Day 4: Kofa National Wildlife Refuge & Trip's End
For 57 miles, US 95 cuts through the desert of Southwest
Arizona - quite flat, perfectly straight and aligned exactly north-south, and
interrupted only by the small town of Quartzsite. In the mild seasons of winter
and early spring, much traffic uses the road, bringing sun seekers from all
over the US to Yuma and on into Mexico, but few travel to this region in
summer, when temperatures of over 120°F are not uncommon. Rain falls on only a
few occasions each year - the summer thunderstorms that affect the higher areas
of Arizona rarely extend this far. South of Interstate 10, US 95 is bordered by
the Yuma Proving Ground to the west and the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to
the east - a protected area 25 x 40 miles in extent with no paved roads or
facilities of any kind. The refuge is an excellent place for viewing desert
plants and wildlife, rock climbing, exploring old mines, or just camping in
remote wilderness.
Morning along Palm Canyon Road.
Signal Peak in the distance.
It was really cold out!
Our campsite.
This graded dirt road provides access to Palm Canyon, from
where a short hike leads to views over what is possibly the only community of
native palms in Arizona. The trail itself is suitable for passenger vehicles.
This area has sweeping views west over the La Posa Plain to the Trigo Mountains
and Chocolate Mountains and is especially lovely at sunset. The California palm
fans, from which the canyon derives its name, are thought to be remnants from
an era when Arizona was a lot cooler and wetter than it currently is. The
cooler air within the canyon, lack of direct sunlight, and slightly moist
conditions have allowed the trees to survive. The hiking trail to view the
palms is a rough but well defined path that climbs up into the canyon for half
a mile to a viewing point.
Start of the hiking trail.
California Palm Fans.
Looking back down the canyon.
Now on our way to Kofa Queen Canyon.
This spur trail is one of the few within the Kofa NWR that
travels up one of the high walled red canyons that penetrate into the rugged
Kofa Range. After leading off from Palm Canyon Road, the trail is smooth and
easy going for the first 4 miles. At 4.3 miles is a large flat area good for
camping. At the mouth of the canyon the trail drops into a gravelly wash and remains
in it until the end of the route. Big horn sheep like the habitat within the
canyon and can often be seen in the early morning and evening high up on the
canyon walls. The wash is generally loose and gravelly, with only a few rough
boulders to contend with. The last mile, however, is quite brushy, and most
vehicles will collect a few scratches.
Aptly named Skull Rock.
End of the line.
On our way back out.
By the time we had finished up here it was already 11AM. I
had to work that night so we had to skip the trail through the Castle Dome
Mountains. I'll save that for another day. After airing up and parting ways
with Steve and Shellie, I hit the road and made it home around 3:30PM. It was a
great trip and I look forward to exploring more of this area.
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