KOFA National Wildlife Refuge

KOFA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
The Kofa NWR encompasses 664,000 acres of pristine desert environment and is home to the unique desert Bighorn Sheep and the California fan palm, the only native palm in Arizona. Other notable wildlife species found in the area include white-wing dove, desert tortoise, fox, mountain lion, rattlesnakes, iguana and lizards.

Today we explored Palm Canyon, a narrow canyon in the Kofa NWR about 18 miles south of Quartzsite, to find the “grove” of palm trees that have become a major visitor attraction to the area. We turned in at the Palm Canyon sign and followed a washboard dirt road about seven miles to the Palm Canyon trailhead where we parked our car and proceeded up the half mile (each way) foot trail into the canyon. The trail was well-marked but quite rocky with a few steep sections but overall it wasn’t too challenging. At the trail’s end, there was a sign pointing upward and to our left, where we saw the palm trees clustered high in a narrow crevice. (Click on the second photo to enlarge it; you will see the palm trees in the center of the photo.)

In 1986, 42 trees were counted in the main grove. It is believed that they are descendants of palms growing in this region during the last periods of North American glaciation. The palm trees are able to survive in the narrow side canyons where direct sunshine is limited, but some moisture is available.

The vegetation in the area was very green and lush, one would not expect in a desert environment. On our trek we passed several species of desert plants including the Palo Verde tree, mountain barberry and the cholla, ocotillo and saguaro cactus. We saw none of the above mentioned wildlife which was disappointing, but on our way down the trail, a rabbit that scampered across our path and we saw a very tiny lizard sitting on a rock.