Welcome to Lower Colorado

Picacho State Recreation Area
100 years ago Picacho was a gold mining town with 100 citizens. Today the site is a State Park, popular with boaters, hikers, anglers and campers. The park offers diverse scenery, including beavertail cactus, wild burros, bighorn sheep and thousands of migratory waterfowl.

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge Cibola NWR is located in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River and surrounded by a fringe of desert ridges and washes. The refuge encompasses the historic Colorado River channel and several important backwater areas that are home to many wildlife species.

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles of the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, including the last unchannelized section before the river enters Mexico. The river and its associated backwater lakes and wetlands are a green oasis, contrasting with the surrounding desert mountains.

Exciting high adventure opportunities for exploring, boating, camping, hiking, watersports, weekend retreats and more.

Imperial Valley John Jay Inn Best Western Vacation Resort
Each spacious guestroom features free highspeed Internet access, refrigerators, microwaves and other amenities. Hotel guests may also enjoy a deluxe continental breakfast.

Hawaiian Island Getaway One of the most popular tourism destinations in the world is the Hawaiian Islands. Local attractions include touring royal palaces, miles of beautiful beaches and polynesian cultural entertainment venues.

Imperial Valley Adventure Tours
Explore the Golden State - (Keyword: Imperial Valley)

Fort Quechan Gaming Resort - Winterhaven CA
Newly opened gaming resort on the old Fort Yuma Indian Reservation features big name live entertainment, restaurants, lounges and banquet facilities.

Heber Dunes State Vehicle Recr Area - Heber CA
343 acres area located south of El Centro. It is primarily used for off-road recreation, however, camping, picnicking, and baseball are also popular activities in the park.

Musuem of World History in Granite - Felicity CA
The 416 Panel History of Humanity is being engraved on 8 granite monuments. This project was launch in 1973 and as of 2007 this project is about 20% complete.

Algodones Sand Dunes
Eastern rim of Imperial Valley - Wildlife viewing area and home to several unique species of plants and animals.

Mesquite Mine Overlook Trail
(760) 352-6541;[ Gold Mines ]
Located 3 miles north of SR-78 on GFOC Road. A one-mile trail leads to an overview of the second largest golf mine in California.

Old Plank Road - Grays Well CA
From 1915 to 1925, the first highway across the shifting Algodone Sand Dunes was built on a narrow wooden planks. A historic monument and replica of the road can be found about 3 miles west of the I-8 Sand Hills interchange.

Musuem of World History in Granite - Felicity CA
The 416 Panel History of Humanity is being engraved on 8 granite monuments. This project was launch in 1973 and as of 2007 this project is about 20% complete.

Oyster Shell Beds
Located along BLM Route Y1945 are remnants of ancient Lake Leconte, which covered most of the Imperial Valley over 6 million years ago. Fossilized oyster shells are all about. (Fossils )

Tumco Mines
Located on Gold Rock Ranch Rd, 9 miles north of I-8, 1 mile east of County Hwy 35, 4.5 miles NEof Ogilby in the Cargo Muchacho Mountains. Tumco was an early gold mining town.

Palm Springs Marquis Villas Resort Hotel Location: So Calle Encilla;
Scenic views of the majestic San Jacinto Mountains and set right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, the Marquis Villas offers complete comfort and charm. Pass the day by the pool set in a beautiful garden courtyard, get a game of tennis, or a good workout at the resort's fitness facility.

Picacho State Recreation Area
760-393-3052; Park Website;
Location: Dirt road 24 miles north from Winterhaven;
4,880 acres preserve in East Imperial County. 100 years ago Picacho was a gold mining town with 100 citizens. Today the site is a State Park, popular with boaters, hikers, anglers and campers. The park offers diverse scenery, including beavertail cactus, wild burros, bighorn sheep and thousands of migratory waterfowl. Eight miles of the lower Colorado River are the recreation area’s eastern border. As in any desert country, travelers on this road should carry extra water and other essential supplies.

Palm Springs Marquis Villas Resort Hotel
Scenic views of the majestic San Jacinto Mountains and set right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs,

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
66600 Cibola Lake Road, Cibola, AZ 85328; 928-857-3253;
NWR Website -
FWS Website -

Cibola NWR is located in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River and surrounded by a fringe of desert ridges and washes. The refuge encompasses the historic Colorado River channel and several important backwater areas that are home to many wildlife species. Because of the river’s life sustaining water, wildlife here survive in an environment that reaches 120 degrees in the summer and receives an average of only 2 inches of rain per year.

Wildlife
Cibola NWR - It is not uncommon to see desert mule deer, bobcat, and coyotes on the refuge. Other listed species include the desert tortoise, razorback sucker, bonytail chub, and desert pupfish.

Bird Watching
Over 288 species of birds have been found on Cibola NWR, including many species of migratory songbirds, Gambel’s quail, roadrunners, mourning and white-winged doves, phainopepla, greater sandhill cranes, Canada and snow geese, Vermilion flycatchers, grosbeaks and many more. The bald eagle, southwestern willow flycatcher and Yuma clapper rail are among the endangered birds that use Cibola NWR. Management of farm fields along with restoration of wetlands and moist soil units provide habitat for thousands of Canada geese that migrate to Cibola in the winter. About 85% of Arizona’s wintering goose population resides on Cibola NWR. Other common sights may include a heron and egret rookery, nesting mourning and white-winged doves, barn owls, burrowing owls, kestrels, white-faced ibis and more.

El Centro John Jay Inn - Best Western
Each spacious guestroom features free highspeed Internet access, refrigerators, microwaves and other amenities. Hotel guests may also enjoy a deluxe continental breakfast. This Imperial Valley resort prides itself on providing friendly, personal service.

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El Centro Ramada Inn
Ramada Inn El Centro is a two-story, 147-room, brick building. Just seconds from Interstate Highway 8, in El Centro. Featuring nice surroundings and clean, comfortable guestrooms, a large outdoor pool, weight room, and guest laundry, the only thing a guest might need is a complimentary cocktail in The Amigo Room Lounge, or a late night snack at the Denny's Restaurant located on the premises.

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Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
Yuma, Arizona 85365; 928-783-3371;
NWR Website -
FWS Website -

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles of the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, including the last unchannelized section before the river enters Mexico. The river and its associated backwater lakes and wetlands are a green oasis, contrasting with the surrounding desert mountains.

NWR Wildlife
In the desert, wildlife such as black-tailed jackrabbits and western whiptail lizards are plentiful. Watch at dawn and dusk for desert bighorn sheep and mule deer heading to the river for a drink. Ducks, geese, shorebirds, and other waterbirds flock to the lower Colorado River each year to spend the winter. Cinnamon teal and Northern pintail are just a few of the species living here.

Senator Wash Reservoir
25 miles north of Yuma, Senator Wash Reservoir is a water storage reservoir that also provides recreational opportunities such as fishing and water play. During the summer months, this site is a favorite of jet skiers and small boats. Lake shore camping is communal on the south shore of the lake while the north shore offers many small coves and bays. For more information contact BLM's Yuma Field Office at (928) 312-3200.

Squaw Lake
Located east of Senator Wash Reservoir, Squaw Lake is the BLM Yuma Field Office's premier developed recreation site. The lake is a popular day use and camping area, with holiday weekends attracting large crowds. Amenities include handicapped accessible restrooms, outdoor showers, fire rings, potable water, trash removal, and two boat ramps. For more information contact the BLM Yuma Field Office at (928) 317-3200.

Hidden Shores
Located at the east end of Imperial Dam is Hidden Shores. A BLM concession, Hidden Shores provides public recreational opportunities through private sector investment. Popular activities center around the Colorado River. Amenities include RV hookups, boat launch, showers, store, handicapped accessible restrooms, and fuel sales. For more information contact the BLM Yuma Field Office (928) 317-3200.

El Centro Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Mini suites and Jacuzzi suites featuring 32" color remote/televisions, free and pay per view movies and games, high-speed internet access as well. Hairdryers, irons & boards and all the commodities a valued guest like you would expect. This hotel is committed to providing accessible facilities under the American Disabilities Act.

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El Centro Super Star Inn
Conveniently located only a mile from downtown El Centro and within walking distance to area banks and restaurants. We are also the property that is closest to the Border Patrol Training Facility, only a few blocks away.

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More Imperial Dunes Hotlinks
American Sand Association ASA - non-profit group to support sand dune sports and recreation.

Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area
Bureau of Land Management, 1661 South Fourth Street, El Centro CA 92243; (760) 337-4400; Park Website;
GlamisDunes.com - Preserving and promoting the symbiotic relationship between off-road enthusiasts and the wildlife of the Algodones Sand Dunes.

This 40-mile-long dune system is one of the largest in the United States. Formed by windblown beach sands of ancient Lake Cahuilla, some crests reach heights of over 300 feet. These expansive dune formations offer picturesque scenery, opportunities for solitude, a chance to view rare plants and animals, and a playground for OHVs.

The BLM manages portions of the dunes system for different uses. The portion of the dunes south of California State Route 78, is a popular OHV recreation area.

Two BLM campgrounds along paved Gecko Road provide hard surface parking, vault toilets, and trash facilities. The Cahuilla Ranger Station, located on Gecko Road, is open weekends during the winter season (October-May). Other portions of the Imperial Sand Dunes include Mammoth Wash(north of Algodones Dunes Wilderness) and Buttercup Valley(south of Interstate 8).