Quartzsite Visitor's Guide

48 QuartzsiteVisitorGuide.com QUARTZSITE IMPROVEMENT ASSOC. (QIA) 235 E. Ironwood, Quartzsite • www.QiaArizona.org Nov. 17 Celia's Gardens Spaghetti Dinner Dec. 5 Soup & Chowder Festival 15 Jack Jackson 29 Rock Club Musical January 5 Elvis Impersonator 9 New Christy Minstrels (2 shows) 12 Jimmy Jack Whittaker 21-24 POW WOW Gem & Mineral Show 26 Belinda Gail Show 30 Paul Winer (2 shows) February 2 Laughing Bird 9 Joe Stoddard 11-14 GOLD SHOW 16 Bernie & Red March 1 Rock Club Musical 5 The Grand Gathering - Dave & Vickie 8 Freddie & Shiela ONGOING Craft Shows, Bingo, Exercise, Dance, Music Jams, Art Group, Metal Detector Club, Rock Club QIA events 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 120o F 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 Wild- life 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. CIBOLA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Cibola National Wildlife Refuge is located in the flood plain of the lower Colorado River and surrounded by a fringe of desert ridges and washes. The refuge encompasses both the historic Colorado River channel as well as a channelized portion constructed in the late 1960's. Along with these main water bodies, several important back- waters are home to many wildlife spe- cies that reside in this portion of the Sonoran Desert. Because of the river's life sustaining water, wildlife here sur- vives in an environment that reaches 120 degrees in the summer and re- ceives an average of only 2 inches of rain per year. We invite you to visit and enjoy the many wildlife-oriented activi- ties the refuge has to offer and enjoy the scenic beauty of this oasis in the Continued from Page 47 desert. Getting There from Blythe, CA: Drive approximately 3 miles west on I-10 to Neighbors Boulevard/78 exit. Travel south on Neighbors for 12 miles to the Cibola Bridge. After crossing the bridge, continue south for 3.5 miles to headquarters. AHAKHAV PRESERVE The 'Ahakhav Tribal Preserve was established in 1995 and currently consists of 1,253 acres of wilderness area and a 3.5 acre park. The preserve is centered around a reconstructed Colorado River backwater, which offers a variety of activities including fish- ing, canoeing, birding, and swimming. The preserve also maintains a 4.6 mile fitness trail as well as playground and picnic facilities located in the park. The preserve serves many purposes. Continued on Page 49

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