Surroundings, Yuma
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Visitors to Yuma will not want to miss the Cocaph Indian Reservation and the town of Somerton to the south. The surroundings of this town in the extreme southwestern portion of the state include the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge and Mittry Lake.
Related Attractions
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
The Imperial National Wildlife Refuge is located 40 miles north of Yuma along the Colorado River. The 25,125 acres include river, ponds, marshland and desert. The refuge was created to offer refuge and a breeding area for migratory birds and other wildlife.
Imperial Wilderness Area
The Imperial Wilderness Area is part of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge on the Colorado River. It covers 9,220 acres of desert uplands ranging in elevation from 220 to 2,800 feet. The Imperial Wilderness Area is home to unique wildlife species including desert bighorn sheep and desert tortoise.
Betty's Kitchen
Betty's Kitchen is a scenic wetland area near Yuma, administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Betty's Kitchen Interpretive Trail is a National Recreation Trail that provides a glimpse of the area's natural resources and settlement history. The trail overlooks Laguna Dam and features mammals, migratory birds, and flora that are specific to the area.Mining camps were set up in Betty's Kitchen when gold was discovered in the late 1850s. This did not last long as other discoveries along the Colorado River kept the miners moving.
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
The 665,400 acre Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is inhabited largely by bighorn sheep, as well as coyotes, bobcats and other wildlife. Kofa Refuge is also home to the California palm, the only palm native to Arizona, and Kofa Mountain barberry, a rare plant found only in southwest Arizona.
Kofa Wilderness Area
The Kofa Wilderness Area is a 516,300-acre section of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, located in the Sonoran Desert. Desert hiking is a popular pastime as is backpacking and camping.
Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
The Cibola National Wildlife Refuge is a 16,600 acre site on the Colorado River just upstream from the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was started to preserve the wintering grounds for migratory birds, over 288 species, and other wildlife.
Cocopah Indian Reservation
The Cocopah Indian Reservation is located approximately 13 miles south of Yuma, near Somerton. On the reservation is a recreation of a 19th century Cocopah village. Agriculture is a very important part of life on the Cocopah Indian Reservation.
Cocopah Museum and Cultural Center
The Cocopah Museum, the Cultural Center and the Heritage Park comprise 1.5 acres on the Cocopah Indian Reservation. The Cocopah Museum features historical tribal exhibits including family structures, aspects of tribal homes, traditional tribal clothing, musical instruments, warrior and veteran displays, beadwork and tattoo displays.The Heritage Park has many native plants and trees used by the Cocopah people.
Trigo Mountains Wilderness
The 30,300-acre Trigo Mountains Wilderness area is located about 25 miles north of Yuma. Recreational opportunities include horseback riding, backpacking, sightseeing, hiking, and rock climbing.
Muggins Mountain Wilderness
The 7,711 acre Muggins Mountains Wilderness area is located 25 miles east of Yuma, and includes rugged mountain terrain and colorful geological formations.
San Luis, Arizona
San Luis is a town on the Mexican border. At one time, San Luis was one of the fastest growing communities in Arizona.
Somerton, Arizona
Somerton is located southwest of Yuma in the southwest portion of Arizona just north of the Mexican border.
Mittry Lake
Mittry Lake is on a bend of the Colorado River near Yuma.
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