Kofa National Wildlife Refuge · South of Quartzsite · Hiking trail
Palm Canyon Trail
A short, rocky trail into a volcanic canyon in the Kofa Mountains, where a hidden grove of California fan palms, possibly Arizona’s only native palms, grows in a side canyon.
Opens the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kofa trails page. There’s no fee, and no water or restrooms at the trailhead. Google rating is for the whole refuge.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Desert hiking trail
National Recreation Trail in Kofa NWR
Admission
Free
No fee or permit to visit the refuge
Hours
Open 24 hours
Refuge roads and trails open year-round
Time needed
Allow half a day
About 50 min each way from town, plus the hike
Parking
Gravel lot
At the trailhead; overnight parking allowed
Palms
41
Counted in the main grove in 2001 (FWS)
What you’ll see
Fan palms in a volcanic canyon
The trail climbs about half a mile into Palm Canyon to a small sign. The palms grow in a narrow side canyon to the north.
Photo: Chris M Morris on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Start here
Walk to the palm viewpoint
From the parking area, the rocky trail climbs into the canyon to a small sign on a raised spot near its middle. Look up the narrow side canyon to the north to find the palms. FWS lists the trail at 0.45 mile, and the National Recreation Trails database calls it a moderately easy half mile that climbs from about 2,120 to 2,440 feet.
RV tip: go between October and April, and carry gloves if you plan to scramble up toward the palms. Midday is often recommended for photos.
More to see
- The scramble to the palmsPast the sign there’s no trail. FWS calls the climb to the grove very rugged and difficult, so allow an extra 30 to 40 minutes and wear sturdy shoes.
- Desert bighorn sheepThe refuge was set aside in 1939 to protect desert bighorn sheep. Scan the ridgetops early in the morning, when they’re most often seen.
- Kofa Mountain barberryNear the upper end of the trail, look for this rare shrub with holly-like leaves, found only in southwestern Arizona.
- Views across the La Posa PlainFrom the parking area you can see across the plain to the Dome Rock Mountains, about 30 miles away.
Why go
A palm oasis in the Kofa Mountains
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939 to protect desert bighorn sheep, and more than 80 percent of it is designated wilderness. Its name comes from the King of Arizona gold mine. Palm Canyon is cut through rhyolite, a volcanic rock, and its narrow walls shelter the refuge’s best-known surprise.
The palms are California fan palms. In 2001 refuge staff counted 41 trees in the main grove, about half of them full grown, with more scattered through Palm Canyon and neighboring Fishtail Canyon. The FWS brochure warns that nolinas, or beargrass, on the canyon walls are easy to mistake for palms.
For RVers it’s a classic winter outing from Quartzsite: about 18 miles south on US-95, then about 7 miles east on graded gravel. Go between fall and spring. Summer heat on the refuge can be extreme, and there’s no water anywhere on it.
Photo: Astrobirder-isopods on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Why it made our list
- Free and open year-round
- A National Recreation Trail since 2007
- Native fan palms in a volcanic canyon
- A chance to spot desert bighorn sheep
- The refuge is rated 4.7 on Google by 900+ visitors
For RVers
Taking the rig out to Palm Canyon
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Seven miles of gravel
Palm Canyon Road leaves US-95 about 18 miles south of Quartzsite and runs about 7 miles east to the trailhead. It’s graded gravel with washboard sections; American Trails calls it passable in a passenger car but rough. Take the tow vehicle, and stay off it after storms, when washes can flood.
Street-legal vehicles only
Refuge rules require every vehicle, ATVs and UTVs included, to be registered, insured and street-legal, and to stay on designated roads at 25 mph or less. Off-road machines with only an OHV decal aren’t allowed.
Dogs on a leash
Pets are welcome if they’re leashed or confined. The trail is rocky and there’s no water on the refuge, so carry plenty for your dog as well as yourself.
No services, so come prepared
There’s no water, fuel, toilets or towing on the refuge, and FWS says cell coverage is absent over most of it. Tell someone your plans. Overnight parking is allowed in the Palm Canyon lot.
What visitors say about Palm Canyon Trail
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 20, 2026.
A moderately easy, half-mile trail
National Recreation Trails database · nrtapplication.org
What visitors often mention
Recurring topics in Google’s reviews of the refuge
CactusBoondockingDirt roadsPalm Canyon
Google’s review topics point to the cactus (25 reviews), boondocking (21), the dirt roads (5) and Palm Canyon itself (3). Checked October 20, 2026.
How high you’ll go
Trail elevations from the National Recreation Trails database. Signal Peak, the high point of the Kofa Mountains, is from Arizona Highways.
Good to know
EntryFree no fee or permit
Trail0.45 mi per FWS
Road in7 mi graded gravel
BringPlenty of waterSturdy shoesSun protection
Details from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kofa pages and Palm Canyon brochure, checked October 20, 2026.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Palm Canyon Trail
- AddressEnd of Palm Canyon Rd., off US-95, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, AZ
- HoursOpen 24 hours
Refuge roads and trails open year-round - Phone(928) 928-6873 (refuge office in Yuma)
- CostFree
- Getting thereFrom Quartzsite, take US-95 south about 18 miles and turn east at the Palm Canyon sign. Follow Palm Canyon Road about 7 miles of gravel to the parking area at its end.
- ParkingGravel lot at the trailhead. Overnight parking is allowed. No water, toilets or services.
The refuge office in Yuma is open weekdays, 8 am to 4 pm. Southern parts of the refuge can close temporarily for military testing, so check with the office before you go.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Palm Canyon Trail
These are Quartzsite-area parks and camps we have written up. The south side of town is closest, about 50 to 55 minutes from the trailhead.
La Posa Long Term Visitor Area
The BLM’s huge winter camp just south of town on US-95, with open-desert sites, no hookups and a seasonal permit.
Kofa Mountain RV Park
Small, friendly 55+ park on Central Boulevard with 67 full-hookup sites and a clubhouse.
Desert Gardens RV Park
Large park just south of I-10 Exit 17 with 30-by-60-ft pull-thrus, a clubhouse and online booking.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Free · open year-round
Pack water and go see the palms
Bring plenty of water, take the gravel road slowly, and allow extra time if you want to scramble up to the palms.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Chris M Morris (canyon palms and cliffs; CC BY 2.0), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fan palms and bighorn sheep; public domain), Alan Schmierer (Palm Canyon Road and the sunset image; CC0) and Astrobirder-isopods (Kofa Mountains; CC BY-SA 4.0). The images were resized. Video: Cactus Atlas on YouTube (Palm Canyon). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Palm Canyon Trail unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kofa refuge pages and brochures and other publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Kofa National Wildlife Refuge at fws.gov/refuge/kofa or (928) 928-6873. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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