Kofa

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Welcome to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge The Kofa Mountains rise abruptly from the plains of the Sonoran Desert, reaching a height of 4,877 feet atop Signal Peak. Desert bighorn sheep skillfully navigate the rugged mountains while turkey vultures search for carrion as they soar overhead. Below in King Valley, endangered Sonoran pronghorn forage and venomous rattlesnakes bask in the sun. The 666,641 acre refuge was established in 1939 for the conservation of desert bighorn sheep and other native wildlife. More than 80 percent of Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is protected under the Wilderness Act. This wilderness designation recognizes the relatively undeveloped nature of the land and provides outstanding opportunities for recreational activities. Desert Ecosystem The climate of the Sonoran Desert is characterized by hot summers, mild winters and low annual rainfall (4-8 inches). Cacti are able to store large quantities of water in their leaves, stems and roots, and thrive under these harsh conditions. Towering saguaros reach up to 50 feet high while prickly pear, cholla and hedgehog cacti grow closer to the ground. Camping and Historic Cabins Visitors are welcome to camp on the refuge for a maximum of 14 days in any 12-month period. Campfires are permitted, though only dead, down and detached wood from non-wilderness areas may be used. As wood is scarce, it is suggested that visitors bring their own supply. Things to Do at the Refuge Spend the night in Kofa Cabin or Hoodoo Cabin, historic cabins built by the CCC and a cattle company. They are available on a first come, first serve basis and no fee is required. Visitors are welcome to explore Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Drive across McPherson Pass in the Castle Dome Mountains and enjoy expansive views of the desert landscape. Sit quietly at Horse Tanks and look for jackrabbits, Gambel’s quail and other wildlife. Hike up to Big Eye Cabin and view historic mining structures. Please stop at the visitor center, located approximately 50 miles southwest of the refuge in Yuma, for brochures and information about seasonal interpretive programs. The staff and volunteers can also offer assistance in planning your trip to the refuge. Exhibits Exhibits in the visitor center in Yuma feature the biological diversity and cultural history of Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Outside the building, enjoy the pollinator garden and learn to identify native plants. Hiking Palm Canyon Trail is a half-mile National Recreation Trail located at the end of Palm Canyon Road. The rocky, steep trail leads to a viewpoint where California fan palms, the only native palm species in Arizona, can be observed. For More Information Contact Refuge Manager Kofa National Wildlife Refuge 9300 East 28th Street Yuma, AZ 85365 928/783-7861 928/783-8611 FAX www.fws.gov/refuge/kofa/ Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. As rain is infrequent, most animals have adapted to survive with little water. Many species, such as the desert tortoise, obtain needed moisture from plants and like many desert animals, have adaptations that help them to conserve water. Some animals, including kit foxes and kangaroo rats, remain in cool burrows during the day to prevent water loss. August 2017 While Palm Canyon Trail is the only designated trail on Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, visitors are welcome to hike anywhere on the refuge so long as hikers do not enter mines or any posted closed area. All vehicles must remain within 100 feet of designated roads. Hunting Kofa National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting for bighorn sheep, mule deer, cottontail rabbit, quail, fox, and coyote. Hunters are required to have the proper licenses and permits. Rock Collecting Visitors are permitted to collect up to 10 specimens or 10 pounds (whichever occurs first) of quartz and other rocks in the designated Crystal Hill area in a 12-month period. The collection of rocks and minerals is prohibited on the rest of Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy Your Visit 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, except on federal holidays. Photographs from left to right, View from Slumgullion Pass Sonoran Pronghorn. / © John Kulberg Skull Rock in Kofa Queen Canyon. Kofa Cabin. Desert Bighorn Sheep All Photographs unless noted / USFWS Mile 76 Hidden Valley Tank Palm &T Bandy Tank M 56 24 Blue Rock Tank TA IN 0 1 2 Dixon Spring Big Eye Mine Adams Well N S 4 Salton Tanks Burnt Wagon Tank 6 Red Tank Chain Tank X King Well 21 Yaqui Tanks North Star Mine King of Arizona Mine 65 S 8 A h Was 10 Miles Military Reservation Boundary ng 36 34 Hoodoo Well 62 47 45 8 X Frenchman Tank Charco 4 71 I-10 8 Miles Red Raven Well 48 Courthouse Mtn. Engesser Pass 45B X 14 e es an X Craven Well Red Rock Dam Ma Cholla Tank Kofa Cabin Red Rock Pass Charlie Died Tank Kofa Butte Moonshine Tank KOFA Dam Raven Tank Hoodoo N F Alamo Spring Y Scale U X Castle Rock Dam 79 00 Junction I O Wilkinson Seep Owl Head Dam KOFA Monument Holly Seep High Tank 3 12 16 8 X Military Reservation Boundary Closed Area (for Pronghorn) Wilderness Areas Hunt Unit Boundary A, B, & C Hunt Units Junction Numbers For Reference Only Moutain Outline Waters Any High-Clearance Vehicle 4-Wheel Drive Recommended Refuge Boundary ge Copper Cup Mine Thumb Butte O 76 ad Ro 45C ey Va ll 45A A K Geyser Dam X Mid Well X Wilbanks Well 63 3,624' Polaris Mountain 38 T Drill Hole Bighorn Pass N 31 High Tank 7 U De La Osa Well Squaw Tank Squaw Peak High Tank 8 O High Tank 2 Spring Jasper Spring Four Peaks Dam Charco 3 New Water X Well Rid Modesti Tank M Ketcherside Dam Castle Dome Peak 3,780' Signal Peak 4,877' ad Ro X M Red Hill Tank 25 ad Ro at Military Reservation Boundary King Road Saguaro Tank McPherson Tank E we Doc Carter Spring High Tank 6 1 X Scott Well ne Pipeli E rs 75 O Figueroa Tank Little White Tanks 60 22 MST & T Tower 2 Tunnel Mine Tunnel Spring Spring Cany n o e n e Cereus Qu Tank 7 X W A T E R MTNS L L Hanging Tank Chuckwalla Tank 53 Ca nyo n 19 Kofa d Ro a D Ladder Tank Arch Tank Horse Tanks Grey Tanks 42 Robin Tank 95 MST 77 NEW V A N e ev To Yuma 40 Miles Black Tank Hollow Rock Tank Stone Cabin Mile 85 95 LE K NS Mile 55 N Military Reservation Boundary Crystal Hill Rock Collection Area fa Twelve Mile Well Ko Crystal Hill Road Quartzsite 8 Miles Mile 92 ST A Military Reservation Boundary Bureau of Land Management CA G T N Bureau of Land Management K IN MT Military Reservation Boundary Bureau of Land Management Military Reservation Restricted Area Mile 95 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Come prepared with water, snacks, sunscreen, and clothing layers. Summer temperatures can soar above 110 degrees. Daytime winter temperatures are usually mild, but it can cool down considerably at night. Monsoon rains generally occur from early July into October. Storms may cause flash flooding, so please use caution when entering washes, narrow canyons or low-lying areas. Please be aware that most roads require a four-wheel drive vehicle. Mines and private inholdings are closed to public entry. Unexploded ordnance may be encountered on the refuge as desert military training exercises were conducted in the area during World War II. Do not pick up any military hardware, but note its location, with GPS coordinates if possible, and report it to the refuge visitor center. Please see the Public Use and Hunting Regulations leaflet for additional information about visitor activities and refuge regulations. Top, Agave in bloom. Middle, Desert Tortoise. Bottom, Thumb Butte. All photographs / USFWS