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Park geography

Analyzing the terrain, elevation extremes, and internal canyon networks of this wildlife reserve.

Comprehensive Geographic Profile and Mapped Boundaries of Kanab Creek Wilderness, Arizona

This geographic profile presents the structured landscape data for Kanab Creek Wilderness in Arizona. It details the 305 square kilometer land area, elevation range between 610 and 1829 meters, and the distribution of internal features like Lawson Canyon and Sowats Canyon across the arid plateau terrain.

A flat style digital illustration of a layered desert rock formation in a canyon landscape, surrounded by desert shrubs and small trees under a blue sky with soft white clouds.

Arizona's largest tributary canyon system on the north side of the Grand Canyon, cut deep into the Kanab and Kaibab Plateaus.

Kanab Creek Wilderness

Kanab Creek Wilderness is a 75,300-acre protected wilderness area in northern Arizona, straddling the Coconino and Mohave County line within and adjacent to the Kaibab National Forest. It protects one of the most extensive tributary canyon systems feeding into the Colorado River on the north side of the Grand Canyon. The wilderness is defined by Kanab Creek and its network of feeder gorges, which have sliced vertical-walled canyons deep into the Kanab and Kaibab Plateaus. Elevations range from roughly 2,000 feet at the river to about 6,000 feet on the rim, creating layered desert-to-plateau habitats within a single protected area. Beyond its dramatic canyon scenery, the area is notable for prehistoric human occupation dating back to around AD 1100 and for some of the most significant rock art in the American Southwest. The wilderness is jointly administered by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and partially overlaps the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, designated in 2023.

Location
United States of America
Park type
Wildlife reserve
Established
1984
Area
305 km²
Highest point
1,829 m
Kanab Creek Wilderness Geography
Location overview

Recorded country and regional administrative memberships

Geographic Overview of Kanab Creek Wilderness in Arizona

Kanab Creek Wilderness is situated within the United States of America and the state of Arizona. Administrative records document its regional positioning and high-level geographic status.
Countries
United States of America
Regions
Arizona
Primary location
Arizona
Geographic setting
Inland
Boundary and coordinates

Interactive boundary geometry and calculated area metrics

Kanab Creek Wilderness Boundary Map and Geographic Extent

Mapped geographic outlines provide spatial context for the protected landscape and its regional limits. Derived dimensional metrics detail recorded land area, perimeter estimates, coordinate spans, and geographic centre points.
Pigeon | © OpenStreetMap contributors
Boundary area
277 km²
Boundary perimeter
280.4 km
Northernmost point
36.7249° N
Southernmost point
36.4497° N
Easternmost point
112.378° W
Westernmost point
112.7382° W
Geographic centre
36.5533° N, 112.5711° W
North–south span
30.5 km
East–west span
32.2 km
Kanab Creek Wilderness
Elevation and terrain

Upland topography with recorded canyons, springs, and geological formations

Kanab Creek Wilderness Terrain and Elevation Range

The protected area spans an elevation range from 610 meters to a highest point of 1829 meters above sea level. Detailed feature cards document named streams, valleys, and springs located within the wilderness boundaries.
Minimum elevation
610 m
Maximum elevation
1,829 m
Highest point
1,829 m

Selected named natural features

Valleys

Lawson Canyon

Streams

Jensen Canyon

Valleys

Indian Hollow

Reservoirs

Bone Hollow Tank

1,952 m

Rock formations

Table Rock

1,676 m

Natural springs

Pigeon Spring

Environmental setting

Arid climate zones, upland relief, and sparse forest cover settings

Kanab Creek Wilderness Environmental Classifications and Physical Settings

Recorded landscape features, habitat types, and climate zones function as complementary ways to interpret the physical setting of Kanab Creek Wilderness. Stored categories link directly to relevant atlas destinations to contextualize local canyon and plateau formations.
Relief
Upland
Climate
Arid
Water
Minor water
Forest cover
Sparse forest

Landscape features

Canyon · Cliffs · Rivers · Plateau

Habitat types

Shrubland · Riverine habitat · Coastal habitat

Park atlas

Compare regional protected areas and connected canyon terrain across northern Arizona

Explore Other Parks Near Kanab Creek Wilderness and Surrounding Protected Landscapes

Browse nearby national parks and protected areas sharing the rugged geological context of the Colorado Plateau. Compare surrounding canyon systems and federal wilderness lands to expand regional geographic discovery.
National parkArizona
Park boundaries overlap#1 closest

Southeast

Grand Canyon National Park: Arizona National Park Protected Landscape & Geography

Explore mapped boundaries and regional atlas context.

Grand Canyon National Park stands as a premier national park, showcasing a unique protected landscape within Arizona's diverse geography. This detailed entry focuses on the park's specific geographic identity, its mapped boundaries, and its significance within the regional atlas. Discover the contours of this protected area and its place in the natural terrain of the American Southwest.

Area
4,926.08 km²
Established
1919
IUCN
II
Visitors
4.9M annual
A horizontal watercolor illustration showing a calm lake in the foreground, surrounded by grassy banks, evergreen trees, and rolling mountains in the distance under a pale sky.
Protected landscapeArizona
Park boundaries overlap#2 closest

Southeast

Kaibab National Forest: Protected Plateau Landscapes and Forested Geography in Arizona

High-elevation forest terrain bordering the Grand Canyon

Spanning over 1.6 million acres in Arizona, Kaibab National Forest is characterized by its split geographic configuration, with distinct sections flanking the North and South rims of the Grand Canyon. The terrain ranges from the high-altitude Kaibab Plateau to volcanic uplands near Williams, encompassing four designated wilderness areas and varied forest ecosystems that provide a critical buffer for the surrounding canyon country.

Area
6,500 km²
Established
1909
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Temperate
Watercolor painting of a forested landscape featuring pine trees and distant rolling mountains on a white background.
Wildlife reserveArizona
36 km away#3 closest

West

Mount Trumbull Wilderness: A Detailed Geographic Overview of Northern Arizona Volcanic Protected Lands

Mapping basalt mesas and cinder cone ecosystems on the Uinkaret Plateau

Mount Trumbull Wilderness represents a distinct volcanic protected area located on the Uinkaret Plateau of the Arizona Strip. This rugged wilderness encompasses a massive basalt-capped mesa, scattered cinder cones, and deep ecological gradients ranging from pinyon-juniper woodlands to ancient ponderosa forests, providing a vivid look at the complex geological history near the Colorado River.

Area
31 km²
Established
1984
IUCN
Ib
Relief
Mountain
National parkUtah
56 km away#4 closest

Northwest

Zion National Park National Park: Detailed Mapped Geography and Protected Landscape Identity

Explore the mapped terrain and regional context of this Utah national park.

Zion National Park represents a key protected area within Utah, ideal for detailed geographic exploration. This canonical page offers insights into the park's specific mapped boundaries, its inherent landscape character, and its regional geographic setting. It is designed for users seeking to understand the atlas-level significance of Zion National Park as a national park entity, focusing on its protected terrain and natural geography.

Area
593.26 km²
Established
1919
IUCN
II
Visitors
4.9M annual
A horizontal watercolor painting showing a soft-focus landscape with a pale river winding through desert terrain under a hazy sky, with stylized cacti in the foreground.
Protected landscapeUnited States of America
65 km away#5 closest

Northeast

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Protected Landscape and High Desert Geography Map

Colorado Plateau canyons, sandstone strata, and reservoir environments

Explore the geological architecture of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, a vast federal protected landscape. The area showcases towering Navajo Sandstone cliffs, deep blue reservoir arms, and remote backcountry canyons that exemplify the distinct high desert terrain of the Colorado Plateau in the United States.

Area
5,075.23 km²
Established
1972
Visitors
5.2M annual
Relief
Upland
National parkUtah
81 km away#6 closest

North

Bryce Canyon National Park: Utah's Mapped Protected Landscape and Geographic Context

Explore the unique geology and protected boundaries of Bryce Canyon National Park.

Bryce Canyon National Park offers a distinct protected landscape within the geography of Utah, characterized by its unique geological formations. This entry provides essential context for understanding its mapped boundaries and natural terrain, serving as a vital component for atlas-based discovery of protected areas. Investigate the specific geographic setting and conservation significance of this iconic national park.

Area
145.02 km²
Established
1928
IUCN
II
Visitors
2.5M annual
Wildlife reserveWashington County
About 96 km away#7 closest

Northwest

LaVerkin Creek Wilderness: Mapping Protected Landscapes in Southwestern Utah

Wildlife reserve and watershed protection in Washington County

This protected area unit serves as a critical buffer for the upper LaVerkin Creek corridor. Its terrain spans the transition from high-elevation forested plateaus to deeply carved sedimentary canyons. By maintaining an unroaded status, the wilderness preserves essential riparian habitats and geological features that define the character of the surrounding southwestern Utah plateau region.

Area
1.8 km²
Established
2009
IUCN
Ib
Relief
Highland
A watercolor painting showing a soft-toned landscape with a winding river in the foreground, a forested middle ground, and rolling mountains in the distance.
Protected landscapeUnited States of America
106 km away#8 closest

West

Lake Mead National Recreation Area: Desert Reservoir and Protected Landscape Atlas

United States protected geography and reservoir terrain

Spanning the lower Colorado River, Lake Mead National Recreation Area represents a unique convergence of desert ecosystems and large-scale water management. Its geography includes extensive reservoir shorelines, deep canyon corridors, and volcanic basin terrain that provide a foundational look at the arid environments of the American Southwest. The area remains a significant study of how engineered water features alter and interact with complex desert landscapes.

Area
6,053.31 km²
Established
1936
IUCN
V
Visitors
6.4M annual
MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Exploring the Protected Landscapes of Kanab Creek Wilderness

Deepen your understanding of northern Arizona by analyzing the mapped boundaries and natural terrain of Kanab Creek Wilderness. This MoriAtlas destination reveals the complex geological architecture and regional significance of one of the largest protected canyon systems in the Grand Canyon watershed.

Global natural geography