| Picacho Park Brochure |
Our Mission
Picacho
State Recreation Area
The mission of California State Parks is
to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by helping
to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological
diversity, protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities
for high-quality outdoor recreation.
Rich in natural wonders,
the park is a winter and
springtime haven for
campers, anglers, hikers
and those who love a
desert landscape.
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park
at (760) 996-2963. This publication can be
made available in alternate formats. Contact
interp@parks.ca.gov or call (916) 654-2249.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
Discover the many states of California.™
Picacho State Recreation Area
Interpark Road at Picacho Road
33.023089, -114.609885
Winterhaven, CA 92283
(760) 996-2963 or (760) 393-3059
© 2005 California State Parks (Rev. 2013)
I
n the lower Colorado River Basin 25
miles north of Yuma, Arizona, Picacho State
Recreation Area lies along the Colorado
River on California’s southeastern border.
The park’s remote setting beckons hardy
adventurers to enjoy year-round fishing and
water sports. However, Picacho’s climate
can be extreme — ranging from a low of 20
degrees in winter to as high as 120 degrees in
summer. The best times to visit are from midOctober through April.
The Picacho adventure begins with its 24mile Picacho Road approach, which is paved
only for the first six miles. The next 18 miles,
composed of rough dirt, are usually passable
for cars and vehicles towing small trailers.
However, sudden flash floods sparked
by summer showers have been known to
temporarily flood parts of this road. As would
be the case with any desert location, visitors
are reminded to carry extra water, fuel and
other essential supplies.
PARK HISTORY
For thousands of years, the Quechan and
other native people of the Great Basin
culture lived along this part of the Colorado
River — the western fringe of the much larger
Southwest Indian culture area. Picacho
Peak was important in Quechan myth and
legend, much of which was passed from
generation to generation in narrative song
cycles. The people crossed the river on logs,
rafts, and in shallow clay vessels, traveling
as far as the coast and the southern end of
the San Joaquin Valley to trade with other
groups. Though they hunted and gathered
as other native people did, they were also
sophisticated agriculturists who cultivated
wild plants, set controlled fires to replenish
the land, and planted corn, beans, squashes
and other crops to supplement their diet.
Today the federally recognized
Quechan — one of California’s largest inland
native groups — consist of about 3,000
people, many of whom still speak their
native language.
In 1540 Spanish soldiers, under command
of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, traveled
as far west as the Colorado River Basin. Other
early contacts by the Spanish were more or
less friendly, but a later attempt to establish
a mission and settlement at Yuma in 1781
met with failure when the Indians rose up
and destroyed the mission, killing all of
the Spaniards.
Over the years, some people had
successfully mined nuggets out of the
desert sands. However, around 1862 José
Maria Mendivil — a young prospector from
Sonora, Mexico — discovered gold in the hard
rock surrounding Picacho Peak. By 1890 a
successful, large-scale gold mining operation
was booming, and Picacho became a mining
Gold mining stamp mill
town. At the turn of the 20th century, steampowered paddlewheel boats traveling the
lower Colorado River delivered mining
supplies and passengers to Picacho.
Visitors can hike to the ruins of the mine
and mill sites from the trailhead near the
Lower Dock day-use area.
NATURAL HISTORY
Vegetation
The seemingly empty landscape actually
teems with vitality and growth, forming
habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. Even in
the most barren places, plants take root and
thrive in their own specialized ways.
In the spring, the rugged mountains
and washes of the Colorado Desert come
alive with acres of wildflowers, blossoming
beavertail cactus and ocotillo.
Marsh tule and carrizo cane line the
numerous backwater lakes near the river, and
the oasis-like flats are invaded by non-native
tamarisk trees. Desert ironwood, palo verde,
cottonwoods, willows and mesquite are
among the area’s native plants.
five smaller campgrounds with no available
drinking water.
Wildlife
The Sonoran Desert abounds with wildlife.
Bald and golden eagles soar above, while the
handsome, ground-dwelling Gambel’s quail
sings its entire repertoire. Swallows, great
blue herons, snowy egrets, gila woodpeckers,
phainopeplas, greater roadrunners and
white-winged doves flock in large numbers.
Thousands of migratory waterfowl — ducks,
geese, ibis and cormorants — appear in spring
and fall.
The park is also home to desert bighorn
sheep, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, mountain
lions, southern mule deer, antelope
ground squirrels and feral burros. Near the
river, muskrats and beavers can be seen;
throughout the park, visitors find a variety of
lizards, snakes and amphibians. Mosquitoes
are active from March through October. Wear
protective clothing and use repellant.
Canoeing and Kayaking — Autumn and early
spring are best for a peaceful float down this
scenic stretch of the Colorado River.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Camping — The main campground, located
in the eastern section of the park, has 54
primitive campsites, a group campground,
and two boat-in group sites. The sites have
picnic tables and fire rings with
drinking water and chemical
toilets located nearby, and
a solar shower. Upriver are
Greater roadrunner
Fishing — Black bass, channel and flathead
catfish, striped bass and bluegill are the fish
most commonly taken from the river here.
Boating — Shallow draft powerboats, canoes
and kayaks carefully navigate the Colorado
River’s shifting sandbars. Waterskiing and
swimming are popular summer activities.
Exploring (4WD and Hiking) — The area’s
complex geology invites exploration of such
sights as the plug dome volcanic outcropping
at Picacho Peak — formed when viscous lava
hardened over and around a volcanic vent .
Many other land features tell the story of both
ancient and fairly recent volcanic activity.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles must be legal for
highway use in California, and all drivers
must be licensed.
ACCESSIBLE FEATURES
• Three campsites at the main campground
are accessible; some other sites with large,
flat firm pads are usable.
• Four vault toilets and path of travel (in
dry weather) are accessible from nearby
designated campsites; there is currently no
accessible shower in this campground.
• Accessible picnic sites (some shaded) and
chemical restrooms are at the Upper Dock;
vault restrooms at the Lower Dock launch;
• Vault restrooms and one campsite at Taylor
Lake and two vault restrooms at Carrizo
Boat-in Camp are accessible.
Accessibility is continually improving.
For current accessibility updates, visit
http://access.parks.ca.gov.
nearby State Park
• Salton Sea SRA, 100-225 State Park Road
North Shore, CA 92254 (760) 393-3059
PLEASE REMEMBER
• Summer temperatures can reach 120
degrees; know your physical limits in this
rugged terrain.
• Keep your gas tank full; carry a spare
tire. Stock your vehicle with extra water, a
shovel, tools and blankets.
• If your vehicle breaks down, STAY WITH IT.
A vehicle is easier to find than a wandering
person.
• Each campsite accommodates up to
8 people and 3 licensed vehicles.
Reservations are not necessary, but please
self-register for your selected site within 15
minutes of your arrival.
• Vehicles must be California street-legal.
Off-highway vehicles are not allowed in
the park. All vehicles must remain on
designated roads.
• Do not gather wood for fires; decayed
vegetation enriches the desert soils.
• Loud noise and music are prohibited.
• Dogs must be kept on a leash no longer
than six feet and confined to your tent or
vehicle at night.
50
’
50
0’
0’
900
0’
700’
700
30
’
10
TRIGO MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS
500’
700’
00
800’
’
50
30 W
0’
ILDLIFE
o
lor
ad
sh
Wa
AREA
400’
IMPERIAL
0’
REFUGE
’
0’
70
0
Boat Launch
AZ
Campfire Center
Campground
Island
Lake
’
’
Hand Boat Launch
(B L M)
d
Red Rock
Canyon
Falls
0’
ar
’
’
50
0’
© 2005 California State Parks (Rev. 2013)
Map by Eureka Cartography, Berkeley, CA
500’
to Winterhaven
see
detail
map
above
30
0’
River
Overlook
Railroad
Canyon
Parking
Picnic Area
Picacho
Mill Sites
Ranger Station
CA
cus
Mar h
Was
Be
Boat-In Group
Campground
P
oR
MANAGEMENT
400
500
Boat-In Campground
400’
Stewarts
Lake
B U R E AU O F L A N D
Canyon
Accessible Feature
Group Campground
30
Pi ca c h
0’
50
0’
40
Trail
200’
’
300
Bear Canyon
Falls
1 Mile
N AT I O N A L
300
500’
WILDERNESS
4WD Dirt road
500’
0’
1.5 Kilometers
WILDLIFE
300
50
0’
80
Ri
Taylor Lake Camp
0’
50
Unpaved road
d
’
400
0’
Military
400’
30
40
0’
50
0’
’
S TAT E R E C R E AT I O N
PICACHO
PEAK
0’
0.75
1.0
ke
20
50
Taylor Lake
Overlook
Be
0’
60
La
30
2 W D n ot
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0.5
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PICACHO
Carrizo
Falls
’
Paddlewheeler
Boat-in Camp
300
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0.25
0
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Ta
rr
Ca
2 WD
recommnot
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Picacho
400’
300’
0’
BLM Wilderness Area
to
Railroad
Canyon
Park
Entrance
State Recreation Area
500
ar
Bl Can
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50
BLM Land
to Taylor Lake
0
20
0’
AREA
Co
30
0’
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Rd
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La
CAMPGROUND
8
Nortons Landing (site)
Nortons
200’
Lake
R
iv
er
rec
a
Pa
vi l
Adob e
Carrizo
Boat-in
Camp
0’
Ga
an
40
to
Ogilby Rd
di
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’
Wildlife Refuge
REFUGE
200’
In
n
as
W
do
N AT I O N A L
300’
2W
om D
m no
en t
IMPERIAL
300
State Park
0’
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Mexicali
Yuma
mp Mill Trail
Legend
Cemetery
Winterhaven
USA
MEX
S ta
30
C
d
Ogilby
Rd
0’
Z
200’
A
20
Hoge Ranch
(site)
30 Kilometers
8
111
98
300’
20
Park
Office
’
o
10
AZ
CA
Picacho
Peak
20 Miles
P
1-54
’
ad
I N D I A N PA S S W I L D E R N E S S
R
de
0
El Centro
4 S iv
Beach er
300’
10
Camp Host
Group Canoe
Camp #1
800
lor
86
Imperial
NWR
Picacho SRA
Brawley
0
P
Cibola
NWR
0.15 Km
900
Sonny Bono
Salton Sea
NWR
l
0.10 Mi
0
0’
0’
Co
The Outpost
111
78
Group Canoe
Camp #2
0
30
30
Salton
Sea
78
Chocolate
Mountain
Aerial
Gunnery
Range
Niland
300’
Co
P
0’
0’
S te w ar t L a k e T
rai
30
30
0’
0’
40
20
Palo Verde
to
Salton Sea
SRA
P
ve r
Ripley
River
Colorado
Lower Dock
Upper Dock
10
ra
0’
Blythe
10
lo
0’
30
Desert
Center
P i c ac h o
Rd
0’
40
Joshua
Tree NP
LITTLE PICACHO
400’ W I L D E R N E S S
Restrooms
RV Sanitation Station
Solar Showers
Viewpoint
Waterfall (dry)