Whipple Mountains
The Whipple Mountains (Mojave: Avii Kur'utat; Chemehuevi: Wiyaatuʷa̱) 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 Junction, California.
| Whipple Mountains | |
|---|---|
This view looks east at the west flank of the Whipple Mountains in the Californian Mojave Desert. | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Whipple Peak |
| Elevation | 4,131 ft (1,259 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 20 mi (32 km) N-S |
| Width | 25 mi (40 km) E-W |
| Geography | |
location of Whipple Mountains in California | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Colorado Desert ((northwest)-Sonoran Desert) |
| District | San Bernardino County |
| Range coordinates | 34°17′53″N 114°26′18″W |
| Borders on | Colorado River-NE & SE California State Route 62-S |
| Topo map | USGS Whipple Mountains SW |
The mountain forms a major direction change of the north-south Colorado River as it changes directions to southeast, then southwest around the eastern perimeter of the Whipple Mountains. The highest point of the mountains, and the Whipple Mountains Wilderness is Whipple Mountain at 4,131 feet (1,259 m). The western portion of the mountain range has pale green formations, differing from the eastern, steeply carved and striking brick-red volcanics. Landforms are diverse and range from valley floors and washes to steep-walled canyons, domed peaks, natural bridges, and eroded spires.
The mountains were named after Amiel Weeks Whipple, a lieutenant in the US Army who surveyed the region in the 1840s, and later died in Chancellorsville in the Civil War.