Swansea Wilderness - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Bill Williams Wildlife Refuge is home to over 6,000 acres of habitat, 355 species of birds, 34 documented reptiles, 40 species of butterflies, 57 species of mammals, 7 amphibians, and a plethora of indigenous wildlife. The refuge is ideal for both amateur and professional photographers. With one sweep of the shutter, you can capture cottonwood forests, saguaro cacti, black rock mountains, babbling streams, and breathtaking sunsets.

The 14,630-acre East Cactus Plain Wilderness is about 10 miles north of Bouse, Arizona in La Paz County. The wilderness includes the eastern third of the Cactus Plain. It is dominated by an intricate crescent dune topography and dense dunescrub vegetation known only from this area in Arizona. It is administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

The Central Arizona Project is a 336 mi diversion canal in Arizona in the southern United States.The aqueduct diverts water from the Colorado River to the Bill Williams Wildlife Refuge south portion of Lake Havasu near Parker into central and southern Arizona. CAP is managed and operated by the Central Arizona Water Conservation District. It was shepherded through Congress by Carl Hayden.

The Gibraltar Mountain Wilderness is an 18,790-acre property located about 10 miles northeast of Parker in the western Buckskin Mountains.This desert wilderness is primarily volcanic tuff crossed with deep canyons and sandy washes. Vegetation in the area includes creosote bush, cholla, barrel cactus, and palo verde that support a small population of desert bighorn sheep.

River Island State Park is ideal for tent campers and can provide a scenic respite, a desert escape, or a fun-filled water adventure. It offers 37 campsites, a ramada, sandy beach, cove, and boat launch area. The park has a trail for hiking and access to off-highway vehicle back country roads

Alamo Lake State Park is located about 37 miles north of Wenden and offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities in the Bill Williams River Valley. It features camping facilities and attracts wildlife enthusiasts, as the park is home to numerous wildlife species including the bald eagle. The park's remoteness and distance from cities also makes it a destination for stargazing, as is the darkest sky state park in Arizona.