Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Welcome to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge As rain is infrequent, most animals have adapted to survive with Camping and Historic Cabins The Kofa Mountains rise abruptly from the plains of the Sonoran little water. Many species, such as the desert tortoise, obtain Visitors are welcome to camp on the refuge for a maximum of Desert, reaching a height of 4,877 feet atop Signal Peak. Desert needed moisture from plants and like many desert animals, have 14 days in any 12-month period. Campfires are permitted, though bighorn sheep skillfully navigate the rugged mountains while adaptations that help them to conserve water. Some animals, only dead, down and detached wood from non-wilderness areas may turkey vultures search for carrion as they soar overhead. Below in including kit foxes and kangaroo rats, remain in cool burrows be used. As wood is scarce, it is suggested that visitors bring their King Valley, endangered Sonoran pronghorn forage and venomous during the day to prevent water loss. own supply. rattlesnakes bask in the sun. Things to Do at the Refuge Spend the night in Kofa Cabin or Hoodoo Cabin, historic cabins built The 666,641 acre refuge was established in 1939 for the Visitors are welcome to explore Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. by the CCC and a cattle company. They are available on a first come, conservation of desert bighorn sheep and other native wildlife. Drive across McPherson Pass in the Castle Dome Mountains and first serve basis and no fee is required. More than 80 percent of Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is protected enjoy expansive views of the desert landscape. Sit quietly at Horse under the Wilderness Act. This wilderness designation recognizes Tanks and look for jackrabbits, Gambel’s quail and other wildlife. Hunting the relatively undeveloped nature of the land and provides Hike up to Big Eye Cabin and view historic mining structures. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting for bighorn sheep, outstanding opportunities for recreational activities. mule deer, cottontail rabbit, quail, fox, and coyote. Hunters are Please stop at the visitor center, located approximately 50 miles required to have the proper licenses and permits. Desert Ecosystem southwest of the refuge in Yuma, for brochures and information about The climate of the Sonoran Desert is characterized by hot seasonal interpretive programs. The staff and volunteers can also Rock Collecting summers, mild winters and low annual rainfall (4-8 inches). Cacti offer assistance in planning your trip to the refuge. Visitors are permitted to collect up to 10 specimens or 10 pounds are able to store large quantities of water in their leaves, stems and (whichever occurs first) of quartz and other rocks in the designated Exhibits roots, and thrive under these harsh conditions. Towering saguaros Crystal Hill area in a 12-month period. The collection of rocks and Exhibits in the visitor center in Yuma feature the biological reach up to 50 feet high while prickly pear, cholla and hedgehog minerals is prohibited on the rest of Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. diversity and cultural history of Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. cacti grow closer to the ground. Outside the building, enjoy the pollinator garden and learn to Enjoy Your Visit identify native plants. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is open 24/7 including holidays. The visitor center is open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Hiking For More Information Contact except on federal holidays. Refuge Manager Palm Canyon Trail is a half-mile National Recreation Trail located Kofa National Wildlife Refuge at the end of Palm Canyon Road. The rocky, steep trail leads to a 9300 East 28th Street viewpoint where California fan palms, the only native palm species Yuma, AZ 85365 in Arizona, can be observed. 928/783-7861 While Palm Canyon Trail is the only designated trail on Kofa 928/783-8611 FAX National Wildlife Refuge, visitors are welcome to hike anywhere on Skull Rock in Kofa Queen Canyon. Photographs from left to right, Kofa Cabin. www.fws.gov/refuge/kofa/ the refuge so long as hikers do not enter mines or any posted closed View from Slumgullion Pass Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Desert Bighorn Sheep August 2017 area. All vehicles must remain within 100 feet of designated roads. Sonoran Pronghorn. / © John Kulberg All Photographs unless noted / USFWS U.S. Fish &WildlifeService U.S. Crystal Hill Crystal Hill Rock Mile Collection Area N E W W A T E R MTNS Twelve 95 Mile Well I-10 8 Miles X 2 Pipeline Road 16 Quartzsite 8 Miles 77 New Water 71 7 Charco 3 Well X 95 Scott X Well Kofa Cabin Mile MST & T 14 MST & T 12 92 Tower Charco 4 Road 1 25 Road Four Peaks High Tank Dam 3 Cholla 22 Tank Red Hill Jasper Spring Tank Owl Head Military Reservation Boundary X Craven Well N 24 Holly Dam M OHigh U Tank N T A I N SeepS Wilkinson Manganese 2 Spring Seep High KOFA Drill Monument Tank Kofa Bureau of Hole 6 K O F A Alamo Red Rock Dam Spring Land Management High Tunnel Mine Geyser Red Rock Tunnel Tank Dam Pass Mile Spring Canyon Spring 7 Kofa Queen Cereus 85 Tank X De La Osa 19 Road Palm High Well Canyon Tank 8 Bighorn Road Pass Raven Tank 34 Hoodoo Wash Signal Squaw Peak 38 31 Peak X King Well 4,877' X Hoodoo Well X X Mid Well Red Raven Squaw Tank X Well Wilbanks 36 Well Yaqui Tanks 95 3,624' Bureau of Land Management Polaris Mountain North Star Mine KOFA Dam 45B Moonshine Tank Stone 65 Cabin Hidden Valley Mile Tank 47 C A S T L E 63 Kofa Butte 76 21 K I N G 45A King of Arizona Charlie Died 48 42 Mine Tank Engesser 60 King Pass Hollow Rock Horse Tanks Tank Valley 62 Grey Tanks Arch Tank Courthouse Mtn. Road T A N K Bandy 76 Black Tank Tank 00 Junction Military Reservation Boundary Robin Tank Military Reservation Restricted Area 79 56 53 V A L L E Y D O M E Little Frenchman White 45C Tank Chuckwalla Tank Tanks M T N S Figueroa Tank McPherson Tank Hanging Tank Military Reservation Boundary Saguaro Tank Ladder Castle Dome Tank Peak 3,780' Neversweat Bureau of 8 M O U N T A I N S Ridge Ketcherside Castle Rock Land Management Dam Dam Blue Rock X 75 Tank Adams Well Big Eye Mine Chain Tank Military Reservation Boundary Red Tank Refuge Boundary Doc Carter Spring Thumb 4-Wheel Drive Recommended Butte Any High-Clearance Vehicle Dixon Spring Burnt Wagon Modesti Tank X Waters Tank Mile Moutain Outline 55 Junction Numbers Copper Cup 8 For Reference Only To Yuma 40 Miles Mine 45 A, B, & C Hunt Units Salton Tanks Hunt Unit Boundary Military Reservation Boundary Wilderness Areas Military Reservation Boundary 210 4 6 8 10 Miles Closed Area (for Pronghorn) Scale and refugeregulations. about visitoractivities additional information Regulations Use andHunting Please seethe refuge visitorcenter. and reportittothe coordinates ifpossible, its location,withGPS hardware, butnote not pickupanymilitary II.Do War during World conducted inthearea training exerciseswere refuge asdesertmilitary encountered onthe ordnance maybe Unexploded public entry. holdings areclosedto Mines andprivatein- four-wheel drivevehicle. most roadsrequirea Please beawarethat areas. canyons orlow-lying entering washes,narrow please usecautionwhen cause flashflooding,so Storms may into October. occur fromearlyJuly Monsoon rainsgenerally considerably atnight. mild, butitcancooldown temperatures areusually degrees. Daytimewinter can soarabove110 Summer temperatures and clothinglayers. snacks,sunscreen, water, Come preparedwith leaflet for Public Public All photographs/USFWS Bottom, ThumbButte. Middle, DesertTortoise. Agaveinbloom. Top,.