Kofa Wilderness
In the early part of the 1900s, the King of Arizona (KofA) Mine scoured this land for precious mineral deposits. Today, in a twist of fate, the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and subsequently Kofa Wilderness protect the region's precious plant and animal life, including: one of the Arizona's largest desert bighorn sheep populations, a species nearly extirpated prior to the Refuge's establishment; Sonoran pronghorn, a federally endangered pronghorn sub-species, less than 100 California fan palms, remnants of wetter days; and the rare Kofa Mountain barberry, found only in southwest Arizona. Kofa Wilderness makes up approximately 82% of the Refuge, making this Wilderness Arizona's second largest.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 516,200 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.53° N, 113.89° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
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
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 10.4 miHi Jolly Monument ↗Quartzsite, AZ
- 13.1 miMohawk Valley School ↗Roll, AZ
- 13.2 miCamp Horn Monument ↗Dateland, AZ
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Arizona
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Kofa Wilderness?
516,200 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Kofa Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Kofa Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Kofa Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Kofa Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.527° N, 113.885° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Kofa Wilderness?
The National Register has 3 listings within 15 miles, including Hi Jolly Monument and Mohawk Valley School.
Source: Register Atlas
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.