Picacho State Rec Area

[Desert Fox]

Saturday, I took a 4x4 tour of the Picacho State Rec Area, which is on the Colorado River just west of Yuma. The park is owned by the State of California and occupies the site of the Picacho Gold Mine which was active from about 1880 to 1920 or so. Its most productive years were 1910 t0 1912. The mine was huge and employed about 700 workers at its max output. The town of Picacho in now under water, the result of a down stream dam.

The park is about a three hour drive east of San Diego via RT 8. You get off at the Winterhaven exit and head north on Rt 24. When Rt 24 turns into a dirt road, you still have about 20 miles to go to the park main gate. The park has several unique features such as many of the roads are built on top of the old narrow gauge railroad bed, there is a herd of burros running around and a very fat and happy mountain lion who is never far off. The campground has about 40 spaces which come with a picnic table, water and fire ring. Bring your own wood. There are showers and chemical porta johns. The biggest rig I saw was a 38 foot motor home. The river is about 500 yards wide at this spot and 40 feet deep. Fishing is good year around and there is duck, quail, deer, rabbit, etc hunting in the late fall and winter months.
All hunting is shotgun hunting within the park.

The wheeling is minimal. I never had to go into 4WD, just locked up the rear axle. Due to the very hot temps, I don't recommend going to Picacho between April and November. However, I do plan to return in late November to do some more expolring. If you have never seen the transition between river wet lands and desert, I would recommend trip here just to see that. The park is a stop on the California fly way and if you are a "birder" this place is hog heaven in the spring and fall.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Fred