Kofa National Wildlife Refuge — Dispersed

Highlights

• ▶ 665,000 acres of remote volcanic mountain ranges rising 4,000 ft from the desert floor — one of the largest and most undisturbed desert wilderness areas in Arizona
• ▶ Native California fan palms grow in Palm Canyon (3-mi RT hike from a shoulder pullout on Palm Canyon Road) — the only wild palms in AZ outside the Colorado River corridor
• ▶ Desert bighorn sheep, Gambel's quail, and golden eagles throughout; exceptional dark skies in one of Arizona's emptiest desert quadrants

Planning Notes

US-95 provides paved access from Quartzsite south to designated pullouts along the refuge boundary. Dispersed camping is allowed anywhere inside the refuge except within 1/4 mile of water sources or signed closures. Best trailer access: highway shoulder pullouts along US-95 between Quartzsite and Yuma. Palm Canyon Road (7 mi south of Quartzsite on US-95 then 8 mi east on gravel) reaches Palm Canyon trailhead — passable for smaller trailers in dry conditions only. No facilities anywhere; nearest water fill is Quartzsite (35–45 mi north). From Austin: ~14.5 hrs via I-10 W.