Hike to Signal Peak at Kofa

Yuma County, Arizona

Save

View all 5 photos

All 5 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

3 miles

Elevation Gain

2100 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Scott Sichler

A hike to the highest point in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge with sweeping 360 degree views.

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge near Quartzsite, Arizona is a must see when visiting the area. The refuge encompasses over 600,000 acres with a large population of bighorn sheep. One of the most prominent features are the Kofa Mountains and the towering 4,877 foot Signal Peak.

I followed the GPS coordinates from this site, starting at the mouth of Ten Ewe Canyon along Kofa Queen Canyon road. This is a high clearance 4X4 unpaved road. Most vehicles can probably make it to entrance of Kofa Queen Canyon if you want to hike to the start. The trail to Signal Peak is not a formally maintained trail but a faint trail left by other hikers, GPS, and rock cairns make it possible to reach the top. Although it's only about 1.5 miles up, it's a very stiff 2,100 feet elevation gain. The terrain is very rough and the footing is often loose rock.

I didn't see any of the resident bighorn sheep but spotted numerous tracks and droppings. After almost two hours of hiking/climbing I reached the top. The views are definitely spectacular and worth the effort.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Photography

Hiking

Scenic

Wildlife

Hike to Signal Peak at Kofa Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

The Blythe Intaglios or Geoglyphs (Giant Ancient Figures in the desert)

Blythe Intaglios or Geoglyphs - Giant Figures on the Desert Floor of California - - - - These human-made figures were placed on the floor of the Colorado Desert an estimated 1,000 years ago. Their meaning is conjecture. Many believe they represent people, Gods, mountain lions, or horses, depending on whom you listen to. The tallest glyph is 171 feet high. They are locate alongside US 95, approx...

Hike along the Buttercup Sand Dunes

I found these amazing dunes when traveling from Phoenix to San Diego. These are a nice break from the 5+ hour drive. They are very picturesque and nice to walk on. I would advise to avoid the summer as I would imagine it would be uncomfortably hot. When you are driving on the I-8 in either direction, you can take the Grey's Well Road exit to explore these dunes. Have fun and be safe, there are...

Visit the Rice Shoe Fence

If you're traveling on CA-62, keep an eye out on the south side of the road for the enormous shrine of retired footwear from passers by. Be sure to leave some of your own well worn footwear and take some photos of the shoe clad desert landscape. Make sure to pull a safe distance from the side of the road, which is frequented by large trucks and fast moving vehicles.

Explore the Algodones Sand Dunes

The North Algodones Dunes Wilderness System offers 200 square miles of open dune wilderness to explore. You can do as little or as much as you want in this vast open space. Take a short hike, take lots of pictures, or make it an overnight camping trip in the desert.The dunes are located north of State Highway 78, from the east side of Coachella Canal to Glamis. You can park at the Orborne Looko...

Cliff Jump at Copper Canyon

Camp at Lake Havasu State Park

Lake Havasu is a premier lake dividing California and Arizona along with the Colorado River. Lake Havasu State Park has an abundance of amenities including 47 camp sites, 3 boat ramps, multiple picnic areas and a beach area. The state park sits just north of the famous London Bridge that was purchased by Robert McColluch and moved into the newly established community of Lake Havasu City. There ...