Kanab Creek Wilderness
Encyclopedia
Kanab Creek Wilderness is a 75300 acres (305 km²) wilderness area located along the Coconino
/Mohave
County line in the U.S.
state of Arizona
, approximately 30 miles (48 km) south of Fredonia
. 68600 acres (278 km²) of the Wilderness are located in the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest
, the remaining 6700 acres (27 km²) are administered by the Arizona Bureau of Land Management.
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 Plateau
s. Elevations in the Wilderness range from 2000 feet (610 m) at the river to about 6000 feet (1,829 m) on the rim.
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.
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.
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
.
Coconino County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*61.7% White*1.2% Black*27.3% Native American*1.4% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*5.2% Other races*13.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
/Mohave
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...
County line in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of 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...
, approximately 30 miles (48 km) south of Fredonia
Fredonia, Arizona
Fredonia is a town in Coconino County, Arizona, United States. Fredonia is Arizona's northernmost town and the gateway to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Visitors enjoy seeing the Grand Canyon from the North Rim because they can experience the wonder and beauty without large crowds and high...
. 68600 acres (278 km²) of the Wilderness are located in the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest
Kaibab National Forest
At 1.6 million acres the Kaibab National Forest borders both the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon, in north-central Arizona. It is divided into three major sections: the North Kaibab Ranger District and the South Kaibab and are managed by USDA Forest Service...
, the remaining 6700 acres (27 km²) are administered by the Arizona Bureau of Land Management.
One of the major tributaries of 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...
, Kanab Creek is the largest tributary canyon system on the north side of the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
. From its origin approximately 50 miles (80 km) north in southern Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, Kanab Creek and its feeder streams have cut a network of gorges with vertical walls deep into the Kanab and Kaibab Plateau
Kaibab Plateau
The Kaibab Plateau is located in northern Arizona in the United States. The plateau, part of the larger Colorado Plateau, is bordered on the south by the Grand Canyon and reaches an elevation of 9241 feet above sea level. The plateau is divided between Kaibab National Forest and the "North Rim"...
s. Elevations in the Wilderness range from 2000 feet (610 m) at the river to about 6000 feet (1,829 m) on the rim.
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.
Vegetation
Kanab Creek Wilderness is dominated by desert shrub blackbush, with occasional clumps of Indian ricegrassIndian ricegrass
Oryzopsis hymenoides is a perennial cool-season bunchgrass. It is native to western North America east of the Cascades from British Columbia and Alberta south to southern California, northeastern Mexico, and Texas...
or needle-and-thread grass in the lower elevations. Along the drainage bottoms are groups of cottonwood, desert almond
Prunus fasciculata
Prunus fasciculata, also known as wild almond, desert almond, or desert peach is a spiny and woody shrub producing wild almonds, native to the deserts of Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah....
, western redbud
Cercis occidentalis
Cercis occidentalis, the western redbud is a small tree or shrub in the legume family. It is found across the American Southwest, from California to Utah....
, and single-leaf ash
Fraxinus anomala
Fraxinus anomala is a species of ash tree known by the common name single-leaf ash. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in a number of habitats including desert scrub and chaparral.-Description:...
trees, though some of these riparian habitats are being invaded by salt cedar. The upper reaches have some stands of pinyon pine
Pinyon pine
The pinyon pine group grows in the southwestern United States and in Mexico. The trees yield edible pinyon nuts, which were a staple of the Native Americans, and are still widely eaten...
and juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
, but sagebrush
Sagebrush
Sagebrush is a common name of a number of shrubby plant species in the genus Artemisia native to western North America;Or, the sagebrush steppe ecoregion, having one or more kinds of sagebrush, bunchgrasses and others;...
dominates most of the area.
Wildlife
The higher elevations of Kanab Creek Wilderness are used as winter range by mule deerMule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
and almost all of the chukar
Chukar
The Chukar Partridge or Chukar is a Eurasian upland gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. It has been considered to form a superspecies complex along with the Rock Partridge, Philby's Partridge and Przevalski's Partridge and treated in the past as conspecific particularly with the first...
partridge in Arizona live in this area. The area is home to bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, and various small mammals such as rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
, squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
, and mice
MICE
-Fiction:*Mice , alien species in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*The Mice -Acronyms:* "Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions", facilities terminology for events...
. Several species of toad
Toad
A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
, frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
, lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
, and snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
can also be found in this area. The only known poisonous snake in the Wilderness is the rattlesnake
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae . There are 32 known species of rattlesnake, with between 65-70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from southern Alberta and southern British Columbia in Canada to Central...
.
Trails
Three trails lead into Kanab Creek Wilderness:- Jumpup-Nail Trail or Trail #8 descends from Sowats Point, crosses Sowats Canyon, and descends into Jumpup Canyon where it joins Trail #41. This trail is 6 miles (9.7 km) long.
- Ranger Trail or Trail #41 descends into Jumpup Canyon for about four miles before exiting the canyon just above Lower Jumpup Spring. It then follows the general contour of a sandstone bench that encircles the Jumpup Point promontory before crossing Lawson, Dinner Pockets, and Big Cove Canyons and descends into Kanab Creek Canyon about 5 miles beyond Lawson. It ends in the canyon where it joins Trail #59. This trail is 17 miles (27.4 km) long.
- Snake Gulch-Kanab Creek Trail or Trail #59 joins the Ranger Trail in Kanab Creek Canyon about three miles downstream from the confluence with Snake Gulch. It then continues down the canyon but is not signed or maintained beyond that point. This trail is 21.5 miles (34.6 km) long.
See also
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
- List of Arizona Wilderness Areas
- Wilderness ActWilderness ActThe Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
- Kanab Creek TrailKanab Creek TrailThe Kanab Creek Trail is a hiking trail on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, located in the U.S. state of Arizona.-External links:* , in Kanab Creek from Snake Gulch to Jensen Canyon and beyond.* * *...
External links
- Kanab Creek Wilderness Area - Kaibab National Forest
- Kanab Creek Wilderness Area - Bureau of Land Management
- Kanab Creek Wilderness Management Plan - Bureau of Land Management
- Kanab Wilderness - GORP
- Kanab Creek Wilderness - Wilderness.net
- Kanab Creek - Todd's Desert Hiking Guide