Poachie Range
Encyclopedia
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
. The Poachie Range massif is bordered by the south-flowing Big Sandy River
on its west, and the west-flowing Santa Maria River
on its south; both rivers converge at the Poachie Range's southwest at Alamo Lake, the Alamo Lake State Park
.
From Alamo Lake, the (short) Bill Williams River
flows due west for 35 mi to meet the Colorado River
. The Bill Williams River is the de facto border between the Mojave Desert
north and northwest; the Sonoran Desert
is south and southeast. Across the south-flowing Colorado River to the west, is the massif of the Whipple Mountains
at the northeast of the Sonoran Desert subsection named the Colorado Desert
of southern California and bordered by the Colorado River.
The entire region south of the Poachie Range, and its two mountain ranges bordered westwards, the Rawhide
and Bill Williams Mountains, and bordered on the Bill Williams River northern bank — is the Maria fold and thrust belt
. The thrust belt is a geographic and geologic region at the convergence of these neighboring mountain ranges, rivers, the Alamo Lake, as well as other plains and valleys.
.
The east and southeast of the range contains People's Canyon, about 5 mi long, and the west-flowing Santa Maria River
; to the southeast the river borders the northwest of the smaller range, the Black Mountains.
The highpoint of the range is Arrastra Mountain, 4807 feet (1,465 m), located at 34.31252°N 113.31325°W. Arrastra Mountain is at the range center, 3 mi northeast of the 'range ridgeline' and 4 mi southwest of U.S. Route 93 in Arizona
-(the Joshua Tree Highway).
comprises almost 100% of the Poachie Range. Both the Big Sandy and Santa Maria Rivers are mostly contained in the wilderness, as well as People's Canyon in the east.
, from Wikieup, Arizona
and Nothing, Arizona
.
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Poachie Range
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...
and massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
in southeast Mohave County
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...
, 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 the extreme southwest corner of Yavapai County
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:...
; the range also abuts the northeast corner of La Paz County
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...
. The Poachie Range massif is bordered by the south-flowing Big Sandy River
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...
on its west, and the west-flowing 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...
on its south; both rivers converge at the Poachie Range's southwest at Alamo Lake, the 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...
.
From Alamo Lake, the (short) 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...
flows due west for 35 mi to meet 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...
. The Bill Williams River is the de facto border 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; 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...
is south and southeast. Across the south-flowing Colorado River to the west, is the massif of the Whipple Mountains
Whipple Mountains
The Whipple Mountains, 'Avii Kur'utat in the Mojave language, are located in eastern San Bernardino County, California. They are directly west of the Colorado River, Parker Dam, and Lake Havasu; south of Needles, California; north of Parker, Arizona and Vidal, California; and northeast of Vidal...
at the northeast of the Sonoran Desert subsection named 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...
of southern California and bordered by the Colorado River.
The entire region south of the Poachie Range, and its two mountain ranges bordered westwards, the Rawhide
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...
and Bill Williams Mountains, and bordered on the Bill Williams River northern bank — is 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...
. The thrust belt is a geographic and geologic region at the convergence of these neighboring mountain ranges, rivers, the Alamo Lake, as well as other plains and valleys.
Range description
The Poachie Range is approximately 30 mi long slightly trending northwest by southeast, with no central ridgeline. Instead the range is made up of a central canyon draining southwest. The west-northwest contains a small canyon, and various peaks, three peaks west of the south-flowing Big Sandy River. Signal, Arizona with only umimproved road access is at the northwest foothills, about 10 mi from U.S. Route 93U.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....
.
The east and southeast of the range contains People's Canyon, about 5 mi long, and the west-flowing 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...
; to the southeast the river borders the northwest of the smaller range, the Black Mountains.
The highpoint of the range is Arrastra Mountain, 4807 feet (1,465 m), located at 34.31252°N 113.31325°W. Arrastra Mountain is at the range center, 3 mi northeast of the 'range ridgeline' and 4 mi southwest of U.S. Route 93 in Arizona
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....
-(the Joshua Tree Highway).
Arrastra Mountain Wilderness
The Arrastra Mountain WildernessArrastra Mountain Wilderness
The Arrastra Mountain Wilderness is located in Mohave, Yavapai, and La Paz counties, northwest of Phoenix and southeast of Kingman, Arizona. This sprawling wildland encompasses imposing landscapes and unique natural features. The Poachie Range, which trends northwest-southeast through the...
comprises almost 100% of the Poachie Range. Both the Big Sandy and Santa Maria Rivers are mostly contained in the wilderness, as well as People's Canyon in the east.
Access
The entire northeast of the range is accessed from U.S. Route 93U.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....
, from Wikieup, Arizona
Wikieup, Arizona
Wikieup is a small unincorporated community located on U.S. Route 93 in Mohave County, Arizona. It is located approximately south of Interstate 40 and approximately northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. In 2000, the population of Wikieup's ZCTA was 305....
and Nothing, Arizona
Nothing, Arizona
Nothing was a small unincorporated settlement in far eastern Mohave County, Arizona, United States with four inhabitants.-History:The locals told travelers it "got named by a bunch of drunks."...
.
External links
Arrastra Mountain----
Poachie Range