the range borders Alamo Lake State Park
-(Alamo Lake), which also borders the Rawhide Mountains
on the lake's northwest.
Another peak in the central-west, away from the range's east-west centerline, at the south is Planet Peak, at 3141 feet (957 m). Planet Peak is directly adjacent at the northeast of the Cactus Plain
and the Cactus Plain Wilderness. The most easily identifiable Peak is "Black Peak," at 1594 feet (486 m) to the South East. It is known to locals as "P Mountain" due to the large white "P" painted on its west side by the nearby town of Parker.
region are, from north to south:
Some of the thirty landforms in the fold-and-thrust-belt listed in a circular path around these three ranges are: 1. NE, Alamo Lake State Park
, NE Buckskin Mtns; 2. Access roads from U.S. Route 93
, northwest, dirt, and southwest, Arizona State Route 71 terminating at Aguila, Arizona
, at the northeast of the Harquahala's; 3. Southeast of the Harquahalas, three mountain ranges, and the Hassayampa and Harquahala Plains-(Harquahala Valley); 4. The southwest and west perimeter of the three ranges is the Bouse Wash
Drainage; the drainage is in the Ranegras Plain, but two small ranges, and the Bouse Hills abut the perimeter as well; 5. The northwest abuts the Cactus Plain
and the Cactus Plain Wilderness; 6. The northwest also has the Buckskin Mountains extending into a western section at the confluence of the Colorado and Bill Williams Rivers. Buckskin Mountain State Park
is located here. 7. The Bill Williams River
downstream from Alamo Lake State Park
is the northern border of the three ranges, as well as the de facto border of fold-and-thrust-belt. The river is also a dividing line between the Mojave Desert
north and northwest, and the Sonoran Desert
, south and southeast; in California, the Colorado Desert
subsection of the Sonoran Desert lies southwest.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in western-central Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, USA
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
. The range lies just east of the north-south 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...
, and borders south of the east-west, west-flowing 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...
.
The range is part of a three-range sequence of mildly arc-shaped ranges, and two intermountain valleys in the Maria fold and thrust belt
Maria Fold and Thrust Belt
The Maria fold and thrust belt is a portion of the North American Cordillera orogen in which geological structures accommodate roughly north-south to northwest-southeast vergent Mesozoic age crustal shortening. This lies in contrast to the remainder of the Cordillera, in which shortening is...
, a region in western Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and southeast Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, with the Colorado River flowing south through the western part of the belt. The fold-and-thrust-belt region contains numerous plains, valleys, and mountain ranges, about 30 landforms in all.
The Buckskin Mountains also extend west into a section abutting the Colorado River. Buckskin Mountain State Park
Buckskin Mountain State Park
Buckskin Mountain State Park is a state park located near Parker, Arizona, USA. A second developed area of the park is known as the River Island Unit or River Island State Park. Both park areas have shoreline on the Colorado River and views of the Buckskin Mountains...
borders the south of the Bill Williams River.
Buckskin Mountains: west, central, and southeast
The southeast section of the Buckskin Mountains are part of a three-mountain range thrust-faulted system, with the HarcuvarHarcuvar Mountains
The Harcuvar Mountains are a narrow mountain range in western-central Arizona, USA. The range lies just east of the north-south Colorado River, and south of the east-west, west-flowing Bill Williams River, from Alamo Lake....
and Harquahala Mountains
Harquahala Mountains
The Harquahala Mountains are the highest mountain range in southwestern Arizona, USA and are located southwest of the towns of Aguila and Wenden. The name originated from a local Native American people "Aha qua hala" which meant "water there is high up". The range is oriented from northeast to...
. The highest peak in the section is Battleship Peak, 2569 feet (783 m), at the southwest end, and directly northeast of Bouse
Bouse, Arizona
Bouse is a census-designated place in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1908 as a mining camp, the economy of Bouse is now based on tourism, agriculture and retirees...
in the Ranegras Plain, and the Bouse Wash
Bouse Wash
Bouse Wash is one of the larger eastern-bank dry washes that enter the Colorado River in western Arizona.Bouse Wash is located on the north end of the La Posa Plain and drains into the area along the Colorado River occupied by the Colorado River Indian Reservation, south of Parker, Arizona...
Drainage.
The west end of the mountains abut the north-south 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...
. Located here is the Gibralter Mountain Wilderness, with Gibralter Mountain, at 1566 feet (477 m).
The entire north perimeter of the range is the Bill Williams River. Buckskin Mountain State Park
Buckskin Mountain State Park
Buckskin Mountain State Park is a state park located near Parker, Arizona, USA. A second developed area of the park is known as the River Island Unit or River Island State Park. Both park areas have shoreline on the Colorado River and views of the Buckskin Mountains...
is at its confluence in the northwest at the Colorado River. Abutting the Bill Williams in the center is the Swansea Wilderness; the northeast contains the Rawhide Mountains Wilderness on both sides of the river. The northeast of the range borders 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...
-(Alamo Lake), which also borders the Rawhide Mountains
Rawhide Mountains
The Rawhide Mountains are a mountain range of western Arizona, in the southwest of Mohave County. It is part of a block of mountain ranges on the north of an insular region called the Maria fold and thrust belt, containing mountain ranges, valleys, and plains...
on the lake's northwest.
Another peak in the central-west, away from the range's east-west centerline, at the south is Planet Peak, at 3141 feet (957 m). Planet Peak is directly adjacent at the northeast of the Cactus Plain
Cactus Plain
The Cactus Plain is a plain east of Parker, Arizona and the Parker Valley within the Lower Colorado River Valley.The Cactus Plain is adjacent to the Bouse Wash on the south, which drains northwest-west into the Colorado River...
and the Cactus Plain Wilderness. The most easily identifiable Peak is "Black Peak," at 1594 feet (486 m) to the South East. It is known to locals as "P Mountain" due to the large white "P" painted on its west side by the nearby town of Parker.
Three major thrust-faulted ranges
The major mountain ranges that are thrusted northwesterlly in the Maria fold and thrust beltMaria Fold and Thrust Belt
The Maria fold and thrust belt is a portion of the North American Cordillera orogen in which geological structures accommodate roughly north-south to northwest-southeast vergent Mesozoic age crustal shortening. This lies in contrast to the remainder of the Cordillera, in which shortening is...
region are, from north to south:
- Buckskin Mountains
- Butler Valley (Arizona)Butler Valley (Arizona)Butler Valley is a valley of the Maria fold and thrust belt in western Arizona, USA. It lies east of the Colorado River, and is south of the west-flowing Bill Williams River.-Description of valley and region:...
- Harcuvar MountainsHarcuvar MountainsThe Harcuvar Mountains are a narrow mountain range in western-central Arizona, USA. The range lies just east of the north-south Colorado River, and south of the east-west, west-flowing Bill Williams River, from Alamo Lake....
- McMullen Valley
- Harquahala MountainsHarquahala MountainsThe Harquahala Mountains are the highest mountain range in southwestern Arizona, USA and are located southwest of the towns of Aguila and Wenden. The name originated from a local Native American people "Aha qua hala" which meant "water there is high up". The range is oriented from northeast to...
Some of the thirty landforms in the fold-and-thrust-belt listed in a circular path around these three ranges are: 1. NE, 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...
, NE Buckskin Mtns; 2. Access roads from U.S. Route 93
U.S. Route 93 in Arizona
In the U.S. state of Arizona, U.S. Route 93 is a U.S. Highway that begins in Wickenburg and heads north to the Nevada border at the Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge....
, northwest, dirt, and southwest, Arizona State Route 71 terminating at Aguila, Arizona
Aguila, Arizona
Aguila is a CDP in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is located on U.S. Route 60 approximately 20 miles west of Wickenburg, or at approximately 50000 N. 510th Ave. Major economic activities include cantaloupe farming and formerly included mining. It uses the same street numbering system...
, at the northeast of the Harquahala's; 3. Southeast of the Harquahalas, three mountain ranges, and the Hassayampa and Harquahala Plains-(Harquahala Valley); 4. The southwest and west perimeter of the three ranges is the Bouse Wash
Bouse Wash
Bouse Wash is one of the larger eastern-bank dry washes that enter the Colorado River in western Arizona.Bouse Wash is located on the north end of the La Posa Plain and drains into the area along the Colorado River occupied by the Colorado River Indian Reservation, south of Parker, Arizona...
Drainage; the drainage is in the Ranegras Plain, but two small ranges, and the Bouse Hills abut the perimeter as well; 5. The northwest abuts the Cactus Plain
Cactus Plain
The Cactus Plain is a plain east of Parker, Arizona and the Parker Valley within the Lower Colorado River Valley.The Cactus Plain is adjacent to the Bouse Wash on the south, which drains northwest-west into the Colorado River...
and the Cactus Plain Wilderness; 6. The northwest also has the Buckskin Mountains extending into a western section at the confluence of the Colorado and Bill Williams Rivers. Buckskin Mountain State Park
Buckskin Mountain State Park
Buckskin Mountain State Park is a state park located near Parker, Arizona, USA. A second developed area of the park is known as the River Island Unit or River Island State Park. Both park areas have shoreline on the Colorado River and views of the Buckskin Mountains...
is located here. 7. 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...
downstream from 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...
is the northern border of the three ranges, as well as the de facto border of fold-and-thrust-belt. The river is also a dividing line between the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
north and northwest, and the Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
, south and southeast; in California, the Colorado Desert
Colorado Desert
California's Colorado Desert is a part of the larger Sonoran Desert, which extends across southwest North America. The Colorado Desert region encompasses approximately , reaching from the Mexican border in the south to the higher-elevation Mojave Desert in the north and from the Colorado River in...
subsection of the Sonoran Desert lies southwest.