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Activities | Camp | Camping
| Destinations | Desert
SRA.picacho
 Winter camping is great here. Hunters, fisherman
& RVers alike, all know the best kept secret.. Picacho Peak
on the Colorado River is prime spot for outdoor recreation &
camping. Canoe, kayak, fish, hunt, mtn. bike, hike, & off
road. All this, less than 3 hour drive from San Diego.
Ancient volcanic peaks surround this area of the Colorado
River. Good stopping point on a river trip between Walter's Camp
and Martinez Lake. A century ago Picacho was a mining town with
100 citizens. Now it is a State Park, offering diverse scenery,
including cactus, burros, bighorn sheep and thousands of waterfowl.
The impressive lower Colorado River is the recreation area on
the eastern border of California.
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Take the 20+ mile dirt road north from Winterhaven, off Interstate 8 (W of Yuma
AZ). The road to Picacho is paved only a few miles, then becomes graded dirt. The last
18 miles is over a desert road that is easily passable for passenger cars &
motorhomes. In the summer months thunderstorms can cause flash
flooding in the washes, making sections of the road impassable. Check weather forecast before traveling into this flash-flood region of the California desert.
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Picacho SRA Park Info: 760-393-3052
Nearby cities & towns:
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EASY HIKES:
Picacho California, rich in desert history, was once a small mining
town. Historic signs, trails & buildings surround the Picacho Campground.
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Imperial Desert Hiking
Enjoy several long days of hiking old mine-train rail
lines, exploring the river bank, and doing a little peak bagging
of some desert outcrops (Picacho Peak, 1947', is a standout).
Mountain biking is good here because the track beds that lead
into the mountains are quite level.
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Hike straight from the main campground to
many areas along the scenic rivers edge. Stroll thru old graveyard
& read about the areas history.
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Picacho Desert Campgrounds
All are first-come first-served basis
click on campground name for photos & more description
| campground |
elev. |
spots
|
veg |
toilet |
water |
fee |
|
comments |
| Taylor Lake
Camp |
|
4 |
river |
pit |
river |
yes |
river
edge |
Boaters
or vehicles okay |
| Outpost |
|
3 |
river |
pit |
river |
yes |
river
edge |
Boaters
or vehicles okay |
| 4-S Beach |
|
4 |
river |
pit |
river |
yes |
river
edge |
Boaters
or vehicles okay |
| Paddlewheeler |
|
|
river |
pit |
river |
yes |
|
Boat-in
camp site
(No vehicles) |
| Carrizo |
|
|
river |
pit |
river |
yes |
river edge |
Boat-in
camp site
(No vehicles) |
Picacho
Camp
main campground |
|
|
tamarisk |
pit |
piped |
yes |
large sites |
plenty
RV spots
centrally located |
Primitive River Camping
Senator Wash - south end of park, open dispersed camping
between Squaw Lake & Senators Wash.
BOAT IN CAMPING > No back road dispersed camping
inside park boundaries. Small campgrounds for boat in camping
listed above.
Colorado River Back Roads
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 The
majority of this desert scenic area is dirt back roads, so get
prepared & take precautions: water, warm clothes, matches,
tune up. Also get your SUV out & ready to explore. Many roads
could require 4wheel drive, but there are still plenry suitable
for 2WD.
The main road up the Picach Campground is fine - for RVers that
don't mind the long haul on a wash board road.
The main attraction here is the Colorado River, fishing, hunting, easy freeway access & the off roading options are an added bonus.
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January 2019
