KOFA National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona
Quartzsite, AZ
After a late flight into Phoenix, my parents and I woke up early for a 2 hour drive to Quartzsite. On the way, out half-day ATV tour through the refuge was cancelled so we decided to spend the morning in the cute town of Quartzsite. We grabbed a nice breakfast at the Main Street Restaurant and then spent some time buying food and gear we would need for camping out in the desert. Quartzsite was a really cute little town with A LOT of RV’s.
Driving into KOFA
After a morning in town, we packed the car to the brim and headed south to KOFA National Wildlife Refuge. The drive down into the park provided spectacular views of the mountains we would be camping under. After about 30 minutes on the highway, we turned onto the dirt road heading into the mountains. The desert scenery along the dirt road was out of a movie - with every type of cactus imaginable littering the landscape. As we drove, the mountains got closer and closer, it was really a dream come true for me.
Day 1 in KOFA
After a 2 hour drive from Quartzsite, we arrived at the camping area that was just a dirt lot. The lot provided amazing views in every direction. It was in a prime location - right under the main spires of the KOFA mountains and a 5 minute walk from the mouth of the dramatic KOFA Queen Canyon. I had studied the spot on google earth for the past 6 months and we lucked out in finding it and having it all to ourselves. After setting up camp (and getting attacked by cholla cactus), we hung out and played some bocci. I climbed halfway up one of the spires in front and started taking some photos as the sun backlit the cholla spikes. We had an early Filet Mignon dinner on the fire before my dad and I took the quick hike to KQC Canyon for sunset. While the photos weren’t special, watching the sun set and hit the mountains with that red light was amazing. After sunset, we went back to camp and enjoyed our first night under the stars.
Me scouting out the area by the campsite in my eagles jersey
Dinner with my parents with a view
Sunset shot from the first night
Another sunset shot from night 1
Sunrise Day 2
When my alarms woke me up for an early sunrise shoot, I peaked my head out the tent only to see 100% overcast skies. I was very close to falling back asleep but decided that I don’t get to see sunrises in the desert every day - so I got up. Lucky for me, the clouds broke open on thew horizon, and the sun came through, lighting the clouds above it a vibrant purple. The color only lasted 3 minuted, so I was scrambling around, trying to find the best composition I could. I am pretty happy with the shot!
Behind the scenes of the amazing sunrise!
Hike to Skull Rock
After a great sunrise, and light breakfast, we decided to take a 6 mile out-and-back hike through KOFA Queen Canyon. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the hike was nice and flat. We saw some crows making nests in the rock and a jackrabbit run across the trail. Our final destination was Skull Rock. It fit the name as it looked like a real skull and the mouth was a little cave you could camp under. We stayed for a few minutes before heading back to camp.
Jackrabbit
That speck is a crow making a nest in the rock
On the way to Skull rock
Skull Rock
Surreal final sunset
After a little relaxation after the long hike, we went south of our tent, an area we hadn’t explored yet. There was some really dramatic light (still a couple hours before sunset) on the mountains and the cholla, and it was very cool to see some different views of the same mountains. With heavy clouds rolling in, we still gave it a shot for sunset in the same area of KOFA Queen Canyon. The clouds were dark and ominous, and the sunset wasn’t anything special - that was until the sun peaked under a cloud just above the horizon, illuminating the peaks the most vibrant orange. I was once again scrambling around and had a ball of cholla stuck to each foot. It was all worth it in the end. What an amazing final impression from KOFA before driving back the dirt road and onto Joshua Tree.
My favorite shot from the whole week in the southwest.
Before the sun decided to go crazy
I like this shot too - cactus heaven out there
Same peak with some of the afternoon light from the campsite and a new angle
Unedited. Completely real light
Some other photos
Up close of a saguaro cactus
Backlit cholla before sunset
A hawk and a crow fighting in the air, very cool to watch
Another backlit cholla
A view of the tent, truck and road from a small climb I did.
Panorama from the campsite. You can see the tent on the far right