Kanab Creek Wilderness


Kanab Creek Wilderness is a wilderness area located along the Coconino/Mohave County line in the U.S. state of Arizona, approximately south of Fredonia. of the Wilderness are located in the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, the remaining 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 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 at the river to about 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 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.

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 venomous snake in the Wilderness is the rattlesnake.

Trails

Three trails lead into Kanab Creek Wilderness: