Kofa NWR jaunt

[jsm335]

Hello!

Does anybody have any tips about a great place to camp/backpack in the Kofas? We'll be there in about a week for about a day and a half. We want to check out Palm Canyon, but we can go elsewhere if needed, we can pack everything in, or would be willing to car camp if it's fantastic. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Jeff

[Jim]

I was at Palm Canyon in early January of 2007. It was nice, but I remember the area being pretty desolate otherwise. From the traildex I think there are some trails in a range south of the Palm Canyon, and there may be some opportunities for some back country camping in that range. Check the KOFA website, too.

[lcozzetti]

Palm Canyon is fun to see but if you try going up the main canyon, you'll want a rope for the last section. I've car camped there twice (didn't want to backpack in all my water since it's a dry range). I drove in on the road north of palm canyon, through a wash. Camped in the middle of the wash as there was no one else around. Day hiked to Signal Peak and both times ran into a herd of bighorn sheep.

[jsm335]

Thanks for the info! Might car camp, although we don't mind packing water for 1 night. Desolate, sounds good to me.

I'd appreciate any more info in anyone has it.

Thanks!

[satillayakker]

I think Palm Canyon would be a good place to camp. I hiked it, but never camped it. If I remember correctly, there are a few places with plenty of room for tent and camp equip. Also, It is not a very long hike, so if need be, it would not be a bad thing to hike back down to your car for water, etc. Also, from the campable areas, you can see everything all the way down to the parking lot. Here is one thing to look for if you camp Palm Canyon. People visit it often. In the hottest months, not so much, but otherwise it is visited alot, especially weekends. It may be desolate, and it is, but it is not too far from several large snowbird parks. (Nothing wrong with snowbirding, just stating the fact.) You have Quartzsite, Squaw Lake, Lake Martinez, and Yuma Proving Ground not too far, and all have a large number of people come in in the cooler months. All that said though, if you go to Palm Canyon, you won't leave dissappointed. The area is awesome.

[nonot]

FYI you are replying to a post that's 3 years old.

[azbackpackr]

Nice topic, though! My friends in Yuma Foothills bike club report a lot of snowbirds still showing up for rides, but it is getting HOT now--it has hit 100 there already. All those Canadians are going to go scuttling back to BC in their big RVs.

[PaleoRob]

Reviving the dead! We are looking to do New Years at the Kofa NWR. I've read the rules camping wise, but I am wondering about dogs. It says dogs must be "confined", which implies they must be in a car/truck/crate/etc., and not on a leash. This kind of makes sense, since it is a wildlife refuge. Anyone have any firsthand beta? Camp areas?

[azbackpackr]

Call the BLM office in Yuma.

I will PM you about Horse Tanks. You can camp near there, I think.

[PaleoRob]

Well my wife has revised the search criteria. I better post a new topic, since we aren't looking at Kofa any more...