Imperial Refuge Wilderness
You might be surprised to find a lush river ecosystem in the midst of the Sonoran Desert, the hottest and driest in the United States, a land of prickly cacti and specially adapted plants and animals. But that's exactly what you get in this Wilderness. The lower Colorado River, the boundary between California and Arizona, has many backwater lakes varying in size from one-half acre to 700 acres. Here, the Imperial Refuge Wilderness was established within the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge to preserve all forms of life found in the lower Colorado River region. The Wilderness stretches along both sides of the river in Arizona and California. A portion of the Wilderness also extends into Arizona.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| States | Arizona, California |
| Size | 15,056 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.05° N, 114.61° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 26) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Imperial Refuge Wilderness?
15,056 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Imperial Refuge Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Imperial Refuge Wilderness in?
The boundary crosses Arizona and California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Imperial Refuge Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Imperial Refuge Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Imperial Refuge Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.047° N, 114.611° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.