2018 visit

Kofa Wilderness, 2018 visit start
Unique wilderness with limited water and traversed by 4-wheel drive roads excluded from wilderness. Seven-day December trip driving 92 miles backroad, stopping for 5 short backpacks (carrying all water) and hiking popular Palm Canyon off U.S. 95. Hiking trips totaled 63 miles.

4-wheel drive backroad

Red Hills loop

Mile-17 Stop
Twelve-mile backpack.

Wilkinson Seep
In 2018, heavy October rain storms and early December rain replenished springs/seeps and left water in many potholes in rocky wash sections. In January 2020, less water in seep even though considerable 2019 November/December rain.

7.8 mi from TH

GPS track
GPS data: 11.6 mi distance at 2.6 mph with average elevation change of 150 ft per mi (ascending 975 ft and descending 775 ft).

Hoodoo Wash-Bighorn Pass loop

Mile-24 stop
Twenty-nine mile backpack.

7 mi from TH

14 .5 mi from camp2, including Kofa Queen day hike

GPS track
GPS data: 28.5 mi distance at 2.6 mph with average elevation change of 150 ft per mi (ascending 2000 ft and descending 1925 ft).

Courthouse Mountain loop

Mile-45 stop
Five-mile backpack.

2.8 mi from TH

Courthouse Mountain loop
GPS data: 5.1 mi distance at 2.8 mph with average elevation change of 125 ft per mi (ascending 350 ft and descending 350 ft).

Kofa Butte/Dam

Mile-55 stop
Eleven-mile backpack.

8 mi from TH, including day hike to Yaqui Tanks road

GSP track

McPherson Pass loop

Five-mile backpack.

3.5 mi from TH, including day hike

GPS track
GPS data: 4.5 mi distance at 1.9 mph with average elevation change of 325 ft per mi (ascending 675 ft and descending 675 ft)..

2018 backroad finish
Road distance 92 miles.

Palm Canyon

Palm Canyon Trailhead
Two-mile day hike.

Approximate GPS data: 2.0 mi distance at ascending and descending 600 ft (GPS does not work well in steep-walled canyons).

2020 visit

Kofa Wilderness, 2020 visit
Six-day, 64-mile loop trip in January 2020. Cumulative mileage at each campsite marker; click on each camp icon for daily GPS data. Last day GPS data: 6.2 mi distance at 2.6 mph with average elevation change of 225 ft per mi (ascending 200 ft and descending 1200 ft).

Camp1 (at 8 mi) & Camp5 (at 58 mi)
Day1 GPS data: 8.3 mi distance at 1.7 mph with average elevation change of 450 ft per mi (ascending 2375 ft and descending 1350 ft). Day5 GPS data: 14.5 mi distance at 2.7 mph with average elevation change of 175 ft per mi (ascending 1525 ft and descending 1050 ft).

Squaw Tanks
Lovely tanks 4.7 mi from camp1.

Wilbanks Cabin
Seven milse from camp1.

Camp2 (at 19 mi)
Day2 GPS data: 10.6 mi distance at 2.2 mph with average elevation change of 200 ft per mi (ascending 1150 ft and descending 1075 ft). There were pools in wash rocks here in 2018 and 2020, but much less water in 2020.

High Tank7
Social trail from road to developed tank; 5.8 mi from camp2.

Camp3 (at 31 mi)
Day3 GPS data: 12 mi distance at 2.3 mph with average elevation change of 225 ft per mi (ascending 825 ft and descending 1725 ft).

Red Hill Tank
Natural tank 1.2 mi from camp3.

Jasper Spring
Fenced salt cedar area with no water 3.5 mi from camp3.

Camp4 (at 44 mi)
Day4 GPS data: 12.8 mi distance at 2.5 mph with average elevation change of 175 ft per mi (ascending 1275 ft and descending 925 ft).

Alamo Spring
Not much water at spring 1.8 mi from camp4; but pools in rocky wash quarter mile before spring (down wash).

Pools
In 2020, noticed pools in rocky side wash 10. 8 mi from camp4. Did not look for water here in 2018.

2026 visit

Water drop

Kofa Wildlife Refuge kiosk
On Day1 of trip, we meet Yuma UTV supplier at refuge boundary kiosk for dropoff and pickup of UTV; took all day to do water drops.

Water1 drop

Water2 & bear canister food drop

Water3 drop

UTV track, Big Eye Mine drop
19 miles one-way from kiosk

UTV track, McPherson Pass drops
13.5 mi one-way from junction of F&WS alternate route (main road at Museum on private property now closed)

Backpack

Kofa Wilderness visit, 2026
Six-day, 55-mile figure-8 loop trip in January 2026. Cumulative mileage at each campsite marker; click on each camp icon for daily GPS data. Last day GPS data: 9.0 mi distance at 2.6 mph with average elevation change of 175 ft per mi (ascending 500 ft [32%] and descending 1075 ft [68%]).

Day1 camp near start after all day UTV travel for water drops.

Blue Rock Tank
Dry silt-filled dam.

Day2 GPS data: 9.6 mi distance at 1.5 mph with average elevation change of 350 ft per mi (ascending 2125 ft [63%] and descending 1225 ft [37%]).

Adams Well
Found tank but no drinker or spigot for water access.

Figueroa Tank
Lovely alge-free water

Little White Tanks
Some alge-free water

Day3 GPS data: 12.5 mi distance at 2.1 mph with average elevation change of 250 ft per mi (ascending 1200 ft [40%] and descending 1800 ft [60%]).

Horse Tanks
Naturally shaded alge-free water

Day4 GPS data: 11.8 mi distance at 2.0 mph with average elevation change of 200 ft per mi (ascending 1250 ft [55%] and descending 1025 ft [45%]).

New McPherson Tank
Fair water in FWS constructed drinker

GPS data: 11.9 mi distance at 2.3 mph with average elevation change of 150 ft per mi (ascending 975 ft [55%] and descending 800 ft [45%]).

Wilderness area

Kofa Wilderness