Franconia Wash

Franconia Wash backcountry road is located on the north side of the Mohave Mountain Range, which separates Lake Havasu City from the desert to the north. As the crow flies, this trail ends less than 10 miles from the outskirts of Lake Havasu City and offers much different scenery than the south-facing side of the mountains. The north side of this mountain range has lush green grass plus a large variety of plants, offering seasonal blooms in late winter and early spring. Along this drive, you pass through numerous gold mining claims and see old cabin sites, a game water collection structure, an old car, and a wood-framed water windmill structure. Some of these highlights require a quarter-mile hike over hilly terrain with prickly bushes and cacti all along the way. On a clear day, you can see Yucca and the surrounding area up to the power plant off Griffith Road and a little bit of Golden Valley.