Quartzsite Visitor Guide 2018

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BOUSE FISHERMAN
The Bouse Fisherman is an Intaglio
also known as a geoglyph or earth
figure. These very large earth figures
were created many years ago by
American Indians. The fisherman was
first spotted in 1932 on the desert floor
when George Palmer, a pilot, saw an
enormous human figure with outstretched
hands. In 1984, the Colorado
River Indian Tribes sponsored a flight
which led to a second discovery of the
Bouse Fisherman. Bouse residents and
others collected money and installed
posts and a cable fence around the
site. A bronze plaque was set into a
stone pillar to commemorate the site
hoping for preservation for all.
To get there - North out of Quartzsite
on Highway 95 for 5.4 miles, then turn
right on Plomosa Road. 6 miles up the
road look for fences on your left. 6 miles
up the road look for fences on your left.
Inside the farthest fence you will find the
Rock Alignment and 1.3 miles farther up
the road you come to a second “scenic
view parking” sign. Park and follow path
up the hill to see the Intaglios.
KOFA NATIONAL
WILDLIFE REFUGE
For 57 miles, US 95 cuts through the
desert of Southwest Arizona - quite
flat, perfectly straight and aligned
exactly north-south, and interrupted
only by the small town of Quartzsite.
In the mild seasons of winter and early
spring, much traffic uses the road,
bringing sun seekers from all over the
US to Yuma and on into Mexico, but
few travel to this region in summer,
when temperatures of over 120 o are
not uncommon. Rain falls on only a
few occasions each year - the summer
thunderstorms that affect the higher
areas of Arizona rarely extend this far.
South of Interstate 10, US 95 is bordered
by the Yuma Proving Ground to
the west and the Kofa National Wildlife
Refuge to the east - a protected area
25 x 40 miles in extent with no paved
roads or facilities of any kind. The
refuge is an excellent place for viewing
desert plants and wildlife, rock climbing,
exploring old mines, or just camping
in remote wilderness.
PALM CANYON
An area of rugged beauty, Palm Canyon
may be the only place in Arizona
where native palm trees, California Fan
Palms, can be found. tucked away in
narrow, rugged canyons on the Kofa
National Wildlife Refuge. People were
aware of the small, scattered clusters
of trees growing in Palm Canyon even
before the creation of the refuge.
The palm trees have become a major
visitor attraction for the refuge. To get
there - Drive South on Highway 95 for
23 miles then turn left into the Kofa
Wildlife Refuge for approximately 7
miles on the dirt road until it ends.
DRIPPING SPRINGS
There are hundred of Petroglyphs
here. You will also find the remains
of an old stone cabin and an arrastre.
Look along the base of the cliff to the
left of the stone cabin for the cave
where the spring originates. Once
you’ve found it, listen and you will hear
it dripping from the cave roof, forming
a year round pool of water. A path
takes off to the left of the cave, following
the edge of the cliff where more
petroglyphs can be seen.
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