Kofa NWR

Twenty five miles east of Yuma along I-8, Wellton is a small desert town centered a short distance north of the interstate, accessed from exit 30. The flat land further north is irrigated and agricultural, bordered by the Gila River, but to the south stretches the most hostile and least visited desert region in Arizona, most contained within Barry M Goldwater Air Force Range. The infamous El Camino Real has a western terminus just outside Wellton; this rough dirt road crosses the desert for 120 miles, eventually rejoining a paved route at the edge of the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge near Ajo. Wellton is also close to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, the Palm Canyon entrance being 70 miles away along US 95.

A gas station and two restaurants are located at the interstate exit, and one hotel; the next chain lodging to the east is in Gila Bend, 87 miles away.


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