Cabeza PrietaBrochure |
Brochure of Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Arizona. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Cabeza Prieta
National Wildlife Refuge
Enjoy your refuge
Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge
(CPNWR) offers excellent opportunities
to explore one of the most biologically
diverse deserts in this country. At first the
Sonoran Desert may seem like a harsh
environment but with quiet observation,
the reward will be memories for years
to come. The information below will help
ensure visitor safety as well as preserve
the integrity of Cabeza Prieta NWR for
future generations.
Wildlife Protection
CPNWR is home to over 275 different
species of wildlife, including desert
bighorn sheep and two endangered
species, the Sonoran Desert pronghorn
and lesser long-nosed bat. Federal law
prohibits collecting or disturbing plants,
wildlife, rocks or artifacts.
Good News!
The refuge was created in 1939 in part
to help rescue desert bighorn sheep
from sharp decline due to over hunting
and poaching. Today the refuge sheep
population is doing very well. As of 2014,
the refuge has over 600 sheep.
In 2003
refuge
staff lent a
hand to the
floundering
Sonoran
desert
pronghorn
herd. Its
numbers
had
dwindled
to a mere
21 animals
when
wildlife biologists stepped in. Thanks
to many partners and helping hands
from a variety of concerned biologists,
government agencies and private entities
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was able
to save the pronghorn from extinction.
Today it is one of the most successful
“come-back” stories in wildlife history.
Visitor Permits
A current Visitor Permit is required for
each visitor 18 years old and older. Before
entering the refuge each time, visitors
must register at one of the entry kiosks to
validate their permit.
Camping
Visitors are encouraged to camp at one
of the established campgrounds on the
refuge, although dispersed camping is
allowed. The campgrounds are primitive
with no amenities other than picnic tables.
Please bring your own campfire wood and
remove any extra when done camping.
Camping is limited to 14 days in a 28-day
period. No camping within a ¼-mile of any
game water source. Vehicles must be stay
within 50 feet of the centerline of the road.
Back country campers may use dead and
down wood for fire. Back country campers
may not camp within ¼-mile of wildlife
waters.
Roads and Vehicles
Only street-legal motorcycles and
street-legal all-terrain vehicles (ATVs),
as defined by Arizona state law, are
allowed on the Cabeza Prieta National
Wildlife Refuge. See www.azgfd.gov/ohv
Motorcycles and ATVs must be fitted with
an 80 square inch high-visibility flag that
extends a minimum of eight (8) feet above
the ground surface.
All vehicles (including motorcycles and
ATVs) must stay on the public roads (see
refuge map). Vehicle travel on any other
roads, trails, or off-road is prohibited.
All public use roads are primitive,
unpaved, and minimally or unmaintained.
Non-OHV vehicles must be high clearance
and four-wheel drive to use the El Camino
del Diablo and Christmas Pass roads. Twowheel drive vehicles with high clearance
may use the Charlie Bell Road.
If a road is impassable due to flooding,
mud, deep sand or a lawful closure do not
drive off-road to circumvent such areas.
For this reason, it is best to be prepared
with enough fuel for unexpected turn
backs. Visitors should contact the refuge
visitor center for the latest travel and
safety information including sensitive
wildlife areas.
Visitors should be aware of their
surroundings and other vehicular traffic
especially law enforcement traffic which
may, in the course of duty, travel at high
speeds.
Fires and Firewood
Charcoal or propane stoves are
recommended for use on the refuge in
order to preserve the natural appearance
of the campsite. However, wood fires are
permissible by adhering to the following
rules:
• Only allowed at the designated
campsites. See refuge map.
• Visitors must bring their own wood.
Due to the scarcity of wood and valuable
wildlife habitat, the collection of firewood
or vegetation of any kind is prohibited
within the refuge with the exception of
backcountry hikers. Backcountry hikers
may use dead and down wood for campfires.
• Use established fire rings or fire grates.
Do not create new fire rings. Before leaving
camp make sure the fire is out and cold.
Hunting
The only permitted hunting on the refuge
is desert bighorn sheep. Contact the
refuge for additional information. Target
shooting or the discharge of a weapon
is strictly prohibited except for legally
licensed and permitted hunters while
actively hunting during the hunt season.
Leave No Trace
Practice an outdoor ethic to sustain a
healthy, vibrant refuge and other public
lands for all people to enjoy now and into
the future See www.LNT.org
• Plan ahead and prepare
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces
• Dispose of waste properly
If there are more than four vehicles
in your group, you must apply for a
Special Use Permit prior to entering the
refuge. The issuance of the SUP is at the
discretion of the refuge manager. Contact
the refuge for more information.
• Leave what you find
There are no services on the CPNWR; this
includes fuel, restrooms and cell service.
Unexploded Ordinance
The military used the refuge as a gunnery
and bombing range and many types of
ordinance still remain. If you encounter
ordinance leave it alone. DO NOT TOUCH
Water
There are no sources of safe drinking
water on the refuge. You must bring your
own water supply. A minimum of 2 gallons
per person per day with a 2-day reserve is
recommended.
Horseback
Pack and saddle stock are allowed under a
Special Use Permit. Contact the refuge for
more information.
• Minimize campfire impacts
• Respect wildlife
• Be considerate of other visitors
Abandoned Mines and Wells
Abandoned mines and well shafts are
unstable and dangerous and are closed to
the public. Mines provide excellent habitat
for several bat species. Both for your
safety and the wellbeing of these species
please avoid these sites.
Garbage and Waste
Pack out all garbage and waste products.
Practice “Pack it in, Pack it out.”
Individual human waste and paper should
be buried well below the soil surface and
be at least 200 feet from water sources
and camp areas. The disposal of portable
toilet contents is illegal to dump anywhere
except at approved dumping sites off the
refuge. These sites can usually be found at
R.V. or trailer parks.
Sonoran pronghorn / © Sean Knapp
Desert bighorn / © John Kulberg
BE
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Intersections will be
marked by BROWN signs
indicating intersection numbers
AGUA DULCE MOUNTAINS
0 1 2
MO
Map use as guide only- not for navigational purposes
Roads open to PUBLIC
vehicles will be marked by
GREEN road signs
Papago
Well
121
S
IN
TA
UN
Wilderness
A
e
Tul
119 120
4
6
y
Refuge Boundary
O
M
TA
PIN
721
127
1:385000
Charli
e Bell
Road
8
Ajo
Miles
720
719
718
717
716
715
CHILDS MOUNTAIN
alle
sV
Registration Kiosks
y
Public Access Equestrian/Pedestrian
RR
MO
O'NEIL HILLS
S
Access Roads
S
IN
TA
UN
o
B
118
IN
TA
UN
(Non-wilderness within 100ft of road centerline)
Mo
k
haw
117
Gro
Public Roads
MO
Mex
ic
ablo
S
IN
TA
UN
no d
el D
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ANTELOPE HILLS
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Va
Intersection
SIE
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Va
ami
Sa
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El C
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Recomended Campsite
116
S
IN
TA
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Christmas Pass Road
SIERRA
ARIDA
r
wle
TULE MOUNTAINS
114
115
G
112 113
Tule
Well
125 126
ER
111
AN
RY
Christmas
Pass
Barry M. Goldwater Range East- Air Force
ITE
110
123
124
POINT OF THE PINTAS
710
N
RA
702
Barry M. Goldwater Range West- Marine Corps
CA
Bureau of
Land Management
In case of an emergency, contact the BLM lnteragency
Dispatch at 800/637-9152. Thank you for helping to
preserve the natural resources by staying on the
public-use roads.
GR
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Organ Pipe Cactus
National Monument
MO
WK
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ild
Ch
August 2016
U.S. Marine Corps Air Station
Range Management
Department
Main Gate MCAS, P.O. Box
99160
Yuma, Arizona 85369-9160
928/269-7150
www.yuma.usmc.mil
Luke Air Force Base
Gila Bend Auxiliary Field
Security Operations Building
300
Gila Bend, Arizona 85337
928/683-6200 or
623/856-5241
www.luke.af.mil/rmo.visiting.
html
Bureau of Land Management
Phoenix Field Office
21605 North 7th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85027
623/580-5500
www.az.blm.gov
Permit-Issuing Agencies
Cabeza Prieta National
Wildlife Refuge
1611 North 2nd Avenue
Ajo, Arizona 85321
520/387-6483
www.fws.gov/refuge/cabeza_
prieta/
Treasure Hunting/Geocaching
The use of metal detectors or
the excavation or removal of
antiques or archeological and
paleontological artifacts is
prohibited. Geocaching or the
leaving of any personal property
is expressly prohibited on any
national wildlife refuge.