12/01: Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
The Imperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles of the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California. The Refuge is about 40 miles north of Yuma with the drive taking you through a section of the Proving Grounds.
Not sure what this plane is but it looked interesting and was parked near the road in the proving grounds.
Following the road once you are inside the NWR takes you to a number of points that give you views of the Colorado River. We were told that the water level is down this winter as a number of sand bars are visible. Another stop along the road is the Painted Desert Trail.
The one and a third mile painted desert trail takes you through some amazing country.
I couldn't convince Ed to carry one of the big colorful rocks to truck.... I thought it would look great in my garden at home.
Taking a rest break. Even though the air is cool, the sun is quite warm.
This natural column of rock, called a hoodoo, was created by water eroding from several directions.
Wildlife, such as black-tailed jackrabbits and western whiptail lizards are plentiful. Desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyotes and burros also live out here. In dry weather these larger animals head to the river for water.
The trail gets it's name from the colored rock you see as you hike in the area. The colors were created by 20-30 million year-old volcanic activity.
A view of the Colorado River.
Ed has been fascinated by aerostat balloons flying in sky around Yuma. Though this aerostat balloon was far in the distance, being on the ground it was much easier to see than the ones in the sky. The helium-filled aerostat balloons hover at 15,000 feet and are focused on one thing: low-flying airplanes. Six-aerostat balloons form a radar fence along the southern United States watching for drugs being flown across the international border.
The Phainopepla are a year round resident of the Yuma area.
Meers Point on Martinez Lake is a popular fishing spot. This lake is a popular spot for trailers as well as a number of beautiful homes.
Not sure what this plane is but it looked interesting and was parked near the road in the proving grounds.
Following the road once you are inside the NWR takes you to a number of points that give you views of the Colorado River. We were told that the water level is down this winter as a number of sand bars are visible. Another stop along the road is the Painted Desert Trail.
The one and a third mile painted desert trail takes you through some amazing country.
I couldn't convince Ed to carry one of the big colorful rocks to truck.... I thought it would look great in my garden at home.
Taking a rest break. Even though the air is cool, the sun is quite warm.
This natural column of rock, called a hoodoo, was created by water eroding from several directions.
Wildlife, such as black-tailed jackrabbits and western whiptail lizards are plentiful. Desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyotes and burros also live out here. In dry weather these larger animals head to the river for water.
The trail gets it's name from the colored rock you see as you hike in the area. The colors were created by 20-30 million year-old volcanic activity.
A view of the Colorado River.
Ed has been fascinated by aerostat balloons flying in sky around Yuma. Though this aerostat balloon was far in the distance, being on the ground it was much easier to see than the ones in the sky. The helium-filled aerostat balloons hover at 15,000 feet and are focused on one thing: low-flying airplanes. Six-aerostat balloons form a radar fence along the southern United States watching for drugs being flown across the international border.
The Phainopepla are a year round resident of the Yuma area.
Meers Point on Martinez Lake is a popular fishing spot. This lake is a popular spot for trailers as well as a number of beautiful homes.