Wildlife Areas Bortle 3 Solitude: 90/100 (remote)

Visit KOFA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, located 20.3 miles from Wellton, AZ. Prairie terrain. Best visited May-Sep.

Near Wellton, AZ in Arizona

What to Pack for Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma

Preparation starts with your pack. Here's what to bring.

Preparation for Kofa National Wildlife Refuge starts with your pack. These items address the real risks and conditions here.

Essential

Water (minimum 2L) — Even cool-weather hiking demands steady hydration, as exertion and altitude increase water loss faster than most expect.
Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Even well-marked trails have confusing junctions, especially in fog or snow; a GPS unit or downloaded map keeps you on route.
Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — Quality sunglasses prevent snow blindness and reduce eye strain during long days on exposed trails or ridgelines.
First aid kit — Adhesive bandages, antiseptic, and athletic tape handle the most common trail injuries and weigh under a pound.
Extra food — Blood sugar drops fast during sustained effort outdoors, and having a reserve keeps your body and mind sharp.
Headlamp with extra batteries — Batteries drain faster in cold weather; carrying spares ensures you won't be left in the dark when you need light most.
Fire starter — Starting a fire boosts morale and provides light, warmth, and a way to purify water in an emergency.
Emergency shelter (space blanket) — If an injury forces you to stop moving, a reflective blanket prevents the rapid heat loss that leads to hypothermia.
Knife or multi-tool — In a survival situation, a blade lets you process tinder, build shelter, and prepare food.
Extra clothing layer — Wet clothing accelerates cooling; a dry backup layer can prevent hypothermia when conditions turn.

Climate Gear

Extra water (1L/hr) — Pre-hydrating the morning before a hot hike and carrying electrolytes along with water maximizes absorption.
Electrolytes — A few electrolyte packets weigh nothing and can prevent the nausea, confusion, and weakness that sideline hikers in hot conditions.
Cooling towel — In dry heat, soaking a towel uses minimal water but provides significant thermoregulation during exposed trail sections.

Terrain Gear

Wide-brim hat — Desert and alpine environments with little tree cover leave you fully exposed; a hat is your primary shade source.
Sunscreen SPF50+ — Apply 30 minutes before exposure and reapply every 2 hours; sweating and pack straps rub sunscreen off faster than expected.
Extra water (desert) — Even well-mapped springs can go dry after low-snowpack years; always carry surplus and check recent trip reports.

Seasonal Gear

Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)

Activities & Best Time to Visit Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma

The Desert terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.

With 5 activities available, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge works for both quick day trips and longer stays.

The scenery here earns a 55/100 photography rating — Good dark sky (Bortle 3) and 3 excellent meteor showers.

Activities

birdwatching — Quiet observation often leads to rewarding encounters.
photography — Outdoor photography invites you to slow down and frame the beauty around you.
picnicking — Whether lakeside or in a meadow, it's a relaxed way to savor both the setting and the company.
walking — Perfect for all ages, a casual walk can turn any outdoor space into a relaxing nature experience.
wildlife_viewing — Bring binoculars and patience — nature often rewards careful, respectful observers.

Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Terrain: Desert — Rocky outcrops, sand, and dry washes are common features.

Nature & Wildlife at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma

The Desert terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.

This Desert habitat supports 5 mammal species, 30 bird species, and 14 reptile species.

Shrubs (5)

Brittlebush — A rounded desert shrub with silvery fuzzy leaves and bright yellow daisy-like flowers.
Creosote Bush — An evergreen desert shrub with small resinous leaves divided into paired leaflets.
kofa mountain barberry — A spiny shrub with leathery leaves and bright yellow flowers.

Other Plants (5)

saguaro
Teddybear Cholla
ocotillo
Beavertail Pricklypear
simple desert agave

Mammals (5)

Bighorn Sheep — Sure-footed build adapted to steep cliffs.
Black-tailed Jackrabbit — Lean body built for speed.
Donkey — Smaller and stockier than many horses.
Coyote — Lean, agile build.
Mule Deer — Bucks carry branching antlers that fork rather than form a single main beam.

Birds (30)

Rock Pigeon — Dark charcoal form with iridescent neck
European Starling — Sleek dark breeding plumage with yellow bill
Dark-eyed Junco — Pink-sided form with pale gray and buff flanks
Gambel's Quail — Forward-curving head plume
White-crowned Sparrow — Gray breast and pink bill

Reptiles (14)

Common Side-blotched Lizard — Typically 4–6 inches long including the tail.
Common Chuckwalla — Often 12–16 inches long.
Zebra-tailed Lizard — Usually 7–9 inches long including tail.
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake — Typically 2–3 feet long.
Desert Collared Lizard — Typically 8–12 inches long including tail.

Amphibians (1)

Red-spotted Toad

Insects (9)

Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Master Blister Beetle
Creosote Cone Gall Midge
Queen
Variegated Meadowhawk

Fungi (1)

Protoparmeliopsis kofae

Other Wildlife (8)

Desert Hairy Scorpion
Desert Blonde Tarantula
Camptocosa parallela
Stripe-tailed Scorpion
Common Desert Centipede

Nature Bingo at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma

Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.

Wildlife Challenge

Red-tailed Hawk (bird)
Bighorn Sheep (mammal)
Common Side-blotched Lizard (reptile)
Red-spotted Toad (amphibian)
saguaro (plant)

Botany Challenge

Achnatherum Pinetorum
Aquilegia Coerulea Var. Pinetorum
Arabis Holboellii Var. Pinetorum
Asclepias Engelmanniana
Echinocereus Engelmannii
Almutaster

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma Climate & Sun

Here's the weather and sun data to help you pick the best time to visit.

Best months to visit based on climate: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Avoid unless prepared for .

Climate type: Mediterranean

Best months to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec. Consider avoiding: Jul, Aug.

Winter 58°

0.9"

Spring 72°

0.1"

Summer 93°

1.3"

Fall 77°

0.2"

Month	Avg Temp	Precip
Jan	58°F	0.9 in
Feb	60°F	0.4 in
Mar	67°F	0.5 in
Apr	72°F	0.1 in
May	79°F	0.2 in
Jun	89°F	0.1 in
Jul	93°F	1.3 in
Aug	92°F	0.9 in
Sep	87°F	0.7 in
Oct	77°F	0.2 in
Nov	67°F	0.5 in
Dec	57°F	0.7 in

Daylight & Sun Times

Daylight ranges from 10 hours in winter to 14.3 hours in summer — a difference of 4.3 hours.

Summer: 4:27 AM – 6:46 PM

Winter: 6:32 AM – 4:31 PM

Winter Solstice: Sunrise 6:32 AM, Sunset 4:31 PM Golden hour from 3:53 PM

Summer Solstice: Sunrise 4:27 AM, Sunset 6:46 PM Golden hour from 6:09 PM

Spring Equinox: Sunrise 5:48 AM, Sunset 5:43 PM Golden hour from 5:11 PM

Fall Equinox: Sunrise 5:19 AM, Sunset 5:44 PM Golden hour from 5:12 PM

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma Trip Planning & Access

Now for the logistics — distances, costs, and accessibility details for Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.

Phoenix is the nearest hub at 125 miles — here's the trip breakdown.

Nearest city: Phoenix (125 mi)

Estimated fuel cost: $31.16 (28 mpg, $3.5/gallon)

Carbon footprint: 100.7 kg CO2 (round trip by car)

Visitor Friendliness

Accessibility: dog-friendly (unknown), family-friendly (unknown), elderly-friendly (unknown).

Beginners: Perfect for beginners (Easy difficulty - perfect for beginners (+20))
Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (100/100)

Places Near Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma

Extend your trip with these nearby outdoor spots.

Nearby options include trails and campgrounds within a short drive.

Nearby Campgrounds

Senator Wash Reservoir North Shore Site, Imperial 20.52 mi
Imperial Dam Ltva Campground, Imperial 21.05 mi

Stargazing & Night Sky at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma

The night sky adds another dimension to an overnight visit here.

The dark sky quality at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (Bortle 3) places it among the darkest stargazing spots in the area.

Bortle 3 Rural sky

Constellations

Key constellations visible from this latitude include Ursa Minor, Cepheus.

Ursa Minor — Visible throughout the year in much of the United States, Ursa Minor rotates steadily around the North Celestial Pole.
Cepheus — Though its stars are modest in brightness, Cepheus is visible year-round from most of the U.S.

Meteor Showers

The Geminids peaks around December 13-14 and is the best meteor shower visible from here.

Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)
Find a dark location away from city lights and give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust for peak rates.
Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (excellent)
Look toward the northern sky after midnight for the highest activity.
Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (excellent)
Expect fast, bright meteors and occasional fireballs under dark skies.
Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)
Plan for early morning viewing; activity increases in the hours just before sunrise.
Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (fair)
Southern states often see stronger activity due to radiant placement.

Planets

Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:

Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue

Equipment Guide

Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune

Viewing Tips

Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)

Best Viewing Months

Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep

Seasonal Highlights at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma

Beyond the night sky, the changing seasons shape what you'll experience here.

The seasonal rhythm at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge shapes what you'll see on the trail, in the sky, and across the landscape.

Spring Wildflowers

Peak bloom: March - April

Check local park websites for bloom reports

Fall Foliage

Peak color: October 15 – November 5

Best trees for color: Maple, Oak, Aspen

Higher elevations peak 1-2 weeks earlier

Bird Migration

Spring peak: March - April

Fall peak: October - November

Best spots: Wetlands, coastlines, mountain ridges

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma Geology & Natural History

Beyond the trails and wildlife, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.

Bedrock Geology

Rock Type: Late and middle Pleistocene surficial deposits
Lithology: Major:{gravel,sand}, Minor:{silt,clay}
Age: Pleistocene

Mineral Deposits

Deposit Sites: 83
Richness: Exceptional
Minerals Found: Gold, Silver, Lead, Fluorine-Fluorite, Copper, Manganese, Mica, Molybdenum

Endangered Species

Species at Risk: 1478
ESA Endangered: 29
ESA Threatened: 16
Conservation Score: 100/100

Temperature Records

Record High: 120°F (2017-06-20)
Record Low: 23°F (1963-01-13)

Watershed

Watershed: North Star Wash
Water Quality (Good): 0%
Impaired: 0%

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NE, 20mi), Yuma Safety & Conditions

Check current conditions from these authoritative sources before you go.

Official condition reports for Kofa National Wildlife Refuge cover weather, wildfire activity, flood status, and road conditions.

Flood zone: Not in a flood zone

Nearest weather station: TACNA 3 NE, AZ US (26.71 mi)