Kachina Peaks Wilderness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kachina Peaks Wilderness |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
|
|
Humphreys Peak from the Inner Basin Trail
|
|
| Location | Coconino County, Arizona, US |
| Nearest city | Flagstaff, AZ |
| Area | 18,616 acres (75 km2) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Kachina Peaks Wilderness is a huge natural area in Arizona, covering about 18,616 acres (7,534 square kilometers). It's located about 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Flagstaff, inside the Coconino National Forest.
This special wilderness includes most of the tall San Francisco Peaks, like Humphreys Peak. Humphreys Peak is the highest point in all of Arizona, reaching 12,643 feet (3,854 meters) into the sky! The area gets its name from the Kachinas, who are gods in the Hopi people's stories. They believe these gods live here for part of each year. In summer, these gods are said to fly from the peaks as clouds, bringing the important monsoon rains. These mountains are very sacred to several Native American tribes, including the Havasupai, Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni. Many religious shrines have been found here, and some are still used today.
How the Mountains Were Formed
The Kachina Peaks Wilderness is part of a very large volcano that erupted a long, long time ago – about two million years ago! Some of the trails in the area lead to the tops of these peaks, which include Humphreys Peak, Doyle Peak (11,460 feet), Fremont Peak (11,969 feet), and Agassiz Peak (12,365 feet).
These mountains form the edge of a giant bowl-shaped area called a caldera. A caldera is a huge hollow that formed when the volcano's top collapsed after its last big eruption.
Ice Age Clues
You can also find amazing examples of the Ice Age in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. These include features called moraines, which are piles of rocks and dirt left behind by ancient glaciers (huge sheets of ice). You can also see old stream beds that were shaped by the ice.
Plants and Animals
The Kachina Peaks Wilderness is home to the only Arctic-Alpine plants in Arizona. This means plants that usually grow in very cold, high places, similar to the Arctic, can be found here. This special area covers about 2 square miles (5.2 square kilometers) on the peaks.
One very rare plant found here is the San Francisco Peaks groundsel (Packera franciscana). It's a threatened species, meaning it's at risk of disappearing, and this is the only place in the world where it grows naturally!
Fun Things to Do
Many people enjoy visiting the Kachina Peaks Wilderness for outdoor activities. Some popular things to do include:
- Hiking on the many trails
- Backpacking and camping overnight
- Cross-country skiing in the winter
- Snowboarding
- Snowshoeing
- Hunting (following specific rules)
See also
- List of Arizona Wilderness Areas
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
- Wilderness Act
