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.
Access: The most well-known attraction within the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is
Palm Canyon, a narrow, sheltered ravine which is the last significant location in Arizona where palm trees grow in their natural habitat. The road to the mouth of the canyon is a 7 mile gravel track, heavily ribbed for most of its length, that takes around 30 minutes to drive, although it is fine for 2WD cars. There are many other unpaved roads that traverse the
660,000 acres of the refuge, from the Kofa Mountains in the north, across the wide King Valley in the central section to the Castle Dome Mountains towards the south. Most of these require 4WD vehicles, and detailed maps for navigation. East of the NWR lie many more miles of uninhabited valley and mountain wilderness with only limited access. This part of Arizona, between Interstates 8 and 10 is the epitome of a hostile desert environment, but one which is well worth visiting.
Activities: Photography, hiking and camping are the main leisure activities, and many days could be spent exploring the refuge. The NWR has dozens of old mines, which are interesting to visit although the unfenced shafts and unstable tunnels can be hazardous. One particularly profitable venture was the King of Arizona Mine, from which this area was named early last century; other mines are still operating, though, and some parts of the refuge are privately owned. colorful rocks and minerals may be found in many places, but collecting is officially permitted in only one location - Crystal Hill, in the far northwest corner.
Wildlife: Various wells and springs that sustain small oases of flourishing plants are found at scattered locations in the mountains, while many species of cacti are widespread across the whole area - most common are the giant saguaro, ferocacti and several types of opuntia. Wildlife, nominally the main focus of the reserve, is rather limited, as expected for this very hot, arid environment. Bighorn sheep are the largest creatures, and a herd now numbering over 1,000 has benefited from artificial enhancement of natural water sources, though they spend most time in the hills and are rarely glimpsed. Typical desert animals such as lizards and snakes are quite easily spotted.
Hotels: Nearest towns with hotels close to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge are Ehrenberg and Yuma.
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Palm Canyon - location of the California palm trees |
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