Kofa Mountains

Geobox|Range
name=Kofa Mountains


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country=United States
state=Arizona
geology=|orogeny=
highest=Signal Peak
highest_elevation_imperial=4877

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The Kofa Mountains is the central mountain range comprising the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, about 60 miles northeast of Yuma, Arizona in the southwestern part of the state. The equally extensive Castle Dome Mountains comprise the southern refuge border; the western end of the Tank Mountains are in the southeast of the wildlife refuge, and the New Water Wilderness in the New Water Mountains ends the extension of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to the north. A scenic "King Valley" is south of the Kofa Mountains between the Castle Dome Mountains.

The Kofa Mountains are named for the rich King of Arizona gold mine, discovered in King Valley in 1896. The mine used to stamp its property "K of A", and is commonly known as the Kofa Mine. The old mine and its surroundings are private property. There are a number of winter homes in King Valley [ Peter Massey & Jeanne Wilson, 2006, "Backcountry Adventures Arizona," Adler Publishing, ISBN:1930193289 ] .

The Kofa Mountains are a northwest-southeast range with an extension northwards meeting the New Water Mountains. There are three major peaks in the high region: two in the west: Signal Peak at convert|4877|ft|m|0 and Squaw Peak at convert|4416|ft|m|0, and Polaris Mountain at convert|3624|ft|m|0 in the south.

The closest community to the Kofa Mountains is Quartzsite, 30 miles northwest on Interstate 10. Access roads to the range depart a north-south stretch of US 95, five miles to the west.

The wildlife refuge and the Kofa Mountains are arid and rugged volcanic remnant mountains of Tertiary age. They are home to one of the larger Desert Bighorn Sheep ranges. The wildlife refuge and the mountains are some of the hottest deserts in the southwest Sonoran Desert.

ee also

*List of mountain ranges of Yuma County, Arizona
*List of mountain ranges of Arizona
*List of LCRV Wilderness Areas (Colorado River)

References