| The Imperial National Wildlife Refuge was created by backwaters when the Imperial Dam was built. This is a 25,765-acre area and home to many animals, including tortoises, coyotes, bobcats, bighorn sheep, and others. The area is highly popular for bird watchers. You will find many different types of birds coming and going, from waterfowl to shore birds and from pelicans to Canadian geese.Wetland wildlife is most abundant in winter, when 'snowbirds' such as cinnamon teal and northern pintail use the refuge. During the summer months, look for permanent residents such as great egrets and muskrat.In the desert, wildlife such as black-tailed jackrabbits and western whiptail lizards are plentiful. Watch at dawn and dusk for desert bighorn sheep and mule deer heading to the river for a drink.Ducks, geese, shorebirds, and other waterbirds flock to the lower Colorado River each year to spend the winter. Refuge staff and volunteers restore wetlands, protect backwater lakes, manage marsh units, and farm croplands to provide food and resting areas for these winter residents.Looking for a quiet place to canoe or fish? Meers Point has shaded tables, toilets, and a boat launch. The refuge surrounds one of the few remaining "wild" places on the Colorado River. This stretch is valued by boaters for its remote scenery.Painted Desert Trail is a 1.3-mile self-guided trail that takes you through a rainbow of colors left by 30,000 year-old volcanic activity and features a panoramic view of the Colorado River valley.Red Cloud Mine Road is a scenic drive through the Sonoran desert landscape to access the lookout points and the Painted Desert Trail. If you intend to drive further than the Painted Desert Trailhead, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Check with the Visitor Center for road conditions.Lookout Points include: Mesquite, Ironwood, and Smoke Tree Points offer beautiful views of the Colorado River valley. Often, both desert and wetland wildlife may be seen. All of the lookout points can be reached by vehicle. |
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| | | Facilities: The Visitor Center at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge is open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. From November 15 to March 31, also open Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Enjoy the exhibits, native plant garden, and watch a wildlife video. Camping is prohibited. Best Time To Visit: It does get very hot at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, so the best time to visit the refuge is fall through spring. Fees: There are no fees to enter this area. Accessibility: This area is not handicap accessible. Rules: Travel in wilderness areas is by foot or horseback only. Pets are permitted only if under your control at all times. Vehicles are permitted on designated roads only. All off-road vehicle travel is prohibited. It is illegal to remove, deface, or damage rocks, minerals, semi-precious stones, Indian artifacts, paleontological objects, or objects of antiquity. Camping is not permitted on the refuge. Fires are not permitted on the refuge. Carrying, possessing, or discharging firearms or explosives (including fireworks) on the refuge is prohibited. Directions: To get to Imperial National Wildlife Refuge from Yuma, go north on Highway 95 for 25 miles. Turn west on Martinez Lake Road for 13 miles and follow signs to visitor center. Map: Click here for a map to Imperial National Wildlife Refuge Reservations: Reservations are not needed or accepted at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. | | |
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| | | | | Address | | P.O. Box 72217 | | Yuma, Arizona 85365 |
| | | Phone | | General: (928) 783-3371 | |
| | | | | Website | | Email |
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