Free desert camping, bighorn sheep, and Palm Canyon — and almost nobody knows about it.
Kofa NWR is a 665,000-acre refuge in southwest Arizona, just east of Quartzsite. It allows free dispersed camping with a 14-day limit, and contains the only native palm trees in Arizona, tucked in a slot canyon.
Why it's special
Quiet alternative to the Quartzsite scene with the same desert winter weather. Bighorn sheep are routine sightings.
Best time to go
November through March.
Getting there
From US-95 between Quartzsite and Yuma, east on Kofa Queen Canyon Road or Palm Canyon Road.
Know before you go
- Free dispersed, 14-day limit.
- High clearance recommended off the main entry roads.
- No water, no services, no cell.
- Some roads are designated wilderness — vehicles prohibited past gates.
Pro tips from boondockers
- Palm Canyon hike is short, easy, and unique — the only native palms in AZ.
- Camp on Kofa Queen Canyon road for the most dramatic mountain views.
- Quartzsite is 30 min for resupply and laundry.
- Stargazing rivals the best in the southwest.
Combine with
Quartzsite, Yuma, Imperial Dam LTVA.