U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Getting There:  To get to the Palm Canyon Trail, take U.S. 95 running north and south between Yuma and Quartzsite, Arizona. Approximately 63 miles north of Yuma or 18 miles south of Quartzsite, watch for the Palm Canyon sign that indicates the junction with a dirt road. Follow the dirt road east for 9 miles toward the large, block mountain. The road is passable in a passenger car, but the ride is rough.

The narrow canyon ahead of the parking lot is Palm Canyon. A half mile foot trail starts at the upper end of the parking area. The trail is easy to follow but is rough most of the way due to large rocks and has some steep sections. Allow an hour to make the round trip.

Other Unusual Plants

As you follow the trail into the canyon, you will pass several species of plants unfamiliar to many visitors. The palo verde, a small tree with bright green branches and stems, rarely has leaves and grows in the washes in the area. The plant's branches and twigs have enough chlorophyll to produce all the food the tree requires. Ironwood, a gray-green tree with small leaves is also present in the wash where the trail crosses. Its leafy stems are covered with thorns. Near the upper end of the trail, you will notice numerous small bushes with "holly-like" leaves. This Kofa Mountain barberry is not common on the refuge and is found only in the southwest corner of Arizona.

About the Palms

California fan palms are probably descendants of palms that grew in this region during the last periods of North American glaciation. Some botanists theorize that the trees gradually spread into these canyons and other protected niches as the climate warmed to desert conditions. Other researchers have suggested that the trees may have been spread from other palm groves by birds or coyotes carrying seeds in their digestive tracts.

Since palm trees do not produce annual growth rings like shade trees, it is very difficult to say how old the trees might be. In Palm Canyon, the palm trees are able to survive the in the narrow side canyons where direct sunlight is limited but some moisture is available. The probability of these trees surviving very long is directly dependent on the microclimate in that protected canyon.

The most prominent trail leads to a small sign on a slightly elevated area near the middle of the canyon. By looking upward in the narrow, north trending side canyon, you will see the palms clearly. For a short time at midday, the trees are well-lighted for photos. The rest of the time the trees are shaded.

In 1986, 42 trees were counted in the main grove. About half of those are adult size, with a trunk of 20 feet or more. Some smaller trees are becoming established at the base of the larger trees.

As the fronds, or large leaves, on the California fan palm die, they fold downward around the trunk of the tree and form a "petticoat." The petticoat on younger trees extends from the ground to the crest. For some reason, the fronds on the older trees in Palm Canyon do not form a lengthy petticoat. The fronds tend to self-prune, that is they fall to the ground beneath the tree where they decompose. The decaying fronds form the growing bed for new trees.

It is a rugged climb up to the palm trees. If you decide to try it, plan on an extra 30 to 45 minutes to get up to the trees and back to the bottom of the canyon.

There are a few additional palms scattered higher up in Palm Canyon and Fishtail Canyon, the next canyon to the southeast. As you enter Palm Canyon, you will see some "palm like" plants that can be confusing. These plants, nolinas, grow out of cracks or on ledges, especially on the north wall of the canyon. The nolinas are much smaller than palms and do not develop a trunk.

Wildlife in the Area

You may see a variety of wildlife as you walk along the trail. Keep watching the skyline on both sides of the canyon for bighorn sheep. These agile mammals may be seen in Palm Canyon, usually early in the morning, moving along ridge tops or staring down at you. Listen; coyotes occasionally cry out. If you hear their yelping, you won't forget it.

Birds are numerous for most of the year in Palm Canyon. Watch for gnatcatchers, brown towhees, and thrashers flitting about in the underbrush. In the spring and summer, look for the jet black phainopepla "hawking" insects. Swallows can be heard calling back and forth as they dart about over your head doing their acrobatics in the narrow canyon. If you are lucky, you will hear the musical call of the canyon wren echoing off the canyon walls. High above turkey vultures or a golden eagle occasionally soar into view.

Geology

Palm Canyon is cut through a formation of rhyolite, a volcanic rock. Water, following cracks in the rhyolite, has eroded this canyon to its present shape. The side canyons, where the palms are located, are now being formed through the same process.

If you have time, walk further up the canyon and look closely at the rocks you pass. Some large boulders appear to be made up of many smaller rocks cemented together. These rocks are breccia, another volcanic rock, which has fallen into the canyon from the breccia formations high above Palm Canyon.

The downhill pace will be faster as you return to your car. Notice the relative coolness as you walk in the shade of the narrow canyon. Look out across the sunshine-filled valley. It will be much warmer when you get to your car, even in the winter.

Before getting in your car for the drive back to the highway, look out across the La Posa Plains to the Dome Rock Mountains, 30 miles away. Many of our visitors are thrilled by the wide open spaces of the southwest. We hope your walk into Palm Canyon was a satisfying experience.

What You Should Know

• There is no drinking water or sanitary facilities on the refuge. Bring water with you and plan to take someone on your walk if you are here in the summer.
• If you have pets, tie them outside the car but don't take them with you. Pets unfamiliar with cactus often have problems getting around here.
• Rattlesnakes have been seen in the canyon. Be alert and watchful, especially if you decide to climb up to the palm trees.
• Be alert to oncoming traffic as you return to the highway. If you stop to look at plants, take pictures, or watch birds, park well off the roadway and away from curves.
• Camping is permitted on the refuge (Please return to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Home Page for details.) Overnight parking is allowed in the Palm Canyon parking area.