Havasu
Plan Your Visit
National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. At Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, you will enjoy several wildlife-related activities that the diverse habitats support.
The breathtaking Topock Gorge attracts many wildlife viewers in boats. Boaters may enter from either end of the Topock Gorge on the beautiful, clear blue waters of the Colorado River. The breathtaking views can also be enjoyed by canoe or kayak. Visitors can also spend the day fishing at several places in the refuge. There are abundant populations of catfish, striped bass and largemouth bass on the Colorado River.
Wildlife observation and photography is a top activity at the refuge. You may get to see coyote, jackrabbit, several species of birds and more. If you are looking to hunt, the refuge has opportunities for big game, migratory bird, dove and upland game hunting.
Know Before You Go
The refuge can be accessed from many different places, including from the Lower Colorado River via boat and multiple roads.
Boating on refuge waters is extremely popular but can become dangerous. Boat mooring is not permitted on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. Stay alert and out of restricted areas, which are marked by regulatory signs and/or buoys. As more boaters share the river, it is crucial that all watercraft operators follow all boat safety regulations.
The closed portion of Topock Marsh is closed to all access (including fishing) from October 1st until the end of the state waterfowl season, including the youth waterfowl hunt. Closed area signs and buoys mark the area.
Activities
More Activities
Get Involved
National wildlife refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community by doing what you love. The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge relies on dedicated volunteers and community members to assist staff with various conservation and maintenance projects.
Ways to Get Involved
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National wildlife refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community by doing what you love. National wildlife refuges partner with volunteers, youth groups, landowners, neighbors and residents of urban and coastal communities to make a lasting difference. Find out how you can help make American lands healthier and communities stronger while doing something personally satisfying. The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge relies on dedicated volunteers and community members to assist staff with various conservation and maintenance projects.
Volunteering
Discover for yourself what tens of thousands of volunteers have learned: Volunteering for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is fun and rewarding in many ways. Master new skills. Meet new friends. Enjoy a sense of accomplishment from doing your part to further wildlife conservation for the pleasure of generations to follow. Check out our station's latest volunteer opportunities on volunteer.gov.
The refuge typically recruits two volunteer couples for a six-month commitment from fall until spring, although three-month special-condition commitments are considered. The refuge has two shaded camper pads with electrical and water hook-ups reserved for long-term volunteers. Local volunteers are encouraged to contact the refuge for opportunities.
Volunteers get to know the refuge and take part in a large conservation effort to protect and improve Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. Responsibilities include assisting maintenance staff with daily projects and tasks, removing litter and trash from public use areas, assisting with office and administrative duties, and assisting with special on- and off-site events.
The Friends of the Bill Williams River and Havasu National Wildlife Refuges was created in 2012 to assist Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge and Havasu National Wildlife Refuge with their wildlife conservation missions. This volunteer group is involved with activities on the refuges, assists with conservation projects, educational events, protecting habitat, and promoting community involvement. The Friends Group has a monthly meeting usually held in Golden Shores, Arizona. As a recently established non-profit organization, the Friends is actively seeking new members that want to make a difference in the community. Please visit the Friends page for more information.
Our Partners
Nature does not recognize human-made boundaries. In order to conserve our natural and cultural resources effectively, we must work with others to bridge these boundaries. Partnerships foster creative solutions to challenging situations and often the results are greater than the sum of the parts. Learn more about our local partners.
The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge works with the following partners. They play a very important role in helping the refuge accomplish its wildlife management and conservation mission:
- Friends of Bill Williams River and Havasu National Wildlife Refuges
- Arizona Game and Fish Department
- Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program
Outreach
National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count
Join refuge volunteers at this annual event sponsored by the National Audubon Society. Grab your binoculars and your favorite birding app and hike, drive, or boat around the refuge looking and listening for our winter birds. This event occurs between late December and into January; it is a great opportunity for the expert birder to hone their skills and for the novice to learn from the best. The data gathered is a valuable resource for bird conservation.
Education Programs
Open the door to a potentially life-changing experience. If you land a student internship, a fellowship or a volunteer opportunity at a national wildlife refuge , fish hatchery or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site, you’re bound to come away with new insights and excitement about conservation.
By incorporating Environmental Education and Interpretive curriculum, teachers can integrate science, math, language arts, and history into one interactive lesson. Environmental Education helps students understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment and facilitates the ability to connect, respect and appreciate nature. Taking a class outside or bringing nature indoors provides an excellent context for learning and fosters a new generation of informed stewards for the planet.
The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge offers free environmental education programs to residents of Needles, California, and Mohave county Arizona. Schools, girl and boy scouts, homeschools and nature clubs are welcome to experience Havasu National Wildlife Refuge with their students or members. Our staff offers free field trips or classroom visits so they can learn from wildlife professionals.
Free Field Trips
Havasu Refuge is a great place to explore, learn and enjoy all that the wonderful outdoors has to offer. Bring your students to the refuge so they can get a hands-on, outdoor experience with a variety of songbirds, migratory waterfowl, mammals and reptiles found at our refuge. Several day use areas and dike roads can be accessed giving students the opportunity to get up close and personal with area wildlife. Scheduled Monday – Friday, 9AM – 3PM, September – May.
Free Classroom Presentations
Your students can experience the refuge and the Mohave Desert without ever leaving the classroom. A visit from refuge staff can supplement your classroom curriculum and provide a fun way for your students to learn about the wildlife resources around them. Scheduled Monday – Friday, 9AM – 3PM, September – May.
- 1-hour long programs conveniently fit into a school day
Lessons for both field trips and classroom visits include:
- Desert Food Web
- Going Batty
Contact the refuge to schedule a visit at (928) 667-4144 or email Joseph Saccomanno for more information.
Services
About
Established in 1941, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 37,515 acres along the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California to provide essential migratory bird habitat. The refuge protects 30 river miles and 300 miles of shoreline, including the ecologically significant 20-mile Topock Gorge. As a vital stop on the Pacific Flyway, it is recognized as an Important Bird Area in Arizona, supporting hundreds of species that rest, breed, and overwinter within its diverse habitats.