Kofa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939 and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge encompasses 665,400 acres of pristine desert that is home to the desert bighorn sheep and the California palm, the only native palm in Arizona.
In the early part of this century, a number of mines were established in the mountainous areas of the refuge. One of the most notable was the King of Arizona mine. It gave the Kofa Mountains their name-- "Kofa" being contracted from King of Arizona.
The Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is located 40 miles north of Yuma on the east side of Highway 95. To reach the refuge from I-8 in California, take the Winterhaven Drive and Fourth Avenue Exit south into Yuma, Arizona. The refuge office is located at the first intersection. To get to the refuge itself, from Yuma, take Highway 95 north towards Quartzite, Arizona, to refuge entrance signs.