Needles is one of the oldest living communities on the Colorado River. Mojave Indians lived in the valley long before the white settlers arrived in 1883. The new settlement was named "The Needles," taken from the sharp peaks at the southern end of the valley.
The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1941, is a large reserve including the Havasu wilderness and the Topock Marsh. The primary wildlife are endangered Yuma clapper rail, desert bighorn sheep, a variety of marsh birds, neotropical birds and a variety of reptiles.
Wildlife observation and study, photography, boating, hunting, fishing, and hiking are available.
Address: Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, 317 Mesquite Avenue, Needles, CA 92363-2045, United States
Phone: 1 (760) 326-3853, Fax: 1 (760) 326-5745
The Topock Gorge is on the California and Arizona border near Needles. In 1858, explorer Joseph Christmas Ives encountered Mojave Indian Chief Cairook in Topock Gorge. Ives was understandably apprehensive about the Mohave's intentions, and his diary records in detail his first impressions of Cairook and his wife.
Topock Gorge features isolated coves and beaches - great spots for picnicking, photography or napping. Topock Gorge is a wilderness area, with abundant species of birds (many of them quite rare).
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